whimsical 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.