The Morning Patrol

Ms. Marker Tiger stood at the edge of her tower's observation deck, watching the morning sun cast golden stripes across Big Cat City. The gray and blue fabric of her supersuit caught the breeze as she adjusted her blue mask.

"Another peaceful morning," she said to herself, scanning the streets below with her piercing green eyes.

Her tiger ears twitched at the sound of children's voices drifting up from the elementary school playground. She smiled, remembering how their laughter always filled the air during recess.

But today something felt different. The playground seemed quieter than usual.

Ms. Marker Tiger activated her x-ray vision and peered down at Whisker Elementary. The children sat in small groups, staring blankly at the ground instead of running around with wild stories and games.

"That's odd," she murmured, her orange fur bristling slightly.

At the city's Dream Research Center, Dr. Luna Nightshade was studying her computer screens with growing concern. The dream activity monitors showed flat lines across all age groups.

The Flat Lines

Ms. Marker Tiger's communicator buzzed against her wrist. She pressed the button, and Dr. Luna Nightshade's worried voice crackled through the speaker.

"Ms. Marker Tiger, we have an emergency. Can you come to the Dream Research Center immediately?"

"On my way," Ms. Marker Tiger replied, launching herself from the tower with powerful wings beating against the morning air.

Minutes later, she landed outside the modern glass building. Dr. Luna Nightshade, a human woman with shoulder-length brown hair and worried brown eyes, met her at the entrance.

"It's worse than I thought," Dr. Luna said, leading her through the hallway lined with computer monitors. "Look at this."

She pointed to a wall of screens showing brain wave patterns from sleeping children across the city. Every single line was flat.

"No dreams at all?" Ms. Marker Tiger asked.

"None. And there's something else." Dr. Luna pulled up a map of Big Cat City. Red dots appeared across the neighborhoods. "These children are starting to forget how to play. They're losing their imagination completely."

Ms. Marker Tiger's green eyes widened as she watched more red dots appear on the screen in real time.