nature-inspired fantasy

by Bill Tiepelman

Hedgehog Enchantment in Bloom

In the heart of the deepest, most secret part of the forest, where sunlight only tickles the ground at the best of times, there lived a hedgehog named Bramble. Bramble was a shy little fellow with a nose that always twitched like it had a mind of its own and quills that were usually rumpled from his habit of napping in odd places. For the most part, Bramble led a humble life. His main concerns were avoiding overly affectionate squirrels and deciding which leaf pile would make the coziest bed for his next nap. But one fine morning, Bramble awoke to find his world rather... different. Now, “different” is a word that hedgehogs aren’t particularly fond of. “Different” could mean anything from an unexpected rainstorm to a fox with a taste for snacks. But when Bramble opened his eyes, he wasn’t met with a rainstorm or a fox. Instead, he was greeted by a pair of butterfly wings sprouting from his back in a glorious display of color. Teal, pink, gold, and violet—they shimmered and glowed, catching the sunlight in a way that made Bramble blink and squint. “Well, this is… odd,” he muttered to himself, twisting around to look at his new additions. To his utter bewilderment, the wings moved when he thought about moving them. A little flap here, a little flutter there. He tried a few tentative flaps, hovering about a millimeter off the ground before landing in an awkward heap. Nearby, a family of snails watched him with the kind of judgment only snails can convey. “What’re you looking at?” Bramble muttered, straightening himself out and standing a little taller. The Advice of the Wise Old Oak After an hour or so of practice, Bramble decided he needed advice. He trotted to the base of the Wise Old Oak, who was known to give excellent (if somewhat cryptic) advice on all sorts of unusual topics. “Oh, Wise Oak!” Bramble called, looking up at the sprawling branches. “I seem to have… um… acquired wings.” The Wise Old Oak rumbled a low laugh. “Wings? Well, that’s a rare sight for a hedgehog! Most of your kind is content with four feet and a prickly coat. Tell me, what is it you desire, young Bramble?” Bramble thought hard. “I… I think I’d like to be a fairy,” he said finally, feeling a bit silly. The Wise Old Oak’s bark creaked as it considered. “A fairy, you say? It’ll take more than wings, Bramble. You’ll need to learn the ways of the fairy folk: how to twirl in the moonlight, dance in mushroom rings, and, of course, grant wishes.” “Grant wishes?” Bramble asked, intrigued. “Like a… a magic hedgehog?” “Exactly,” the Wise Oak replied with a wink. “The next creature you encounter, grant their heart’s desire. That’s how you’ll start.” The Trials of a New Fairy With a flutter and a slight wobble, Bramble made his way down the forest path, eager to try his hand (or paw) at wish-granting. Before long, he encountered a rather scruffy rabbit who looked as if he’d seen better days. The rabbit was chewing on a withered piece of lettuce and looking thoroughly miserable. “Good day, Mr. Rabbit!” Bramble chirped, trying to look as official as he imagined a fairy would. “I’m Bramble, the forest’s first hedgehog fairy. Would you like a wish?” The rabbit looked him up and down, pausing his chewing. “A wish, eh? Alright, I’ll bite. I wish… for a mountain of the freshest, crispest lettuce in the land.” Bramble concentrated hard. He squeezed his eyes shut, his wings buzzing as he focused on granting the wish. When he opened his eyes, he was somewhat disappointed to see that the rabbit was still nibbling the same sad, wilted lettuce. “Hmm,” Bramble said, scratching his head. “Maybe it needs some… extra flair.” He wiggled his wings harder, did a little spin, and said in his best fairy voice, “Abracadabra!” Suddenly, the ground began to shake, and right before the rabbit’s amazed eyes, a massive pile of lettuce appeared, green and crisp and smelling faintly of morning dew. “That’s… that’s actually amazing,” the rabbit whispered, eyes wide. “Enjoy!” Bramble said, feeling rather pleased with himself. He took to the air again, feeling as though he’d gotten the hang of this fairy business. A Fateful Encounter with the Forest Fox As he flew along, Bramble was feeling quite unstoppable—that is, until he nearly collided with the forest fox, who was lounging under a tree with a smirk. “Well, well,” the fox said, eyeing Bramble. “A flying hedgehog? And a fairy at that. What’s next, a squirrel with a doctorate?” Bramble puffed up his chest, ignoring the sarcasm. “Care for a wish, Mr. Fox?” The fox laughed. “A wish? Oh, I’ll take one, alright. I wish for… hmm… eternal cunning.” Bramble, caught up in his newfound confidence, started to flap his wings and chant his fairy incantation again, but then paused. “Wait. Isn’t eternal cunning… just being a fox?” The fox blinked, looking a bit nonplussed. “Well… yes. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want more of it.” “I don’t think it works like that,” Bramble said, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “You might have to settle for being the second-most cunning creature, after the hedgehog fairy.” The fox snorted and trotted away, muttering something about “rookie fairies.” The Dance of the Forest Fairies As the sun dipped below the horizon, Bramble’s wings began to glow softly in the twilight. Other creatures of the forest gathered to watch as he twirled and fluttered, performing his first official “fairy dance” in a small ring of mushrooms that glowed faintly beneath his feet. The squirrels applauded. The snails, still skeptical, gave slow nods of approval. Even the fox watched from the shadows, pretending not to care. And there, under the watchful gaze of the Wise Old Oak, Bramble the hedgehog realized that he’d found his true calling—not just as a fairy, but as a little piece of magic that brought laughter and wonder to the forest, one wish at a time. As he settled down to sleep, his wings folded delicately over his back, Bramble sighed happily, dreaming of all the adventures yet to come in his new life as the forest’s only hedgehog fairy.     Bring the Magic Home If you’ve fallen in love with Bramble and his whimsical forest adventures, you can bring a piece of his magic into your own life with these delightful products from our collection: Tapestry: Transform your space with a stunning tapestry of Bramble’s enchanting world, perfect for any room that needs a touch of whimsy. Wood Print: Add rustic charm to your decor with a wood print that captures every detail of Bramble’s colorful wings and forest surroundings. Puzzle: Enjoy hours of fun assembling Bramble’s magical portrait with a puzzle that’s as delightful to build as it is to display. Tote Bag: Carry a little piece of Bramble’s enchantment with you wherever you go with a charming tote bag, perfect for all your everyday adventures. Each piece brings Bramble’s spirit and magic into your home, a reminder that a little bit of whimsy can make any day brighter. Explore the full collection and find the perfect way to celebrate the magic of the forest’s most beloved fairy hedgehog.