" Hey, Emma?" Mia called.

" Yeah?"

" Did you find the animal safe paint?"

" Not yeeeeeeet!"

Mia sighed, rocking the baby panda in her hand. " Annie?"

" I'm making it!!"

The baby panda in Mia's arms tried to break free.

" No no, Dotspot. Not now. Just wait until lunch."

The baby giant panda was NOT listening.

He kicked Mia's stomach some more.

"ANNIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

' I'm here!!" Annie yelped as she ran to her best friend.

" Where is it?" Mia asked hurriedly as the panda began to hit her chest.

Annie thrust the milk bottle into Dotspot's mouth, and it began to calm down.

Mia sighed in relief and gave the baby animal to Annie. "Imma go help Emma find the paint."

Annie nodded. " Okay, but hurry."

Mia nodded, then rushed into the animal center building.

" Hey, Emma?" Mia called. " Have you found it yet?"

Emma shook her head, and Mia sighed. " Well, I'll help."

Emma grinned. " Thanks!"

As Mia went to one of the cupboards and opened it, a newspaper clipping fell out. Mia picked it up and smiled a little.

" Remember the day we opened the center?"

Emma turned and gave her a wacky grin. " And remember the month we spent stranded here?"

Mia laughed. " Annie wasn't very pleased."

Emma snorted. "Pleased? She nearly built a raft out of bamboo and duct tape to escape. If it weren't for that raccoon stealing her granola bars, she might've made it."

Mia burst out laughing, clutching the edge of the cupboard for support. "Oh my gosh, I totally forgot about the raccoon! What did she call him? Captain Snatchy?"

Emma doubled over. "Captain Snatchy, Lord of Granola Theft. She wrote a song about him, remember?"

Mia straightened up, tears in her eyes from laughing. "Oh, I remember. Something like, 'Captain Snatchy took my snacks, and now my tummy wants them back—'"

Emma joined in, both of them horribly off-key:
"'He's got tiny paws and a bandit face,
But karma's coming for him at a steady pace!'"

Their laughter echoed through the animal center, loud enough to draw Annie to the doorway, holding Dotspot, who had a milk mustache. "What are you two hyenas cackling about now?"

"Captain Snatchy!" Mia wheezed, holding up the newspaper clipping.

Annie groaned, shifting Dotspot in her arms. "Ugh, don't remind me. I still have nightmares about him. Every time I hear rustling, I think he's back to steal my snacks."

Emma smirked. "Pretty sure he's out there somewhere, living his best raccoon life, munching on a five-course meal of stolen trail mix."

Annie rolled her eyes, then froze. "Wait... do you hear that?"

The room went silent as everyone listened. There was a faint rustling outside the window.

"No way," Mia whispered, her eyes wide.

"Is it...?" Emma's voice trailed off as she tiptoed to the window.

Slowly, she peeked out, and then her jaw dropped. "GUYS. IT'S CAPTAIN SNATCHY!"

The raccoon was perched on a crate, boldly chewing on a granola bar, his beady eyes locking onto them as if daring them to do something about it.

Annie let out an unholy screech and shoved Dotspot into Mia's arms. "THAT'S IT! HE'S GOING DOWN!"

Emma cackled as Annie stormed out the door, brandishing a broom she grabbed on the way. "This is it, Captain Snatchy! Your reign of terror ends today!"

Mia cradled Dotspot, shaking her head as Annie chased the raccoon around the yard. "You'd think after all this time, she'd let it go."

Emma wiped tears from her eyes. "Are you kidding? Annie's got a grudge longer than that broomstick."

Outside, Captain Snatchy leapt onto a fence, wagging his bushy tail in triumph. Annie waved her broom in the air like a warrior preparing for battle.

"You can run, but you can't hide!" Annie yelled as the raccoon disappeared into the trees.

Mia sighed, looking down at Dotspot, who had fallen asleep. "Well, at least one of us has their priorities straight."

Emma smirked. "Speak for yourself. I'm putting 'Captain Snatchy: The Musical' back on our to-do list."

Mia grinned. "First we find that animal-safe paint, then we compose a masterpiece."

"Deal."

" Come on, Dotspot!" Mia said as she struggled to keep the squirming animal from moving.

Emma, who was trying to paint Dotspot's paw to print on the canvas Annie was holding. " Stay... still!"

