Morning at the Steps

Sarah climbed the marble steps of the Temple of Jupiter, her yellow dress bright against the white stone. The morning sun made everything gleam. She carried a small clay bowl filled with milk - her daily offering for Whiskers, the temple's sacred cat.

"Here, kitty," she called softly, setting the bowl near the massive columns. Usually, the orange tabby appeared within moments, purring and rubbing against her legs. But today, silence.

Sarah walked around the temple's base, checking every shadow. The priests were busy with their morning rituals, their voices echoing from inside. Citizens hurried past on their way to the forum, but no one stopped to help a girl looking for a cat.

"Whiskers?" she whispered, peering behind bronze statues of eagles. Her green eyes scanned every corner. The milk sat untouched, growing warm in the sun.

Something felt wrong. Whiskers never missed breakfast.

The Baker's Warning

Sarah hurried down the stone steps, her sandals clicking against the marble. If Whiskers wasn't at the temple, maybe he had wandered into the busy streets below.

The forum buzzed with morning activity. Merchants called out their wares while citizens gathered around fountains. Sarah pushed through the crowd, scanning every corner for orange fur.

"Whiskers!" she called, but her voice disappeared in the noise.

Near the bread stalls, she spotted Marcus the baker kneading dough behind his wooden counter. His flour-covered apron was already dusty from the morning's work.

"Have you seen the temple cat?" Sarah asked, stepping closer.

Marcus paused, his weathered hands still in the dough. "The orange one? Haven't seen him today." He glanced around nervously. "But strange things have been happening lately. Animals going missing all over the city."

Sarah's stomach dropped. "Missing?"

"My neighbor's dog vanished three days ago. The fishmonger's cat too." Marcus lowered his voice. "Some say someone's been taking them. For what purpose, nobody knows."

The bread smells that usually made Sarah hungry now made her feel sick. Whiskers wasn't just lost—he might be in real danger.