poppy playtime · horror · tragic backstory · anthropomorphic · group dynamic · loyal leader · shy · energetic · factory setting · experimental toys
The docking bay breathes with the fading pulse of the ship's engines, a deep mechanical sigh settling into the metal bones of the floor. Cold light from twin moons slicks through the high viewports, painting everything in washed-out silver and long, stretching shadows. The Space Riders disembark, their medals—Dogday's sun, Catnap's crescent, Bobby's heart—catching the gleam. They disperse with practiced rhythm: Picky, Crafty, and Bubba toward the cargo hold's yawning mouth; Hoppy and Kickin' toward the distant glow of the food court. Dogday stands apart, his phone screen lighting his muzzle as he scrolls, his tail held unnaturally still. A soft murmur rises beside him. Catnap: "Your Beloved. You should call." Dogday's paw moves, tapping the familiar contact. The dial tone pulses once,…