Morning Rounds

Ms Paint Platypus floated three feet above the marble floor of her art gallery, her blue and black supersuit shimmering under the morning light. The glowing paint splats across her chest pulsed gently as she surveyed her collection.

"Another peaceful day in Canvas Zoo City," she murmured, adjusting her teal mask.

She drifted past a vibrant landscape painting of rolling green hills. Her webbed feet barely touched down as she examined a sculpture of dancing bears made from clay and copper wire.

The gallery's front door chimed. A young woman with curly red hair and bright green eyes stepped inside, wearing a yellow sundress and carrying a sketchpad.

"Welcome to the Platypus Art Gallery," Ms Paint called out, landing softly on the floor. Her beaver-like tail swished behind her as she approached the visitor.

"I'm Emma Rodriguez, an art student," the woman said, looking around in wonder. "I've heard amazing things about this place."

Ms Paint smiled proudly. "Each piece tells a story. Feel free to explore."

Emma nodded eagerly and began walking through the exhibits, her pencil already moving across her sketchpad.

The Draining Gallery

Emma stopped in front of a painting of bright yellow sunflowers. She gasped and stepped back, bumping into Ms Paint Platypus.

"What's wrong?" Ms Paint asked, her webbed feet landing firmly on the marble floor.

Emma pointed at the canvas with a shaking finger. "The colors... they're fading!"

Ms Paint Platypus looked at the painting. The brilliant yellow petals were turning pale gray, like someone was draining the color away drop by drop. The green stems followed, becoming lifeless silver.

"That's impossible," Ms Paint whispered, but her paint splats began glowing brighter on her chest.

Across the gallery, more paintings were losing their colors. A red rose became white. A blue ocean turned to ash. The dancing bear sculpture's copper wire dulled to plain metal.

Emma grabbed her phone and started recording. "This is incredible! I've never seen anything like this."

Ms Paint Platypus activated her x-ray vision, scanning the gallery walls. Something was moving through the building's foundation—a strange network of tubes pumping color out like a giant vacuum.

"We need to get everyone out," Ms Paint said. "Someone is stealing the colors from my entire collection."