Tiko the tiger adjusted his emerald leaf hat, the crisp, cold air a far cry from the steamy jungle he usually explored. He clutched a crinkled map that showed a picture of a shiny, round object, but the destination was smudged as if from a teary eye or a very runny nose. “Hmm,” Tiko mused, his striped tail giving a little twitch, “this map is certainly being dramatic today.” Tiko wasn’t just any tiger; he was an explorer, a collector of funny-shaped rocks, and the discoverer of twenty-seven new species of laughing plants. He could even chat with vines, making them his personal jungle swing sets. Right now, though, his jungle skills felt as useful as a pineapple in a snowdrift. He’d arrived in a village blanketed in fluffy white snow, where the most exciting thing happening was the quiet. Too quiet, in fact. Tiko dreamed of finding the legendary Giggle Gem, a treasure said to bring endless joy. His map, which changed destinations based on his mood, had recently pointed him to this peculiar, silent place. He’d never seen so much white. It was so different from the vibrant greens of his home. He hoped the Giggle Gem wasn't buried under all this fluff. He missed the sound of rustling leaves and the chattering of monkeys, not to mention the delightful peals of laughter from his plants. This quiet was making his own whiskers droop.
Suddenly, a blur of white with dark, rosetted spots zipped past Tiko’s nose, followed by happy squeals. “Found you!” giggled a little girl with a crown perched on her head. It was Sitara. She was playing hide-and-seek with a fluffy snow leopard cub. This cub, Snowy, was unlike any snow leopard Tiko had ever encountered. He was a beautiful, dark green, with white fur dotted with black spots that looked exactly like little rosettes. Snowy truly believed he was one of the children, bounding and hiding with as much enthusiasm as any of them. “My turn to hide!” Snowy chirped, his voice a soft, playful meow. He spotted Tiko and, thinking he was a new playmate, dashed behind a large snowdrift. “Come find me!” he called, his black dots wiggling with excitement. Tiko, a bit surprised to be invited into a game of hide-and-seek, especially in the snow, chuckled. This was a new kind of exploration. Snowy, so small and cute and friendly, reminded Tiko of the playful cubs he’d sometimes see back in the jungle, though Snowy was much more white and spotted than striped. Snowy’s innocent joy was infectious. He was so good at hiding, blending in with the snowy surroundings, making him a perfect companion for a game. Sitara, who loved puppies and tigers and dressing up, giggled as Snowy popped out from behind a snowball, making a funny face. “You’re so silly, Snowy!” she exclaimed. Snowy’s tail swished happily, convinced he was the best hider and the most beloved of Sitara’s playmates.
But a shadow of sadness had fallen over the usually cheerful village. The magical music-making ice crystals, which usually filled the air with twinkling melodies, had fallen silent. The joyous music that made everyone want to dance and sing had completely disappeared. Sitara, who loved music and dancing more than anything, looked forlorn. She couldn’t twirl to her favorite princess tunes because there were no tunes to twirl to! Tiko, feeling the village’s gloom, glanced at his treasure map. The smudged picture of the gem had vanished, replaced by a drawing of a towering, grumpy-looking snowman. Melody Mountain, the map declared. “Melody Mountain?” Tiko wondered aloud. “That sounds promising, especially with all this silence.” He felt a flicker of his adventurous spirit return. Perhaps his jungle skills could be useful even in this snowy landscape. He could talk to vines, after all, and maybe there were snowy vines or icy tendrils that could help. Snowy, seeing Sitara’s sad face and Tiko looking determined, padded over. “What’s wrong?” he asked, nudging Sitara’s hand. When he heard about the silent ice crystals, his cute little ears drooped. “No music? No dancing?” he whined. “That’s not fun!” He looked at Tiko, who was already packing his rock collection and his leaf hat. “Can I come? I want to help!” Tiko, surprised but pleased, nodded. “Of course, Snowy! Two explorers are better than one, even if one of them thinks he’s a princess-loving girl.” Snowy puffed out his chest, looking very determined. The snowman on the map seemed to be frowning, and Tiko hoped he wasn’t too difficult to deal with.
