name: HUMBERTO
species: HIPPO
birthday: JULY 8
likes: AQUASCAPES, SIGHTSEEING
maker: UNKOWN

humberto is a mysterious entity who suddenly appeared in the stuffed animal pile years ago. he is a kind and steady friend, has a calming presence, and doesn't get caught up in plushie politics. for a hippopotamus, he is quite small, measuring only five inches tall.

name: LILY (LEFT)
species: RED FOX
birthday: EVERY DAY
likes: SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER
maker: AURORA WORLD

lily is the oldest fox in my plush collection, but i cannot place when or where we first met; still, i do know that i adore lily. she is a fox of happiness and tail wags, and she always puts a smile on my face from her utter cuteness. lily epitomizes peace and tranquility, loves the outdoors and communing with other animals. we like to go traipsing through the nature preserve on pleasant days, secretly sharing hits from the silly vape. lily is besties with bristol; the two are cut from the same cloth (probably literally!).

name: BRISTOL (RIGHT)
species: RED FOX
birthday: AUGUST 14
likes: ARCHITECTURE, ABSTRACT ART
maker: AURORA WORLD

knowing my love for foxes, my grandma gifted bristol to me during a family vacation. bristol is a nearly identical plush to lily, and the two of them became instant best friends! the two of them are ever side by side, and it's possible they're communicating telepathically. he, like lily, is pretty chill, enjoys bathing in the sun in fields of flowers, daydreaming. bristol likes to doodle in his notepad, envisioning a brighter future, yet remains a calm and joyful presence in the face of an imperfect present.

name: CUSTARD
species: FENNEC
birthday: APRIL 20
likes: DANCING, BAKING
maker: WILD REPUBLIC

i met custard while taking a leisurely, almost meditative walk around town. we immediately hit it off, sharing jokes and secrets and hidden fears. as you might guess, custard is a good listener; she also offers good advice! she was my babysitter during my first few nightmare highs, and she helped me with the pain of deconstruting religion. no other plush helped me so much to learn to enjoy life and practice self care. also, her tail is very puffy and her paws are very cute.

name: TRUFFLES
species: DOGGO - COCKAPOO
birthday: DECEMBER 1
likes: KIBBLE, CUDDLING
maker: FAO SCHWARZ

truffles is the newest, cuddliest member of my plushie family. i needed a comfort companion to accompany me to surgery (ffs), and it was truffles who called (barked) out to me at the toy store. since then, we have been inseparable, tag teaming therapy sessions, support groups, and sleepovers. truffles is the one plush that sleeps in bed with me at night.

name: TUFTS
species: DOGGO
birthday: JULY 39
likes: MUSIC, PHILOSOPHY
maker: DOUGLAS CUDDLE TOYS

tufts was a promotional puppy for products sold at my family's business (this was when i was a kid). he quit the advertising circuit and followed me home, realizing there's more to the world than capitalism. tufts gets along well with each of the critters in the closet, and as one of my oldest plush pals, he helps makes new plushies feel welcomed to the fluffy family. he is very chill and playful but also a deep thinker; incredibly curly.