It is not a happy bark.
A large dog is perched on the edge of the crater, staring down at you with fangs bared. Its pale, white eyes glow against black fur.
You have two reactions.
First, you are scared. This leads you to clutch the puppet's hand tightly. At the same time, though, you are angry, and swing your tiny fist forward.
Logically, the puppet comes along for the ride, slamming into the dog's face and getting its floppy arms hopelessly tangled around the beast's snout. Its aura of menace completely shattered, the dog growls, throwing its head from side to side. You laugh for the second time.
A voice commands something. You stop.
A tall figure bends down to carefully remove the snarl of fabric limbs, and the dog wilts, backing away slowly under his stern gaze.
Something about him seems... memorable. You squint up at the man's face, but all you can make out is that he has red cheeks, like he's tired or angry. Just like some of those other kids were, back in the- whatever that first place was.
He says more words, but you don't know what he means. Eventually, he shrugs and leans down to pick you up.
Normally, this would fall into the "Aw-heyall-no" category, but you have decided to make this particular set of arms your vehicle of transportation out of this hole in the ground, so you roll your eyes and sit up straighter. When the man comes closer, you see light glinting off of one of his teeth.
The dog gives you a glare. You smirk.
Not because it's funny. More because... You take some time to think about it as the man scoops you out of the crater.
A random man you've never seen before is carrying you somewhere. A puppet is leering over his shoulder at you, a dog is growling like it wants to eat you, and none of it bothers you in the slightest.
Because you just rode a star into the ground, and it was fun.
The whole thing seems kind of ir-
...There's a word there, you just know it.
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This story isn't left for dead. It will have very short chapters, though.