Cloaked by the darkness, the orange canine trudged through the caverns, a metal pipe in one paw, the other cushioning a satchel. After a few paces, DogDay emerged from the factory depths into Playcare, Playtime Co’s on-site orphanage—though still underground. He gazes at the five buildings looming over him, jagged, cracked, and eroded. Behind the structures, torn sheets portraying an artificial sky shroud the dome’s walls. They do not detract from their imposing forms.

“Let’s make this quick…” DogDay turns his attention back to the path, maneuvering around the debris and rubble, each step pressing softly against the rough surface to evade betraying himself. He can’t risk capture; he can’t afford imprisonment. Never again.

On the other side of the underground, a purple feline jumped from platform to platform, his paw pads cushioning his landing. The lofty creature exited the shadows, emerging into the Playcare, the cat’s domain. The golden glow simulated warm rays, but they cannot compare to the genuine sun. CatNap tilted his head as he prowled, examining the area for any disturbances—anything indicating an unwanted presence, such as that human trespasser he caught a glimpse of weeks ago, the likely culprit of the heretic’s escape, though the cat knows nothing concerning the Player. Each step is woven into the silence, calculated yet fluid, moving through the dome with ease cultivated by 10+ years of familiarity.

There is a faint scent. “Vanilla,” CatNap wistfully whispered. The cat’s tail thumped against the asphalt, yet his steps were inaudible as he pursued the aroma.

After spending the past 30 minutes rummaging, avoiding detection, DogDay rests against the cold surface of the fountain, just below the artificial shrubbery coating the monument. With a sigh, the dog straightens back up, ready to continue his mission of retrieving supplies for Safe Haven. However, a subtle shift in the atmosphere, a flicker in the corner of the eye, brought awareness of the other presence.