Morning Patrol

Buck stretched his powerful legs as the morning sun painted the sky above Antler Metropolis. His light blue mask caught the breeze as he soared between the towering skyscrapers, his keen eyes scanning the streets below. Citizens—both human and deer—waved up at their beloved protector as they hurried to work.

"Another peaceful morning," he murmured, adjusting his black and light blue supersuit. The four crayon towers of Atomic Crayon Tower gleamed in the distance, his home base standing proudly in the city's heart.

Buck landed gracefully on a rooftop, pulling out his giant glowing crayon. He loved practicing with it during quiet moments like these. The magical tool hummed with energy in his hands, ready to help however he might need it.

A flash of movement caught his attention across the plaza. Something was wrong with the flower garden below—the bright red roses looked oddly pale. Buck squinted through his mask, focusing his enhanced vision on the strange sight.

The Fading Garden

Buck swooped down toward the flower garden, his boots touching the cobblestone path with a soft thud. Up close, the roses looked even stranger—their deep red petals had turned a dull grayish-pink, like someone had drained half their color away.

"What in the world?" he murmured, kneeling beside a particularly faded bloom.

A sharp voice called out from across the plaza. "Hey, you in the fancy suit! Something's wrong with my roses!"

Buck turned to see a woman with short auburn hair hurrying toward him. She wore dirt-stained overalls and carried a watering can that sloshed with each quick step. Her green eyes flashed with worry as she gestured at her flower stand nearby.

"I'm Maya, the florist," she said, catching her breath. "These roses were perfect this morning—bright red, just like always. But look at them now!"

Buck examined her portable flower cart. Every single bloom showed the same odd fading. The yellow daffodils looked pale, the purple tulips seemed washed out.

"It's not just your flowers," Buck said, pointing across the street. "Look at the traffic signs."

The usually bright red stop sign had turned an eerie pink. Even the yellow taxi cabs looked strangely muted.