Morning Patrol

Crayon Marker Tigress soared above Craft Room Jungle City, her red cape flowing behind her. The morning sun painted the buildings in warm gold, and she smiled as she spotted children walking to school below.

"Another peaceful day," she said to herself, landing gracefully on the observation deck of Crayon Marker Tower. The tower stretched high into the sky, its bottom half bright yellow like a giant crayon, its top half sleek black like a marker.

She pulled out her phone and checked the city's safety reports. All green lights. No emergencies, no villains causing trouble. Just the way she liked it.

But as she scrolled through the messages, something caught her eye. A small news article about a young tiger cub who had been spotted around the city's edge, asking everyone about becoming a superhero.

"A cub wants to be a hero?" she wondered aloud, tucking the phone away. "That's... actually pretty sweet."

The Baker's News

Crayon Marker Tigress decided to investigate the news about the young cub. She flew toward the city's edge, where tall buildings gave way to smaller shops and cafes.

She landed behind Benny's Bakery, a cozy shop with warm light spilling from its windows. The smell of fresh bread made her stomach rumble. She pushed open the door, hearing a cheerful bell chime.

"Welcome!" called Benny, a round man with flour-dusted apron and kind brown eyes. His graying hair was pulled back in a ponytail. "What can I get for our city's hero today?"

"Actually, I'm looking for information," she said. "Have you seen a young tiger cub asking about superheroes?"

Benny's face lit up. "Oh, Tiny! Sweet little guy, maybe seven years old. Orange fur, black stripes, biggest green eyes you've ever seen. Comes by every morning asking how to be brave like you."

"Where does he live?"

"That's the problem," Benny's smile faded. "He's been sleeping in cardboard boxes behind the music shop down the street. Says his parents moved away and forgot him."

Crayon Marker Tigress felt her heart sink. A lost cub, all alone, dreaming of becoming a hero while living in boxes.