Dog Toy: A Poppy Playtime Fanfic

Chapter 16: Returning The Favour

You're guessing that it's probably been 15 to 20 minutes since Dogday left to scavenge, but it might as well have been hours for you. Time seems static when you're in virtually complete darkness constantly.

You rub soothing circles on your stomach to ease the pain, letting your mind wander as you zone out, staring at the ceiling fan which had a blade missing. Like a tape, it flicks through everything that's happened recently: Poppy's letter, killing Huggy Wuggy and Mommy Long Legs, rescuing Dogday, Catnap's warning, and so on up until your current predicament. Gratitude fills your soul knowing that Ollie is helping you two out, and even more so at Dogday caring so much that he's willing to drag his body around trying to find something to sate you.

In the silence, you're now very aware of your less than pristine health condition. Your throat is parched, your eyes are like sinkholes in your sockets, and the hole in your stomach is deeper than the factory you are trapped in. It really is a wonder that you're only keeling over now. 

Your thoughts are starting to muddle, your focus dwindling with your strength, yet your mind refuses to still, like it's pushing itself to keep running even when you want to tell it to rest with your body. Instead, it's working on a way to get the canine's legs back.

Maybe it's part of the shrine? You think. It's probably been eaten by the other toys already though. Is it possible to make new ones for him? That could work... 

Your brain, like fitting pieces of a puzzle together, theorises ways on how to restore Dogday's missing limbs. The notion draws an upturned crescent on your face as you imagine the joy that would fill his eyes at being able to walk again.

He would be so happy...

A shuffling noise reverberates into your room, drawing your attention to the doorway. Your hair stands on end as uncertainty shifts fear into you. Is it him? Or another bloodthirsty toy seeking meat?

You hold your breath, hoping with all your might that it is Dogday, even though you tell yourself that of course, it must be him because who else would be here? This, unfortunately, makes goosebumps rise on your skin even more so.

Watching with bated breath, the intermediate shuffling grows gradually louder. A hand suddenly shoots out to grab the doorframe, and you utter a fearful sound, covering your mouth. You realise seconds later that the hand is dark orange, and your body sighs with intense relief when Dogday's face emerges from the corner.

A relieved grin shows on your face as you meet his glowing eyes again, as if it had been years since you last saw him. You laugh a strange laugh that can only come from experiencing sheer terror beforehand.

"Dogday! It's you, oh thank god." You place a hand over your running heart, willing it to settle now that you know you aren't in immediate danger.

He wheezes out, breathing hard as he makes his way back to the elevated bed where you're perched. Only then does he look back up at you, his entire body rising and falling as catches his breath.

"Angel, I'm sorry for startling you. I managed to get something." He nods to one hand which has two bottles under it. Your eyes widen in genuine surprise as he continues. "I need some assistance getting back up there, Angel. But take your time, I don't want you to strain yourself."

Almost scoffing at that, you raise an eyebrow at the too-sweet toy. He's worried about you straining yourself when he just crawled around for the last almost half an hour straight? "Oh Dogday, get up here." You shift your legs over the side of the bed so you can lean down to pick him up under the arms. You lift him up and set him next to you, and you spot his face twitch a real smile.

"Thank you, Angel. Now drink this, it's water." He hands one of the bottles to you, and you eagerly take it, unscrewing the lid almost manically. You bring it to your lips so you can take a big gulp, relishing how it quenches the dryness in your mouth that was starting to choke you. You sigh again, feeling better already as you take a smaller sip.