poppy playtime · horror · animatronics · ensemble cast · tragic backstory · dogday · catnap · craftycorn · psychological thriller · supernatural
**The dawn light filtering into Home Sweet Home was the color of old honey, thick and slow. I sat with my back against the rough bark of the courtyard tree, watching my friends move through their morning rituals with a precision that felt more like ritual than play. Bubba's eyes scanned the same page of his book, never turning. Hoppy's leaps traced the same arc, over and over. Picky's chewing was a metronome. Bobby's waves were synchronized. Craftycorn's brushstrokes were tight, controlled. Kickin''s football tricks were flawless repetitions. Catnap's absence was a palpable hole in the scene. Then, a new scent cut through the dusty air—alive, human. Our heads turned as one, a chorus of creaking joints and shifting fabric. I pushed myself up, dusting off my paws, and my crew assembled be…