## The First Day of Autumn
It was the first day of autumn. The animals in the jungle were already missing summer. Although the seasons in the jungle looked different from those in other places, they traditionally recognized this day as the beginning of autumn. They wondered if other animals were preparing for winter.
## Morning Wake-Up
On this particular morning, the wake-up call was very late. Giraffe Sophie, who was supposed to wake everyone up and organize the morning exercise, had set the alarm clock incorrectly. She woke up only when parrot Alice called out: „Sophie, isn’t it your turn to lead the exercise?” „Oh dear, the alarm didn’t go off!” Sophie sighed, stretching her long neck. Alice added, „You know, desert mouse, sometimes I think Sophie intentionally doesn’t set the alarm when she doesn’t feel like leading the exercise, especially on days when it’s not sunny.”
## Breakfast of the Detectives
The animals knew that exercise was important for their health. They did a few basic exercises but didn’t feel like taking a bath that day. They just wet their paws and hooves, then quickly returned to their house. They cleaned the rooms, made their beds, aired the place, and sat down to breakfast. Lion Kuba enjoyed steak cookies with a warm ginger tea. „Autumn is a good time for ginger,” he muttered, adjusting his favorite hat. Desert mouse Patrycja munched on cheese cookies, carefully writing down the day’s plan in her diary. „We must be prepared for everything,” she said, adjusting her magnifying glass. Giraffe Sophie savored palm cookies, reaching for the highest leaves through the window. „I apologize for the alarm,” she sighed. „I promise to wake up first tomorrow.” Anteater Alfred enjoyed ant cookies, sniffing the air with his long nose. „I feel like today will be an interesting day,” he said, licking his lips.
## Advice for the Jungle Residents
After breakfast, the animals washed the dishes and reviewed their plan for the day. The main task was to provide morning advice for other animals. When they opened the door to receive guests, the first to arrive was Mr. Mole. „Good day, animals I don’t see anything in these circumstances,” he said, stumbling over the threshold. „Mr. Mole, you generally have poor eyesight,” replied Patrycja. „Please sit down at our table. Would you like some lemonade?” „Not really, thank you. If you have a bowl of milk, I might take a sip.” „Certainly, lactose-free milk,” added Patrycja, handing him a bowl. Mr. Mole explained that someone had been tapping on the roof of his burrow. Despite his observations and many attempts, he couldn’t find the cause. „This is very disturbing,” said Kuba, putting on his detective hat. „Does the tapping have a rhythm?” „Sometimes it’s louder, sometimes softer,” replied Mr. Mole. „Mostly, I hear it in the evening and early morning.”
## Preparations for the Investigation
The animals promised to conduct a special investigative mission that afternoon. The next to arrive was Wild Boar Darek. He was a young resident of the area and didn’t know all the customs yet. He greeted everyone warmly and offered to share his chestnuts. „I’m preparing for winter and gathering supplies, but I noticed that acorns are disappearing from one of my burrows,” he said, worried and scratching his hooves. „That’s very mysterious,” declared Lion Kuba, combing his mane. „Today, we’ll be near Mr. Mole’s place, so we’ll gladly take care of your problem too.” „Did you notice any signs near the burrow?” asked Patrycja, pulling out her notebook. „No, nothing special,” replied Darek. „The acorns just disappear.”
## The Expedition and Investigation
After finishing their consultations, the animals gathered in the living room to plan their afternoon expedition. „We need to be well-prepared,” said Patrycja, spreading out a map of the area. „Mr. Mole’s burrow is here, and Wild Boar Darek’s hideout… where exactly?” „Near the old oak tree,” remembered Alfred. „I recall that smell.” Sophie looked at the map from above. „Indeed, these places are close to each other. Maybe these cases are related?” The animals prepared their detective gear: camera traps, night vision goggles, sample containers for tracks, and other accessories. Kuba packed everything into a backpack, and Sophie prepared sandwiches with palm leaves and ants for the journey. „Is everyone ready?” asked Kuba, adjusting his hat. „Ready!” replied the other animals in unison.
