That day, the animals had a normal workday planned: wake-up, exercise, a swim in the lake, and a special breakfast. Peace reigned in the jungle, and rays of sunshine pierced through the dense palm leaves, creating golden patterns on the ground.
Ala the Parrot, who had recently returned from visiting her distant cousin living near the human town, suggested she would make scrambled eggs for everyone—something she’d observed at the humans’ place.
„I’ll make you delicious scrambled eggs!” she announced proudly, flapping her colorful wings.
The animals, though accustomed to their usual treats, accepted the proposal with curiosity. Leo the Lion adjusted his hat and sat at the table, Patricia prepared her magnifying glass to examine the new dish closely, and Sophia the Giraffe stretched her long neck to observe the preparation process.
Ala the Parrot, wearing an apron and chef’s hat, with a large pan in her wing, served everyone a portion of scrambled eggs. Each animal added their favorite toppings: Alfred the Anteater sprinkled his portion with ants, Patricia the Desert Mouse added cheese, Sophia the Giraffe added palm leaves, and Leo the Lion added bacon strips.
After breakfast and cleanup, the advice session began. First came Mrs. Gazelle with a chipped hoof. Sophia the Giraffe helped her by applying a special regenerating gel they kept in their medicine and remedies storage.
Suddenly, as Sophia was finishing bandaging the Gazelle’s little hoof, the animals heard noise at the gate. Leo, adjusting his detective hat, went to check what was happening. Before he reached the gate, something pink jumped over it—it was Mrs. Felicia the Flamingo, all shaken up with her feathers in disarray.
„My husband, Frank the Flamingo, has been kidnapped!” she cried nervously, barely catching her breath.
„How did it happen?” asked Alfred the Anteater, raising his long nose to better catch the flamingo’s scent.
Felicia explained how they were standing by the lake on one leg, and when she turned around, Frank was gone. At the scene, she found only three pink feathers.
The animals immediately sprang into action. They gathered the necessary detective equipment: ropes, climbing shoes, flashlights, provisions, and folding hang gliders. Alfred packed special test tubes for evidence, and Patricia took her notebook and several different magnifying glasses.
The Investigation Begins
At the flamingo’s disappearance site, the detectives noticed broken branches, claw marks, and large paw prints. Alfred, using his extraordinary sense of smell, stated:
„I smell a forest monster. He’s a rare visitor to our area, but I’ve heard about him from other animals. Good news—he’s never harmed anyone, though he has kidnapped chickens and sheep.”
The detectives followed the trail. Patricia the Desert Mouse walked first, examining the tracks through her magnifying glass. Behind her followed Alfred, sniffing intensely, and Leo observed the surroundings, ready to defend the team. Sophia the Giraffe used her height to watch for any signs of the monster’s presence, and Ala the Parrot flew above them, giving signals from the air.
The tracks led through dense forest, and every so often they found pink feathers that Frank was leaving as clues. When they reached the river, they built a rope bridge to cross to the other side without getting their equipment wet.
After consultation and map analysis, they determined that the monster was heading to an abandoned cave at the mountain top. The climb was difficult, but thanks to cooperation and specialized equipment, they reached the place before dusk.
Hidden in the bushes, they observed the cave. When the monster came out, the desert mouse snuck inside. She found the flamingo chained to the wall, with many plucked feathers.
„We’re here as a whole team, we’ll free you soon,” she whispered. „Why did he kidnap you?”
„He wants to make a magic spell from my feathers. He believes they must be freshly plucked,” Frank replied in a trembling voice.
The Rescue Plan
The mouse returned to the team and they developed a detailed rescue plan. Sophia the Giraffe spread out the area map, and Leo marked potential escape routes.
„We must act quickly and precisely,” said the desert mouse. „I’ll prepare a special fear-enhancing elixir, but we need a way for the monster to drink it.”
Patricia went to the forest, collected the appropriate leaves, then in her portable laboratory mixed them with a bit of essential oils. She heated the mixture and produced several drops of a preparation that, when consumed, increased the feeling of fear. The animals often used this preparation when they needed to scare away bullies stealing carrots or camping in the forest.
„Alfred, you’ll be the bait,” Leo decided, adjusting his detective hat. „Your hang glider will let you escape quickly.”
The anteater nodded, though uncertainty showed in his eyes.
„I’ll sneak from the side of the cave and ring a bell. When the monster comes out, I’ll fly away on the glider,” Alfred explained. „He’ll think it’s some tourist, and meanwhile Patricia will switch the elixir.”
Leo, who had been watching the cave through binoculars the whole time, whispered:
„The monster just returned. I see him starting to cook something in a pot.”
The mouse pricked up her huge ears and confirmed:
„I hear glass clinking and something being stirred in a pot. Now is the perfect moment to switch the elixir.”
The Daring Rescue
Alfred very carefully snuck near the cave, rang the bell, and waited. Silence. He rang again, louder.
„Who’s there? I’ll chase you away!” he heard a growling voice from inside the cave.
„You won’t chase me away, whoever you are!” the anteater shouted back bravely, unfolding his small hang glider.
The monster ran out of the cave, furious and ready to attack. Alfred, seeing his enormous figure, felt his heart jump to his throat. He took a deep breath, spread the glider, and started running down the slope. The monster gave chase, roaring terrifyingly.
At the same time, the desert mouse, taking advantage of the commotion, jumped onto the rope and with a nimble movement leaped into the cave. Her heart was beating like crazy as she crept toward the bubbling pot. She poured five drops of elixir into the mixture and quickly hid behind a large boulder.
Meanwhile, Alfred maneuvered the glider, avoiding stones thrown by the monster. One of them flew right past his head. With a clever dodge, he moved off the stone’s flight path and soared toward the pen. His mission was complete, but he could no longer help the others.
The monster, puffing with anger, returned to the cave. He looked around suspiciously but didn’t notice the hidden mouse. He sat by the pot, stirred the elixir, and poured it into a clay cup. Slowly he raised the vessel to his lips and drank it in one gulp.
For a moment, nothing happened. The monster licked his lips, as if evaluating the taste, but suddenly his eyes widened with fear. He began looking around nervously, mumbling something about ghosts lurking in the darkness.
„What was that? Someone’s here?” he roared, but panic could be heard in his voice.
The animals seized the moment. On the agreed signal, Ala the Parrot began circling around the cave, making terrifying sounds. From above, Leo the Lion roared so loudly that the monster jumped. Sophia the Giraffe, using her height, cast shadows on the cave walls, creating sinister shapes.
„Ghosts! Ghosts are chasing me!” the monster screamed, jumping to his feet.
Trembling with fear, the monster threw the pot to the ground, spilling the elixir, and ran out of the cave, letting out a long, terrified roar. The animals watched as the giant fled in panic toward the forest, trampling everything he encountered on the way.
Victory and Return
The desert mouse immediately ran to the flamingo and, using a special tool from the detective kit, opened the chain’s padlock.
„I thought I’d never get out of this cave!” Frank said with tears in his eyes. „You’re a true hero.”
„It was the whole team’s work,” the mouse replied. „Now we must get back quickly before the monster decides to return.”
Frank the Flamingo, though weakened, with the help of the mouse and Sophia the Giraffe, left the cave. Outside, Leo the Lion and Ala the Parrot were already waiting. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that Frank was whole, though missing a few feathers.
The team safely returned to base, where Frank was treated by Sophia, and the other animals celebrated another success, recording the adventure’s details in the detective chronicle.