"Dotspot, I swear," Mia grunted, wrestling the panda as it wiggled and let out tiny squeaks of protest. "If you don't stop squirming, no extra bamboo for dinner!"

Dotspot paused for a moment, tilting his head as if considering the threat, then resumed his dramatic wiggling.

Emma groaned, her brush hovering precariously close to Dotspot's paw. "Mia, I think he's calling your bluff."

"He's not that smart," Mia said, but her grip slipped as Dotspot gave a surprisingly strategic kick, sending a splatter of blue paint flying.

The paint landed squarely on Annie's face.

Annie froze, her eyes narrowing. "Did... Did I just get Picasso-ed by a panda?"

Emma burst out laughing, nearly dropping the brush. "You look like a modern art exhibit!"

"THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" Annie shouted, stomping her foot. "I look like a Smurf that lost a paintball war!"

Dotspot, as if enjoying the chaos he created, let out a delighted squeak and flopped onto his back, smearing more paint on the floor.

Mia sighed, wiping her forehead with her sleeve, which only spread more paint across her face. "Great. Now we're all part of the masterpiece."

Annie glared at Emma. "Why don't you try holding him while I paint?"

Emma smirked, handing Annie the brush. "Challenge accepted."

She crouched down and scooped up Dotspot, cradling him like a baby. Dotspot blinked up at her, momentarily stunned.

"See? He loves me," Emma said smugly.

Dotspot responded by sneezing directly into her face.

Annie doubled over with laughter. "Who's the masterpiece now?"

Emma wiped at her face with a dramatic groan. "I've been betrayed by the cutest criminal alive."

Mia grabbed a nearby towel and handed it to Emma. "Okay, team. Let's regroup. New plan: Annie holds Dotspot, Emma paints, and I... supervise."

"Why do I have to hold him?" Annie asked, glaring suspiciously at Dotspot, who was now licking his paw like an innocent angel.

"Because you're the oldest," Mia said, already taking a step back.

"That doesn't even make sense!" Annie protested.

"Exactly!" Emma chimed in with a grin.

Annie groaned but reluctantly picked up Dotspot. He immediately nuzzled into her chest, smearing blue paint all over her shirt.

"Great. Just great," Annie muttered.

"You're doing amazing, sweetie," Mia teased, earning herself a glare.

Finally, Emma dipped the brush into the paint and carefully dabbed it onto Dotspot's paw. "Okay, now gently press it on the canvas—"

Before Annie could move, Dotspot swung his painted paw dramatically and slapped it right onto Annie's cheek.

Mia collapsed into laughter. "Ladies and gentlemen, the artist has spoken!"

Emma held up the canvas, where a single perfect paw print sat in the center. "Mission accomplished, even if we're all collateral damage."

Annie sighed, her face now a mix of paint colors. "Next time, we're painting rocks."

Dotspot let out a happy squeak, clearly proud of himself.

As Mia carefully examined Dotspot, the baby panda sat surprisingly still, munching on a stalk of bamboo Annie had given him as a bribe. "Alright, Dotspot," Mia said, shining a tiny flashlight into his eyes. "Eyes look good, ears look good... nose? A little wet, but that's normal. No signs of any issues, just a little paint residue. You're one healthy troublemaker."

Dotspot sneezed again, sending a bit of bamboo leaf flying onto Annie's shirt.

"Ugh, really?" Annie groaned, trying to keep her hold on the panda without getting covered in even more paint. "Mia, how do you deal with this chaos every day?"

"It's called patience, Annie," Mia replied with a smirk. "Maybe if you didn't freak out every time you got a little dirty—"

"—a little dirty?" Annie interrupted, gesturing to the streaks of blue, green, and yellow paint all over her clothes. "I look like I just walked out of an abstract art explosion!"

Meanwhile, Emma sat on the floor with an easel, her tongue sticking out slightly in concentration as she painted Blackie. 

Again.

Mia glanced over her shoulder. "Emma, what are you doing?"

"Painting Blackie, obviously," Emma replied without looking up.

"You already have, like, ten paintings of him," Mia said, arching an eyebrow.

"This one's different!" Emma insisted.

"How?"

"This one is... from hisleft profile." Emma paused dramatically, gesturing at the half-finished painting. "I call it: The Shadow of Elegance."

Annie snorted. "More like The Obsession That Never Ends."

"I'm a devoted artist, thank you very much," Emma said, holding her chin high. "Plus, Blackie has that mysterious, moody vibe. She's a muse."