## The Journey and Investigation
The path to Mr. Mole’s burrow led through a dense part of the jungle. Sophie walked ahead, looking around with her long neck. Alfred sniffed tracks, and Patrycja recorded all observations. „Look I see hoof prints leading to Mr. Mole’s burrow,” exclaimed Sophie. Alfred immediately examined the tracks with his sensitive nose. „This is a boar, but I’m not sure if it’s Darek. The scent is slightly different.” „Maybe it’s his cousin?” wondered Kuba. „Darek mentioned that he has family in the area.” Following the tracks, the detectives arrived at a small hill. Sophie, with her height, could see the entire area. „I see Mr. Mole’s burrow And just above it, there’s some kind of hole in the ground… could that be Darek’s hideout?”
## The Solution to the Mystery
The animals approached closer and noticed that Wild Boar Darek’s burrow was directly above Mr. Mole’s home. Patrycja pulled out her magnifying glass and began to examine the ground structure. „Hmm, interesting… The earth between the burrows is quite thin and cracked. I see small fissures.” Alfred lay down on the ground and put his ear to it. „I hear something Like the rolling of small objects.” On the spot, they set up their equipment and began observing. Kuba placed the camera trap, and Patrycja prepared the night vision goggles. Sophie watched the surroundings from above, and Alfred listened and sniffed. After an hour of patient waiting, they heard the characteristic sound – tapping on Mr. Mole’s burrow. At the same moment, the camera trap recorded movement at the entrance to Darek’s hideout. „Something’s happening!” whispered Kuba.
## Revealing the Mystery
Desert mouse Patrycja, with her small stature, could peek into both burrows at once. She noticed that when Wild Boar Darek arranged his acorns in his hideout, some of them slipped through a fissure in the floor and fell directly onto Mr. Mole’s burrow roof, causing the tapping. „I’ve solved the mystery!” exclaimed Patrycja, jumping out of the burrow. „We just need to seal Darek’s hideout and fix Mr. Mole’s ceiling. The acorns are falling through the fissure into the lower burrow, causing the tapping!” „Ah, that’s why my supplies were disappearing!” exclaimed Darek, who had just returned to his hideout. „I thought someone was stealing them, but they were just falling into Mr. Mole’s home!” „And I thought someone was intentionally tapping on my roof!” said Mr. Mole, coming out of his burrow. „What a relief to know it was just acorns!”
## Aftermath
Anteater Alfred pulled out the acorns with his long tongue, and Giraffe Sophie, with her height, could carefully inspect the roof of Mr. Mole’s burrow. „I promise to help with the repairs,” said Sophie. „I have a good view from above and can point out all the fissures.” „And I’ll bring clay and leaves to seal the floor of my hideout,” added Darek. Kuba, with his usual energy, organized all the repair work. Patrycja drew a detailed plan for the repairs, and Alfred used his long tongue to reach difficult places.
## Conclusion
After a few hours of work, both burrows were as good as new. Mr. Mole had a solid, leak-proof roof, and Wild Boar Darek had a sealed floor from which no acorn could escape. A delighted Darek thanked them for their help and promised to be more careful where he built his next hideouts for acorns. As a sign of gratitude, he shared his best chestnuts with the detectives. „This was a truly successful day,” said Kuba, as they returned home. „We solved two mysteries at once!” „And we helped our neighbors,” added Sophie with a smile.
## Return Home
The day ended with success, and the animals returned to their little house, satisfied with their work and the joint solution of another mystery. As the sun began to set, each of them took their favorite spot on the porch. Kuba lounged comfortably in his armchair, sipping lemonade and telling a dramatic version of their adventure. Patrycja wrote down the last details in her detective diary. Sophie savored fresh leaves, and Alfred imitated the sounds of the evening birds.
As they watched the sunset, they felt satisfaction with a job well done and enjoyed the peace of the autumn evening, already planning their next detective adventures.