In the heart of the jungle, bursting with bright colors and buzzing with busy bugs, it was Leo the Lion's birthday!

Leo was a kind lion with a fluffy mane and a roar that rumbled like thunder. But today, his roar was a happy one, booming through the jungle like a drumbeat, inviting all his friends to a grand celebration!

First to arrive was Tiger, stripes blazing like the sun, carrying a basket brimming with juicy mangoes. "Happy birthday, Leo!" he boomed.

Next came Cheetah, swift as the wind, a playful smile on her face, presenting Leo with a necklace of sparkling beetles. "May your day sparkle as bright as these!" she chirped.

Monkey swung in, chattering with glee, offering Leo a giant banana. "This is the best banana in the whole jungle, Leo!" he declared.

Giraffe stretched her long neck, her spots like stars in the daylight, and presented Leo with a bouquet of freshly picked jungle flowers. "These smell as sweet as your roar, Leo!" she chuckled.

Zebra trotted in, his stripes a blur of black and white, carrying a woven basket filled with colorful pebbles he had collected by the river. "I thought you might like these for your den, Leo," he whinnied.

Elephant lumbered in, trumpeting a happy tune, a beautiful, hand-woven fan held in his trunk. "To keep you cool on this special day, Leo," he trumpeted.

Deer, graceful and gentle, arrived with a bundle of sweet-smelling herbs. "Happy birthday, dear Leo," she whispered. "May these herbs bring you good health and happiness."

Panda, a little shy, shuffled in, holding a pot of freshly gathered honey. "I hope you like it, Leo," he mumbled, hiding behind his paws.

Last but not least came Bear, lumbering in with a grin, carrying a giant beehive dripping with honey. "Sweetest wishes for a sweet birthday, Leo!" he roared, his voice booming through the jungle.

The party was in full swing. The animals laughed and danced, their joy echoing through the jungle. They feasted on juicy mangoes, sweet bananas, and honey-dripping honeycomb, sharing stories and birthday wishes with Leo.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, a strange fog rolled in. It swirled between the trees, thick and white as cotton candy.

"Look!" squeaked Monkey, pointing to the swirling fog. "It's like a giant bowl of milk!"

"Or a fluffy cloud that fell from the sky!" giggled Cheetah.

The animals, caught up in their games and laughter, didn't notice the fog getting thicker, wrapping around them like a cozy blanket.

One by one, they started to get lost. Tiger, chasing after a butterfly, took a wrong turn and vanished into the swirling white.

"Tiger!" roared Leo, his voice muffled by the fog. But there was no answer, only the echo of his own roar.

Cheetah, racing after a giggling Monkey, disappeared around a bend, the fog swallowing them both whole.

"Cheetah! Monkey!" called Leo, but his friends were gone, lost in the milky white.

Soon, all the animals were lost in the fog. Leo, left alone, paced back and forth, worry creasing his brow. "Where could they be?" he muttered, his happy roar now a soft growl of concern.

Determined to find his friends, Leo plunged into the fog, his heart pounding like a drum. He called out for his friends, his voice echoing through the silent, white jungle.

He walked and walked, the fog swirling around him like a ghost. The familiar sights and sounds of his jungle home were gone, replaced by an eerie silence.

"Tiger! Cheetah!" he roared, but only silence answered him. He felt a knot of worry tighten in his stomach.

Suddenly, through the swirling fog, he saw a faint light. It flickered like a firefly, beckoning him closer.

With renewed hope, Leo bounded towards the light. As he got closer, the light grew brighter, revealing a small cottage, its windows glowing with a warm, inviting glow.

A strange figure, hunched over a bubbling cauldron, peered out from the window. She had a pointed hat perched on her head and a long, crooked nose. "Well, well, well," she cackled, her voice like dry leaves crunching underfoot. "What brings a lost lion to my humble abode?"

"Have you seen my friends?" Leo asked, hope flickering in his heart. "They're lost in the fog."

"Perhaps, perhaps," chuckled the witch, stirring her bubbling cauldron. "But only those who are a 'bundle of ten' can stay in my humble abode. Now, be on your way!"

Confused, Leo shook his mane. "A bundle of ten? What does that even mean?" he mumbled to himself, turning away from the strange cottage.

He continued through the fog, his paws heavy with worry. The fog was beginning to lift, but his friends were still nowhere in sight.

Just when his hope began to dwindle, he saw another light. This one was a soft, warm glow, emanating from a cozy-looking hut nestled amongst the trees.

A kind-faced woman with rosy cheeks and a warm smile opened the door. "Well, hello there, young lion," she said, her voice as soothing as a lullaby. "You seem lost. Perhaps you'd like to stay?"

"Have you seen my friends?" asked Leo, his voice filled with worry. "They're lost in the fog."

"Lost, are they?" the woman clucked sympathetically. "That mischievous fog! Come in, come in. I'll make you some warm milk and cookies while we wait for your friends to find their way back."

Leo stepped inside, grateful for the woman's kindness. The hut was small and cozy, with a fire crackling merrily in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the walls.

The woman, bustling about the kitchen, reminded him of his own mother. He felt a sliver of hope return. Maybe, just maybe, his friends would find their way here too.

As he sipped the warm milk and nibbled on the sweet cookies, Leo told the woman all about his birthday party and how the fog had swallowed his friends whole.

The woman listened patiently, nodding her head in understanding. When he was finished, she said, "Don't worry, dearie. The fog will lift soon, and your friends will find their way back to you. It always does."