Deep in the heart of the African bush, a group of friends embarked on an adventure that would test their detective skills. Cheetah, the fastest of the big cats, had been disappearing from the local wildlife reserve, and no one could figure out why.

Mika, a curious 10-year-old, and her friends Tatu, Binta, and Kojo decided to investigate. They gathered their magnifying glasses, binoculars, and notebooks, determined to solve the mystery of the vanishing cheetahs.

As they explored the lush, green garden, they noticed unusual tracks in the soft soil. "Look, these must be cheetah prints!" exclaimed Tatu, carefully examining the paw marks. "But they lead to the edge of the bushes, and then they just disappear."

Puzzled, the friends followed the trail, keeping a sharp eye out for any clues. Suddenly, Binta spotted a glint of something shiny in the distance, hidden among the tall grasses. "What's that?" she whispered, cautiously approaching the object.

To their surprise, they discovered a small, stuffed cheetah toy, its tag torn off. "That's strange," said Kojo, "why would a toy cheetah be out here in the bush?" The friends exchanged curious glances, realizing that this might be the first piece of the puzzle.