funny animal

by Bill Tiepelman

The Rabbit with Wings of Wonder

On the edge of a forest so old that even the oaks had started to forget their own names, lived a rabbit named Wren, who was, by all accounts, quite normal—except, of course, for her wings. They weren’t real wings, exactly. Not feathery, flapping things, anyway. No, Wren’s ears had somehow taken on the shape and color of butterfly wings, complete with swirls of indigo, emerald, and ruby, each vibrant pattern seeming to dance whenever she so much as twitched. Her mother had always told her to be careful with her ears, lest she attract curious foxes or hungry owls, but Wren never listened. She liked to hop to the edge of the forest each day, where the humans lived, just to see what they were up to. One day, as Wren was watching a group of humans gather in the meadow, she overheard a snippet of conversation that piqued her curiosity. “The Great Gardenia Flower Festival is tonight,” a young human with a mop of red curls said excitedly. “I hear they’ll even be giving out prizes!” Wren’s ears perked up (or, at least, her ear-wings perked up in a rather flamboyant fluttering display). A festival, she thought, eyes wide. With prizes! She’d never been to a human festival before, but if there were prizes involved, she was all in. In a flurry of excitement, Wren bounded back to her forest friends—a squirrel named Grimble, a wise-cracking crow named Speckle, and a hedgehog called Ivy. “I’m going to the humans’ festival!” she declared with a flair. Grimble, who was nibbling on a nut, paused mid-chew and stared at her. “You’re going where?” “To the festival! There are prizes, Grimble! Imagine all the treasures I could win!” Speckle cawed a laugh. “Do you even know what a ‘prize’ is, Wren? What if it’s a net? Or one of those boxes that goes ‘wham!’?” Wren huffed. “You just don’t understand. Humans love a good show, and I’ve got the most show-stopping ears this forest has ever seen.” “But what will you do?” Ivy piped up, peeking out from behind a mushroom. “Humans are bound to notice a rabbit with butterfly ears.” Wren pondered this for a moment, then grinned. “Then I’ll simply become a butterfly!” Grimble muttered something about “rabbits with butterfly delusions,” but Wren was already bounding off, planning her entrance to the festival. That Evening… When the sun dipped behind the trees and lanterns began to twinkle across the meadow, Wren hopped into action—quite literally. She had draped herself in trailing vines and wildflowers, and with a sprig of lavender tucked behind her ear, she looked about as close to a butterfly as a rabbit possibly could. Speckle, who’d begrudgingly agreed to accompany her, perched on her head, hoping to lend some air of credibility to the whole spectacle. As they approached the festival grounds, they saw booths lit by candlelight, humans twirling in dances, and long tables piled high with sweets, cakes, and puddings of every imaginable flavor. “Oh, this is fantastic,” Wren whispered, wide-eyed. They slipped through the shadows and crept closer to the main stage, where humans were gathering for what looked like some sort of contest. A voice boomed over the crowd, announcing, “Next up, our beloved ‘Most Magnificent Creature’ competition! Prepare to witness marvels!” Wren’s ears shot up in excitement, nearly knocking Speckle off his perch. “This is my moment!” she whispered, gathering her courage. She took a breath, hopped onto the stage, and struck her best “magnificent creature” pose. The humans gasped. Then they began to applaud, whispering things like, “Oh, it’s some sort of…forest spirit?” and “A rabbit fairy?” Someone handed her a tiny flower crown, and she adjusted it proudly on her head. As the competition continued, Wren put on a full performance, twirling her ear-wings dramatically, twitching her nose with expert timing, and even doing a little rabbit jig. She winked at the humans, delighted as they clapped and cheered. For a moment, she forgot she was supposed to be a butterfly entirely and simply basked in the glory of the moment. When the contest ended, the announcer awarded Wren the title of “Most Astonishing Forest Spirit,” which she accepted with a gracious bow, doing her best impression of a sophisticated butterfly curtsey. A Surprise After the Show As Wren was nibbling on a celebratory cookie she’d swiped from a dessert table, she heard a voice behind her. “A rabbit with butterfly wings?” it said, full of curiosity and just a hint of suspicion. She turned to see a young human woman dressed in a long, dark cloak. “Are you real?” the woman asked. Wren straightened up, putting on her most mysterious smile. “I am as real as any magic you believe in.” The woman’s eyes sparkled. “I like that answer.” She crouched down to get a closer look at Wren’s ears. “Would you… like to come back with me? I run an enchanted garden. I think you’d fit right in.” Wren tilted her head. “An enchanted garden, you say? Will there be more prizes?” The woman chuckled. “No prizes, but there’s a feast every night, and you’d have all the dandelion greens you could ever want.” Wren’s ears wiggled with interest. “I’m listening…” Grimble, Speckle, and Ivy had found her by now, overhearing the conversation. Speckle muttered, “What about us, then? You going to leave us for a dandelion buffet?” Wren looked back at her friends and then up at the woman. “Only if you all come with me,” she declared with a flourish. And so, in a surprising twist of events, Wren and her little gang of misfit forest creatures went to live in the enchanted garden, where they spent their days as the “official keepers of wonder.” Wren became something of a local legend among the humans, who would come to the garden, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious rabbit with butterfly wings. She would occasionally perform for visitors, twirling and prancing with the same flair she had at the festival. And every so often, when the moon was high and the night was still, she’d gather Grimble, Speckle, and Ivy, and together, they’d put on their own little show just for fun, a celebration of the quirks that made them unique—and the magic they’d created together. In the end, Wren did get her prize after all. Not the sort you can hang on a wall, but something better—a life filled with friendship, laughter, and all the dandelion greens she could ever want. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of magic, too.    Bring the Magic Home If Wren’s whimsical world captured your heart, you can bring a touch of this enchanting tale into your own space. Our exclusive "The Rabbit with Wings of Wonder" collection offers a variety of beautiful products featuring this captivating artwork. From cozy tapestries to intricate puzzles, each item celebrates the magic of Wren and her butterfly wings, perfect for dreamers and nature lovers alike. Tapestry - Transform your space with a stunning tapestry that brings Wren’s world to life on your walls. Puzzle - Lose yourself in this whimsical image as you piece together Wren’s story, one detail at a time. Greeting Card - Share a bit of magic with friends and loved ones with this charming greeting card, perfect for any occasion. Framed Print - Hang Wren’s tale on your wall with a high-quality framed print, a timeless addition to your art collection. Each piece is crafted to add a touch of whimsy to your life, making it easy to keep a little bit of Wren’s wonder with you every day.

