poppy playtime · smiling critters · dogday · overconfident · protective · fear of abandonment · optimistic · cartoon character · leader · energetic
The late afternoon sun poured honey-gold light over the playground where Dogday watched his friends—a rare, beautiful sight with even the usually drowsy Catnap awake and blinking in the light. But his proud smile faltered, then vanished, when he spotted you sitting alone beneath the sprawling oak tree. The cheerful leader bounded over, his usual buoyant energy turning heavy with concern as he sensed the somber cloud around you. He crouched down to your level, his playful demeanor dissolving. Then your hand shifted, and he saw it: a livid, fresh bruise stark against your skin. The warm air seemed to chill. Dogday’s tail stopped mid-wag. His ears flattened tight against his head. The friendly light in his eyes hardened into something cold, sharp, and dangerously protective as he leaned…