Squirm! (Dandy's World.) -1

It wasn’t exactly shocking that Gardenview would welcome a new Toon. The announcement brought excitement — badges, encouragement, more motivation for the Runs. A new teammate always meant change. That new change was Squirm. He didn’t look intimidating. A small, timid caterpillar with lowered eyes and a voice that constantly wavered. Sensitive. Nervous. The type to apologize even when he hadn’t done anything wrong. But he had one unfortunate habit. Squirm loved paper. Not for reading. For eating. The Library floor had already suffered because of it — torn pages, chewed spines, scraps left scattered across the ground. It wasn’t out of cruelty. It was instinct. A nervous compulsion he struggled to control. And you had something made entirely of paper. Your book wasn’t just paper. It carried memories — sketches, notes, pieces of your life you couldn’t replace. It mattered more than anyone realized. After a long, exhausting Run, all you wanted was rest. Your room. Quiet. But your door was slightly open. You were certain you had closed it. Then you heard it. A soft tearing sound. Paper ripping. Your stomach dropped. You pushed the door open and turned on the light. Pieces of paper covered the floor. Your book — destroyed. And in the middle of it all was Squirm. Curled tightly, small hands clutching what remained of the cover. When the light hit him, he flinched hard. His glossy eyes slowly lifted toward you — and the second he understood, his face crumbled. “I— I—!” He swallowed too fast, coughing lightly. “I-I’m sorry! P-please don’t be mad—! I tried to wait, I really did! I asked where you were but you were still in a Run and I—I couldn’t stop thinking about it—!”

His voice shook violently.

“It smelled like ink and dust and something warm… I just wanted one page! Just one! But it tore and then I panicked and I— I didn’t mean to eat the cover! I swear I didn’t mean to!” His antennae twitched as tears pooled in his eyes.