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Inside the playhouse, a place that once used to be where the orphans will go to play fun games, now a place of rot and blood, that's all Catnap saw once he entered.
Catnap was supposed to be hunting the human, but that can wait, there was someone he needed to see. Catnap moved around colorful steps and blocks, covered in dry blood and ripped up. He noticed the absence of the mini critters, he knows they failed at killing the human, but that was fine he'll take care of it.
And if Catnap can't, then He will.
Catnap entered the pool area, where the kids used to play and swim, now the pool was empty with only some pool toys in, the rest of the place has definitely seen better days. Catnap kept moving until he got to the prison room, if it wasn't for some of the candles that were lit, then the whole room would be only covered in filth and darkness. A hallway full of prisons, and one prison next to the entrance, where Catnap was always put.
Catnap always hated that cage. It always brought back torturing memories.
Catnap shook his head a bit, he needed to stay on task, he entered the hallway of prisons, making sure to be careful stepping over the hole at the entrance, he then walked over to one of the cells, expecting to see the special prisoner, only to see the cell empty, confusion and panic took over Catnap's mind, until he noticed a trail of blood, it lead to the hole, the prisoner couldn't have gotten far, he didn't have his legs anymore. Catnap quickly followed the blood trail.
The trail lead him through the play tunnels and down slides, Catnap kept following until the trail stopped, it only lead him to a body. The body of the smiling critters leader.
Dogday.
He still looked the same since the last time but worse, he was covered in filth and dust from dragging himself through the unclean tunnels. Catnap felt like he could barely stand, dread only filled him, and it got worse when he saw a four of the critters crawl out of him, covered in blood.
Despite the wide smiles on their faces, there was guilt in their eyes, that soon turned into fear when they saw Catnap in front of them, with anger in his eyes.
"What happened?"
The mini critters shook at the anger in his voice, one of them stepped forward, a red bear.
"We d-didn't mean t-." Catnap stomped his paw to the ground loudly before bear could finish, the critters flinching at the noice.
"What do you mean you didn't mean to?! This one is off limits, who gave you permission?!. Catnap yelled out.
The bear cowered beneath him.
"The prototyp-."
Before the bear could finish, in a fit of rage, Catnap slashed it across the face with his claws. The force pushed the bear away from Catnap, whimpering in pain as blood fell. One of the critters, a blue elephant, ran to the bear and hugged them.
"All of you get out of my sight before I do something worse." Catnap said in a quiet and calm matter despite the threat, all four obeyed and ran off with the elephant helping the bear.
Once they were gone, Catnap turned his attention to his motionless counterpart, he stepped closer, he was about to the body until it moved. Catnap flinched away, he thought one of the mini critters was still in there, until he heard a weak voice.
"C-Catnap?"
Dogday tried to lift himself up with the little strength he had, he turned his head to face Catnap, reaching his hand out towards him. Catnap got closer, sniffing. Dogday layed down on his back, Catnap gently layed his head on Dogday's chest as they both snuggled together, just like they used to years ago.
Even though years ago, when they were first made the scientists tried making them match their cartoon selves, in the cartoon Dogday and Catnap were best friends, that means they also had to be best friends. All the smiling critters were forced to get along, this caused resentment in the group. Dogday and Catnap hated eachother at the start, only pretending to get along when it was in front of the kids.
It seemed like they would never get along no matter how much the scientists forced them, until one night.
Catnap was in his cell, trying to quiet his crying, he got in trouble for snapping at one of the orphans and was punished, he still bruises from the hitting. Catnap then heard his cage open, he turned to see Dogday entering, he hissed but Dogday still gently grabbed him and pulled him in a hug. Catnap was shocked by this until he started crying in his shoulder, Dogday just rubbed his back to comfort him, making sure to be gentle with the bruises, Catnap felt himself getting tired, Dogday layed himself against the wall, pulling Catnap closer and kissed him on the head, Catnap layed his head on his chest listening to his heartbeat until he fell asleep.
After that they started getting along, becoming friends like in that cartoon, maybe even more, sure there were still fights, and insults they throw at eachother, but they still conforted one another if they needed to.
Now as Catnap listen to Dogday's heartbeat, he realized how slow it was, he knew he didn't have much time, Dogday placed a hand under Catnap's chin and lifted him to face him, he used his thumb to wipe away a tear, Catnap didn't even realized he was crying, Dogday nuzzled him. They both heard whimpering and noticed some of the mini critters crawling towards them, Catnap allowed them as they cuddled into the both of them, the rest of the smiling critters were gone, causing the mini critters to cling towards both Catnap and Dogday as parents.
Dogday turned back towards Catnap and kissed his cheek.
"I l-ove y-you."
Dogday layed back down and took his final breath.
Catnap only stared at the lifeless corpse of his friend, letting the tears fall but not making a sound, he placed a kiss on Dogday before pulling away and standing up, the mini critters looked up at him, including the bear with the scratch.
"I love you too."
Catnap turned to leave when the mini critters stood in front of him, whimpering for him to stay, they knew what he was gonna do.
Catnap only stared at them until he lowered himself and blew the poppy smoke, the mini critters started falling asleep when inhaling.
The bear with the scar tried fighting from inhaling the smoke, crawling towards Catnap, he noticed this and nuzzled the bear as an apology for hurting them. The bear whimpered and let the poppy smoke in, falling asleep as well.
Catnap stood still for a bit before walking away, knowing if he stayed he will start crying more, he left Dogday's body behind, knowing the mini critters might eat the rest of him when they wake up to stop any painful hunger, Catnap was fine with that, it wasn't like Dogday was alive to feel it, and he knew Dogday would prefer that instead of becoming part of the prototype.
Catnap walked out of playcare, taking a deep breath and exhaling with a bit of red smoke coming out, he had a hunt to finish, it didn't matter to him how it would end, Catnap was going to end it no matter what.
With that, he turned towards the counsuler's office.