Mia shook her head, chuckling. "I'm starting to think you care more about Blackie than you do about us."

"Not true," Emma replied, finally looking up. "You're just not as photogenic as Blackie."

"Wow, thanks," Annie deadpanned.

Dotspot chose this moment to make a grab for the flashlight in Mia's hand, nearly knocking it out. Mia pulled it back just in time.

"Dotspot!" she scolded lightly. "You're supposed to be a patient, not a pickpocket."

"Don't you dare give him any ideas," Annie said, eyeing the panda warily.

Emma added a final stroke to her painting and held it up proudly. "Done! What do you think?"

The painting showed Blackie lounging on a windowsill, bathed in sunlight, with a smug look that seemed to scream, I own this house.

"It's... honestly really good," Mia admitted.

"Of course it is," Emma said, standing up and admiring her work. "Now, where to hang it?"

"There's no space left on the walls," Annie muttered. "Unless you start hanging them on the ceiling."

Emma's eyes lit up. "Brilliant idea!"

"No," Mia and Annie said in unison.

Dotspot let out a squeaky laugh, and Mia shook her head. "You're lucky you're cute, Dotspot. Now let's get you back to your enclosure before you inspire any more chaos."

Emma grinned mischievously. "Or... we could paint his nails next. Animal-safe polish, of course."

"Absolutely not!" Annie said, clutching Dotspot like her life depended on it.

Mia sighed, already envisioning the inevitable mess. "Why do I feel like I'm the only adult in this room?"

"Because you are," Emma and Annie said together, then burst into laughter.

"Alright, Dotspot, time for a life lesson," Mia said, setting the squirmy baby panda on the floor. "We're going to teach you how to walk properly—no wobbling or rolling around like a little roly-poly."

Dotspot gave her a blank stare, then immediately flopped onto his back, making his best help-me-I'm-helpless expression.

Annie crouched down beside him, wagging her finger. "Oh no, you don't, mister. You're not getting out of this. Everyone learns to walk at some point—even you."

From the couch, Blackie flicked his tail lazily, watching the scene unfold. "Honestly, you'd think the kid was a baby sloth with how much he loves to laze around," he said, his tone dripping with sass. "Maybe I should teach him. My stride is flawless."

Emma snorted, holding back a laugh. "Blackie, you can't seriously think Dotspot can walk like a cat."

Blackie jumped down gracefully, his paws landing silently on the floor. "Watch and learn, amateurs." He strutted across the room, tail high and ears perked, like he was on a runway. "That's how you do it."

Dotspot, intrigued, rolled onto his belly and watched Blackie with wide eyes. He made a feeble attempt to crawl forward but ended up face-planting into the floor.

Annie gasped. "Dotspot, no! You're supposed to watch Blackie, not eat the floor!"

"I'm surrounded by incompetence," Blackie muttered, hopping onto the table for a better vantage point. "Alright, kid, follow me. Step, step, pause. Tail up for balance. And for the love of catnip, don't drool while you're doing it."

Dotspot stood up on his wobbly legs, his chubby little body swaying like a reed in the wind. He took one step. Then another.

Mia clapped her hands. "That's it, Dotspot! You're doing it!"

Dotspot's confidence skyrocketed—too much, apparently, because he tried to pick up speed and immediately tumbled into Annie, sending her toppling over.

"Dotspot!" Annie yelled, sprawled on the floor with the panda half-sitting on her. "You're a wrecking ball with fur!"

Blackie sighed dramatically. "Well, at least he tried. More than I can say for some of you humans when it comes to elegance."

Emma was practically on the floor laughing. "You should see yourself, Blackie. You look like you're judging a fashion show."

"That's because I am," Blackie replied smugly, licking his paw. "And let me tell you, Dotspot has a long way to go before he's runway-ready."

Mia shook her head, scooping Dotspot back up. "Alright, enough lessons for today. Let's go take a break before Blackie starts assigning grades."

"Oh, he's already failed," Blackie called after them as Mia carried Dotspot toward his enclosure. "But don't worry, kid. Stick with me, and you might graduate from adorable disaster to tolerable one day."

"Blackie," Mia said over her shoulder, "if you weren't so sassy, I'd almost think you cared."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Blackie replied, hopping back onto the couch and curling up. "Now, someone bring me a snack. Observing all this chaos has been exhausting."