by Bill Tiepelman

The Kaleidoscope Elephant

In a hidden corner of the jungle, far beyond the reach of any safari map, lived Ellie—the most extraordinary elephant in the world. She wasn’t your ordinary, gray-skinned, mud-loving pachyderm. Oh no. Ellie was a walking, trumpeting explosion of color. Her skin was a dazzling canvas covered in intricate swirls and patterns, and her ears looked like butterfly wings that had wandered off a mural from a dreamy, bohemian café. She was, quite literally, the elephant in the room nobody could ignore. Ellie’s transformation began one humid afternoon when she stumbled upon a flower patch unlike anything she’d ever seen. These flowers weren’t ordinary, mind you. They shimmered, shifted colors in the sunlight, and if you sneezed on them, they’d release clouds of sparkling, rainbow-colored dust. Naturally, as a perpetually curious (and somewhat clumsy) elephant, Ellie couldn’t help but investigate. She gave one flower a good sniff, and—ACHOO!—out came a colorful puff of magic that coated her from trunk to tail. When the dust settled, Ellie was no longer the plain, gray elephant she’d been just moments before. She was a vibrant masterpiece of psychedelic colors and swirling patterns, with butterfly-winged ears and mandala-like designs that spiraled across her trunk and belly. She blinked in surprise, glancing down at her new, impossibly colorful reflection in a nearby puddle. “Well,” she chuckled to herself, “at least I’ll never get lost!” The news of Ellie’s new look spread through the jungle faster than a monkey with a megaphone. Soon, a line of animals formed just to get a look at her. Gerald the giraffe craned his long neck down to stare, his jaw practically grazing the ground. “You look… uh, colorful,” he said, trying to sound supportive despite his obvious envy. Ellie just batted her dazzling butterfly-like ears and replied with a grin, “Darling, I know.” Of course, life as the jungle’s only kaleidoscope elephant wasn’t without its complications. Butterflies were constantly mistaking her ears for flowers, landing there to rest or flutter around, creating a chaotic swarm that she had to politely shoo away. “No, I’m not a flower shop!” she’d explain for the hundredth time, gently waving her trunk to send them off. And whenever she tried to nap in her favorite shady spot, she’d open one eye to find a crowd of animals gawking at her from behind trees, unable to resist the spectacle. As days passed, Ellie began to realize that maybe she could put her new look to some use. She’d become so famous in the jungle that animals came from miles around just to catch a glimpse of her. So, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she came up with a plan: the jungle’s first-ever Kaleidoscope Elephant Dance Show. On the night of her grand debut, animals of all shapes and sizes gathered in a clearing. Monkeys swung in with their banana snacks, parrots perched on the branches above, and even the usually grumpy crocodiles lounged nearby, waiting for the show. Ellie took center stage, lifting her trunk high and flapping her ears to the rhythm of the jungle night. Her vibrant ears sent ripples of color through the air, her swirls and patterns creating hypnotic shapes in the moonlight. The butterflies, unable to resist, joined her performance as backup dancers, swirling around her in a cloud of color. The flowers in the nearby bushes cheered in their gentle, rustling way, and a few fireflies floated in, providing some added twinkle to the scene. Ellie twirled, she swayed, she even threw in a clumsy little pirouette (a difficult feat for an elephant), and the crowd roared with laughter and applause. After that night, Ellie became the jungle’s most beloved entertainer. She held weekly shows, turning her vivid appearance into an art form that brought joy and laughter to everyone who saw her. Animals would travel from all corners of the jungle to see the legendary Kaleidoscope Elephant perform, and Ellie never disappointed. With each show, she tried something new—maybe a bit of trunk juggling, or a dramatic leap through a waterfall (followed by a hilarious splash that soaked her front-row fans). And if you ever wander far enough into the jungle, just beyond the last tourist trail, you might just be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Ellie, the Kaleidoscope Elephant. Under the soft glow of the setting sun, she’ll wink and twirl, performing her goofy, glorious dance, bringing color, laughter, and a bit of magic to her little corner of the world, one flap at a time. After all, why be ordinary when you can be a kaleidoscope?    Bring The Kaleidoscope Elephant Home! Love Ellie, the colorful jungle star? Now you can bring a piece of her magical charm into your own home with these unique products: The Kaleidoscope Elephant Tapestry – Perfect for adding a splash of whimsical color to any wall. Let Ellie’s playful spirit light up your space. The Kaleidoscope Elephant Throw Pillow – Cozy up with a burst of jungle magic! This pillow adds both comfort and vibrant personality to your home decor. The Kaleidoscope Elephant Puzzle – Enjoy putting together Ellie’s enchanting colors piece by piece. A perfect activity for those who appreciate a bit of playful challenge. The Kaleidoscope Elephant Framed Print – Display Ellie’s whimsical beauty as a piece of art on your wall. Ideal for anyone who wants to add a touch of fantasy to their decor. Embrace Ellie’s spirit and let her story brighten your world, one delightful product at a time!