Tiko and Snowy set off towards Melody Mountain, the village shrinking behind them as they ventured into the quiet wilderness. The snow crunched softly under Tiko’s paws, and Snowy’s tiny paws barely made a sound. The landscape was stark and beautiful, all white and pale blue. Tiko’s map, however, was proving quite helpful. When they reached a wide, snowy ravine, Tiko called out, “Alright, vines, time to do your thing!” To his surprise, thick, icy tendrils, like frozen vines, grew from the side of the ravine. “Whoa!” Snowy exclaimed, his dark green fur shimmering. “Those look like fun to chase!” Tiko, with a bit of a wobble, swung across, Snowy scampering behind him, gleefully batting at the dangling ice strands. “This is way better than hiding!” Snowy chirped. Snowy, with his sharp eyes, spotted a narrow, almost invisible path winding upwards. “This way, Tiko!” he yipped, leading the way. As they climbed higher, the air grew colder, and they encountered large drifts of snow that seemed to shimmer and sway gently. “Sleepy snowdrifts,” Tiko read from his map. “They make you want to take a nap!” Tiko felt his eyelids get heavy, but then he remembered his collection. He pulled out a rock shaped like a very silly face. He chuckled at its goofy grin, and the sound of his own laughter, a bit rusty from the cold, seemed to push the sleepiness away. Snowy, always ready for a game, nudged Tiko’s funny rock. “He looks like he’s telling a joke!” Snowy giggled, and Tiko agreed. Their shared laughter was a shield against the drowsy magic of the snowdrifts. The path ahead was steep and slippery, but Tiko’s determination and Snowy’s cheerful spirit kept them moving forward, one paw in front of the other, towards the silent peak.
Finally, they reached the summit of Melody Mountain. And there he was – a colossal snowman, easily twice Tiko’s height, made of the whitest, most silent snow. His carrot nose was a little crooked, and his twig arms were spread wide, as if in a silent, grumpy hug. And tucked beneath those frosty arms were the magical ice crystals, completely covered. The crystals, usually so bright and musical, were dull and lifeless. The grumpy snowman’s stern expression seemed to say, “No music allowed here!” Tiko’s map now showed a clear picture of a small, sparkling gem. “Sir Snowman,” Tiko began, trying to sound as friendly as a jungle explorer could in this chilly place, “we’ve come to help the village. They miss their music.” The snowman just grumbled, a sound like snow falling off a roof. “I’m lonely,” he finally said, his voice a deep, muffled rumble. “No one ever plays with me. I just want someone to notice me.” He sighed, and a puff of cold air escaped him. Tiko realized the snowman wasn't intentionally trying to be mean; he was just sad and lonely. He tried to reason with him, explaining how important the music was, but the snowman just hugged the crystals tighter. Then, Snowy had an idea, a very playful, very Snowy idea. “Hey, Mr. Snowman!” Snowy called out, darting behind a large pine tree dusted with snow. “Can you find me?” The snowman looked confused. “Find you? But you’re right there.” Snowy giggled and popped out from behind another tree. “Nope! I’m over here now!” He did a little dance, his rosettes wiggling. The snowman, for the first time, seemed to crack a smile. He blinked his pebble eyes. Tiko watched, amazed, as Snowy continued his game, playfully darting and hiding. The snowman, utterly captivated by Snowy’s antics, started to laugh. It wasn’t a quiet chuckle; it was a booming, rumbling laugh that shook the mountain. As the snowman’s laughter grew, his frosty arms relaxed their grip. He was so busy watching Snowy that he didn’t notice as the ice crystals, freed from his embrace, began to glow. A faint tinkling sound started, then grew into a beautiful melody. The Giggle Gem, which had been hidden within the very core of the snowman’s being, vibrated with happiness and floated gently into view, a small, shimmering stone humming with joyful sounds. The snowman, his grumpiness gone, beamed. “Thank you, little leopard!” he boomed. “That was the most fun I’ve had in ages!”
With the ice crystals singing their sweet song and the Giggle Gem humming contentedly, Tiko and Snowy began their journey back. They decided the Giggle Gem belonged with the ice crystals, ensuring the village would always have its music. As they descended Melody Mountain, the air felt warmer, filled with the cheerful tunes that now drifted from the village. Sitara and all the children ran to meet them, their faces lit with joy. The village square was alive with dancing and laughter. Sitara twirled in circles, her crown askew, a huge smile on her face. “The music is back!” she cheered. Tiko, watching the happy scene, felt a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the snow. He hadn’t found the Giggle Gem for his collection, but seeing his new friends happy was a treasure far greater than any gem. Snowy, nestled amongst the children, purred contentedly, dreaming of his own family, happy to have helped his new ‘brothers and sisters.’ Tiko looked down at his map. The picture of the Giggle Gem had changed. Now, it showed a delicious, cheesy pizza with no sauce. Tiko’s tail gave a happy thump. It seemed his next expedition might be a culinary one, and he couldn’t wait. For now, though, he was happy to enjoy the music and the company of his new friends.
