You can teach a dog not to bite

ᐡ ᐧ ﻌ ᐧ ᐡ I'm living in a [%&$#]ing cartoon

"Where am I?" Out of every question I had fought to be the first asked, that one slipped from my mouth once more without a swear. The lack of an exaggerated word made me feel like I was forced to downplay whatever the hell was going on.

At least it didn't fuck with my thoughts.

"I just told you! The Amazing Digital Circus!" It, or well, I guess he, based on the baritone depth to it's voice, had exclaimed once more.

"Oh so it's..." My statement fell flat where I had intended to keep talking.

While my gaze went back around this 'Circus', I took it slower this time. I wasn't... Terrified anymore, but I wouldn't say I was okay. Tall blocks and shapes took up much of the space around us, the ceiling way too far for me to assume its height and patterned in red and white stripes. Surprisingly, the ceiling was rather nice to stare at while I tried to piece together what happened.

The longer I dwelled on it, the longer the floating set of teeth waited. It didn't move, didn't flinch. Stuck in the air while I tried to remember. I tried so hard to think about things, to think about anything beforehand, but you can't pick at something that wasn't there. My memory was muddled, almost boarding on erased had I not been able to vividly remember the warmth of my dog.

The very last thing I vaguely remember, a memory that was still trying to escape my desperate clutches, was me putting on some sort of headgear. I remember it feeling heavy in my hands, the weight gone now, even from my head. My... My head, right I- I can just-

The moment my hands came up in front of my face, I froze. Two pink paws with yellow pads rose on my command, thick, black, teal spiked wristbands hung loosely around my wrists. I stared down my legs taking in the white leggings with blue dots that... Only left my toes exposed. Okay...

At this point, my rationale was out of whack. I was panicking and yet I didn't feel a trembling in my chest. I wanted to scream and yet there wasn't that tugging feeling at the back of my throat. My hands rushed up the sides of my neck, forearms cutting on a spiked collar I couldn't see. I tried to tug at the collar first, on the verge of tears when it wouldn't budge.

Next I tried to grab my hair, to find something that was my own. But... It was only fur. I choked on my sob, missing so much information that made everything I look at more confusing. The only comparison I could even think to make was that I was just an avatar. Like an avatar you'd wear for roblox.

"Caine, she's obviously disoriented, do we really have to do this now?" A woman's voice, a real woman's voice, grew closer. I peered up, squinting in the harsh light as a hand lowered itself to me, "Hey, c'mon, I'm sure you're confused." She spoke to me with the same softness you'd give a child, sure it was demeaning in its own right but with everything right now, it was welcomed.

With a wobble and a shuddering breath, I finally was able to stand on my own. But I still clung to the arm of the woman who helped me, gaze starting from the outside working in, just trying to take it all in.

"My name is Ragatha!" Her voice made my attention snap back to her, observing now what she even looked like. I was staring at a raggedy anne doll. She had one button for an eye, long, awkwardly sticking out pieces of thick, red curls, and a blue dress. Soft to the touch as well, I forgot it was even her I was holding because of how plushlike her arms were.

I step away from her out of respect and try to make a greeting of my own, but the only thing I can do is hum.

"You've already met Caine," She continues, thankfully seeing the struggle on my face, "He's the ringleader and-"

"AND THE ONE IN CHARGE OF YOUR ADVENTURES!!!" His voice made me wince, stepping away from him in the process, "AND SPEAKING OF! TODAYS-"

"Caine! C'mon! We're not doing this again! Remember what happened when Pomni first got here?" Ragatha stopped Caine from talking, though he continued to look at me, staying in the same, over excited pose. I looked away from his eyes, painfully aware of the fact that they were locked onto me.