Morning Sketches

Doodle Buck stretched his arms and yawned as morning sunlight streamed through his bedroom window. His three-story house stood right in the center of Forest Metropolis, covered from roof to foundation in colorful doodles he'd drawn over the years.

"Another peaceful morning," he said, pulling on his dark blue supersuit. The grey gloves fit perfectly over his hooves, and he adjusted his grey mask in the mirror.

Outside his window, the bustling city was already alive. Humans walked alongside humanoid forest animals on the sidewalks below. Cars honked, and vendors called out their morning specials.

Doodle Buck grabbed his favorite red crayon from his art supplies and started sketching a new doodle on his bedroom wall. A bright yellow sun with a smiling face appeared under his talented hooves.

His phone buzzed with a text message. Then another. And another.

"That's weird," he muttered, checking his screen. Twenty-one different numbers had sent him messages, all asking the same thing: "Want to go on a date today?"

The Great Escape Begins

Doodle Buck's phone kept buzzing. More messages poured in every few seconds.

"Meet me at the coffee shop!" read one text.

"I made your favorite cookies!" said another.

"Will you marry me?" appeared on his screen.

His big friendly eyes widened behind his grey mask. Through his bedroom window, he spotted something alarming. A crowd of female forest animals had gathered outside his house. Eight caribou stood on his front lawn, their antlers gleaming in the morning sun. Seven elk clustered near his mailbox, chatting excitedly. Six deer paced back and forth on his sidewalk.

"Oh no," Doodle Buck whispered.

One of the caribou looked up and pointed directly at his window. "There he is!"

The entire group turned toward his house and started running. Their hooves thundered against the pavement like a stampede.

Doodle Buck's heart pounded. He activated his super speed and zipped around his room, grabbing his art supplies. Red crayon, blue marker, green pencil - everything went into his utility belt.

The doorbell rang. Then someone knocked. Then twenty-one voices called out together: "Doodle Buck! We know you're in there!"

He gulped and looked for an escape route.