Morning in the Tower

Ms. Crayon Llama stretched her cream-white arms and yawned as sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Crayon Tower. Her blue mask lay on the nightstand next to her giant crayon, which glowed softly in the morning light.

She pulled on her supersuit and cape, then walked to the kitchen where her assistant, Bobby Brush Bear, was already making breakfast. The brown bear wore his usual green apron and thick glasses.

"Good morning, Ms. Llama," Bobby said, flipping pancakes. "Did you see the news?"

She grabbed her phone and scrolled through Canvas Zoo City's morning headlines. Bobby pointed at the stove with his spatula. "Channel 7 said something about art supplies going missing from the elementary school."

Ms. Crayon Llama paused mid-bite of her pancake. "Missing art supplies?"

Bobby nodded. "Three classrooms reported empty supply closets yesterday. No signs of breaking in, nothing else taken."

She stood up, her brown eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

The Empty Canvas

Ms. Crayon Llama fastened her utility belt and grabbed her giant blue crayon. "I should investigate this myself."

Bobby Brush Bear pushed his thick glasses up his nose. "Want me to come along?"

"Stay here and monitor the news," she said, stepping onto the tower's balcony. Her cape fluttered as she took flight toward Canvas Elementary.

The school playground buzzed with activity. A group of koala children sat in a circle, their fuzzy ears drooping sadly. Their teacher, Mrs. Sparrow, flapped her brown wings nervously as she spoke to Principal Fox.

Ms. Crayon Llama landed softly near them. "Excuse me, I heard about the missing supplies."

Principal Fox turned, his red fur gleaming in the sunlight. "Ms. Crayon Llama! Thank goodness you're here. It's worse than we thought."

Mrs. Sparrow chirped anxiously. "Not just three classrooms now. Every art room in the district has been emptied overnight. Paints, brushes, clay, everything's gone."

One little koala looked up with tear-filled black eyes. "We can't make our Mother's Day cards now."

Ms. Crayon Llama's brown eyes widened. The entire city's creative future hung in the balance.