The Brave Hedgehog
The Brave Hedgehog — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
"Welcome, weary traveler, to the Burrow Market!" chirped Quillan, a hedgehog no taller than a teacup. He adjusted his spectacles, perched precariously on his snout. "I'm Quillan, teller of tales and collector of curiosities! What wonders have you brought from the world above?" A beetle, burdened with a sack twice its size, shuffled into the tiny stall nestled between mushroom homes. "I've heard of a strange light in the sky, Quillan," the beetle buzzed, "a new star, some say."
Page 2
"A new star, you say?" Quillan pondered, stroking his chin with a quill. "Intriguing! I once read about celestial events in an old tome." He shuffled through a pile of scrolls, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Aha! Here it is: 'The Wandering Star Almanac'! It speaks of a time when a 'sky tear' will appear, bringing... unexpected changes."
Page 3
"Unexpected changes?" squeaked Pipkin, a young field mouse with wide, curious eyes, who often helped Quillan with his stories. "Like what kind of changes?" Quillan puffed out his chest. "As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding,' Pipkin. We must investigate! If there's a 'sky tear,' as this ancient book calls it, we should understand it and learn all about it."
Page 4
"But how do we investigate something in the sky? We live underground!" Pipkin exclaimed, wringing his tiny paws. Quillan tapped his snout thoughtfully. "The old Whisper Well! It's connected to the surface. Legend says it echoes secrets from above," he declared. "Come, Pipkin! Our adventure begins!" They scurried towards the well, pushing past chattering beetles and scurrying squirrels.
Page 5
Reaching the Whisper Well, they peered into its dark depths. "Speak, oh Well!" Quillan called out. Only silence answered. Pipkin tugged on Quillan's tunic. "Perhaps it only whispers to those who are truly listening?" he suggested. Quillan took a deep breath and focused all his attention, closing his eyes.
Page 6
Suddenly, a faint, high-pitched whine echoed from the well. "The sky... it's cracking..." a voice whispered. Then, a shower of pebbles rained down. "Cracking? What could that mean?" Pipkin asked, nervously brushing dust from his vest. Just then, the ground trembled, and part of the well crumbled. Their confidence began to waver.
Page 7
"The scroll! It said the sky tear brings 'unexpected changes'!" Quillan exclaimed, remembering the prophecy. "Perhaps this means our world is changing! But...what if it's for the worse?" Pipkin, although shaking, looked up with newfound determination. "Even if it is scary, maybe...maybe we can help make it better. By understanding, like you said."
Page 8
Quillan's eyes widened. "You're right, Pipkin! Understanding is the key!" He remembered a strange magnifying lens he'd found. It wasn't just for reading small print. "I read that this magnifies starlight. If we use it, we can see what's happening through the crack. Remember the almanac: 'The smallest light can illuminate the greatest darkness'. Come on!" They climbed to the highest mushroom peak in the market.
Page 9
Peering through the lens, they saw not a tear, but a garden growing on the surface, lit by a strange, gentle light. "It's... beautiful!" Pipkin gasped. "The 'sky tear'... it's just light shining through a rooftop garden. That 'cracking' was new roots growing, breaking into our tunnels!" They realized there was no disaster, just an opportunity. "And change doesn't always have to be bad." Quillan whispered, relieved.
Page 10
"So, the star wasn't a bad omen, and the world above isn't so different from our world," Quillan smiled. "Perhaps we should share our stories with those surface dwellers?" Pipkin nodded eagerly. "And tell them about the beauty beneath!" Quillan chuckled. "Indeed! The beauty of curiosity is that it has no boundaries; what you might learn can change the world!" They turned to share their tale with the Burrow Market.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)