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 normalโexcept, of course, for her wings. They werenโt real wings, exactly. Not feathery, flapping things, anyway. No, Wrenโs 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. โThe Great Gardenia Flower Festival is tonight,โ a young human with a mop of red curls said excitedly. โI hear theyโll even be giving out prizes!โ Wrenโs 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! Sheโd 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 friendsโa squirrel named Grimble, a wise-cracking crow named Speckle, and a hedgehog called Ivy. โIโm going to the humansโ festival!โ she declared with a flair. Grimble, who was nibbling on a nut, paused mid-chew and stared at her. โYouโre going where?โ โTo the festival! There are prizes, Grimble! Imagine all the treasures I could win!โ Speckle cawed a laugh. โDo you even know what a โprizeโ is, Wren? What if itโs a net? Or one of those boxes that goes โwham!โ?โ Wren huffed. โYou just donโt understand. Humans love a good show, and Iโve got the most show-stopping ears this forest has ever seen.โ โBut what will you do?โ Ivy piped up, peeking out from behind a mushroom. โHumans are bound to notice a rabbit with butterfly ears.โ Wren pondered this for a moment, then grinned. โThen Iโll simply become a butterfly!โ Grimble muttered something about โrabbits with butterfly delusions,โ but Wren was already bounding off, planning her entrance to the festival. That Eveningโฆ When the sun dipped behind the trees and lanterns began to twinkle across the meadow, Wren hopped into actionโquite 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, whoโd 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. โOh, this is fantastic,โ 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, โNext up, our beloved โMost Magnificent Creatureโ competition! Prepare to witness marvels!โ Wrenโs ears shot up in excitement, nearly knocking Speckle off his perch. โThis is my moment!โ she whispered, gathering her courage. She took a breath, hopped onto the stage, and struck her best โmagnificent creatureโ pose. The humans gasped. Then they began to applaud, whispering things like, โOh, itโs some sort ofโฆforest spirit?โ and โA rabbit fairy?โ 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 โMost Astonishing Forest Spirit,โ 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 sheโd swiped from a dessert table, she heard a voice behind her. โA rabbit with butterfly wings?โ 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. โAre you real?โ the woman asked. Wren straightened up, putting on her most mysterious smile. โI am as real as any magic you believe in.โ The womanโs eyes sparkled. โI like that answer.โ She crouched down to get a closer look at Wrenโs ears. โWould youโฆ like to come back with me? I run an enchanted garden. I think youโd fit right in.โ Wren tilted her head. โAn enchanted garden, you say? Will there be more prizes?โ The woman chuckled. โNo prizes, but thereโs a feast every night, and youโd have all the dandelion greens you could ever want.โ Wrenโs ears wiggled with interest. โIโm listeningโฆโ Grimble, Speckle, and Ivy had found her by now, overhearing the conversation. Speckle muttered, โWhat about us, then? You going to leave us for a dandelion buffet?โ Wren looked back at her friends and then up at the woman. โOnly if you all come with me,โ 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 โofficial keepers of wonder.โ 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, sheโd gather Grimble, Speckle, and Ivy, and together, theyโd put on their own little show just for fun, a celebration of the quirks that made them uniqueโand the magic theyโd created together. In the end, Wren did get her prize after all. Not the sort you can hang on a wall, but something betterโa life filled with friendship, laughter, and all the dandelion greens she could ever want. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of magic, too. ย ย Bring the Magic Home If Wrenโs 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 Wrenโs world to life on your walls. Puzzle - Lose yourself in this whimsical image as you piece together Wrenโs 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 Wrenโs 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 Wrenโs wonder with you every day.