BabyPaka. Episode 1: Something soft is coming…

When the last light at OutletBaby went out and the footsteps behind the door faded away, everything between the shelves grew very quiet. That was when something appeared on the soft rug—something that definitely had not been there that morning: the first fluffy paw print.

Then came a second. A third. And more, winding between the boxes like a small, mysterious trail.

A print that was not there yesterday

Zibi was the first to spot it. He had been checking whether a new adventure might be hiding behind a large cardboard box when he noticed the soft outline of a paw on the floor.

“Oh!” he whispered, crouching at once. “Prints always lead somewhere.”

He took out his little magnifying glass and examined the discovery. The print was fluffy, delicate and nothing like the mark of a shoe. Another waited a few steps away, followed by four more. Each had a slightly different shape.

One was round and calm; another looked as though its owner had been bouncing. A third paused beside every box, while a fourth led straight into a darker corner. Zibi counted twice. Six prints, six different ways of walking—and not one owner in sight.

Everyone notices something different

Zibi followed the trail and soon met Momo. The little monkey leapt over one print, spun above the next and announced beside the third:

“If this is a mystery, we need mysterious music!”

She hummed softly until Eli raised her trunk and pointed to a tiny thread caught on the edge of a box.

“First, let’s check whether someone needs our help,” said the little elephant calmly.

Guga joined them. The giraffe studied the prints from above, then from the side, and finally lowered her nose almost to the rug.

“They aren’t random,” she noticed. “Look—each turns a different way, but they all meet beside the biggest box.”

Behind the biggest box

The biggest box looked a little intimidating. It was taller than Momo, wider than Eli and cast a long shadow. Riko stood beside his friends.

“We can begin with one small step,” said the lion. He felt a little flutter in his tummy too, but he knew courage did not mean never feeling afraid. Courage meant taking the step together.

Then a quiet shff, shff, shff came from the other side of the box.

Hugo half-closed his eyes and listened carefully.

“It sounds soft,” the hippo decided. “It definitely isn’t a dragon. Dragons snore much more loudly before bedtime.”

Momo giggled, and some of the tension disappeared at once.

Six prints, one Paka

The friends moved the box aside. They found neither a monster nor a hidden parcel. Instead, six soft pieces of fabric lay there, each in a different colour. Zibi placed the first, Momo the second and Eli the third. Guga suggested how to turn the next one, Riko slid the fifth into place, and Hugo set the last one right in the middle.

Together they formed a symbol that looked like six paws gathered in one place.

Everyone looked at their own feet. Each was different. One carried a Z, the next an M, then E, G, R and H. No single print held the whole answer. Only together did they create something important.

“I can find the beginning of a path,” said Zibi.

“And I can make sure the journey is never boring!” added Momo.

Eli reminded them that every adventure needs care. Guga promised to watch the details, Riko to help when the first step felt difficult, and Hugo to make room for a calm return and rest. Suddenly it was clear that their differences did not stop them working together. They were exactly what allowed everyone to bring something useful to the adventure.

“I think we have found a name for our group,” said Eli.

“BabyPaka!” Momo cried, a little too loudly for resting time.

Hugo smiled and straightened one of the soft pieces of fabric.

“It fits. Six different personalities, one Paka.”

This is only the first clue

From that moment on, they decided to work as a team. Zibi would look out for new paths. Momo would remind them that even an ordinary day can become a game. Eli would care for little needs, Guga would notice details, Riko would help with first steps, and Hugo would make sure every adventure included time to rest and cuddle.

They made no complicated rules. They agreed only to listen to one another, never leave anyone alone with a difficult moment and always make room for questions—even the very small ones. And if the answer did not appear straight away, they would search together for the next clue.

They were just about to return to their places when an autumn leaf rustled beneath the door. A tiny map had been drawn on its underside.

Zibi raised his magnifying glass, and his eyes grew even wider.

“This is only the first clue.”

To be continued…