Found You, Little Explorer!

Papa Tiger tiptoed closer, his paws making barely a whisper on the woven rug. The soft glow of the moon, peeking through the jungle leaves outside their cozy den, illuminated the room, casting long, playful shadows. Mama Tiger held her breath, her tail twitching with a mixture of anticipation and relief. They had searched high and low, through every napping nook and cranny, their little Roary had somehow managed to vanish into thin air. And now, the faintest, most beautiful sound had led them here: a tiny, rumbling snore, like a distant, happy purr.

The sound was coming from behind the big, overflowing knitting basket. It was Mama Tiger’s favorite knitting basket, a riot of colorful yarn and half-finished projects, a place Roary usually loved to dive into and pull out all the woolly treasures. But tonight, it seemed to be guarding a secret. Papa Tiger, with the grace of a jungle cat on a mission, gently nudged the basket aside.

And there he was. Roary. Curled up in a perfect, fuzzy ball, nestled amongst a tangle of soft, sky-blue yarn. His little striped face was relaxed, his nose twitching ever so slightly with each sleepy breath. A stray strand of fluffy white wool was draped over one ear, making him look like a tiny, sleepy cloud. He was fast asleep, utterly, completely, gloriously asleep.