There once was a Hedgehog named Harry. Harry lived under a bridge beside a small flowing stream in the countryside. He didn't like to leave very often during the day as he was a bit different. You see, Harry was missing his spines. Yes, he was the only hedgehog who did not have any. Other animals thought he was strange looking and so Harry liked to explore at night time only as he would be out looking for food and didn't have to see many other creatures. When the sun would set, Harry woke up stretching and yawning and stumbled into the wall whilst he trying to shake off the sleep.
One night as the sun went down, a big moon came out and Harry set off along a path to search for food. The moonlight was welcome to him as it made it easier to find bugs. He was passing a nearby wood and decided to go inside and have a look. He had never been in this wood before as he was a creature of habit and didn't like to break his routine to do something different. This night however, he was feeling adventurous. It was very still in the wood and no creature was stirring. Trees were large and coniferous. Rays of moonlight split the trees and shone down beautifully, resting on the Pine needles which littered the ground. The cool night breeze which swept through the trees smelled of damp moss.
Harry walked quite far looking around when he heard a noise from behind, what seemed to be a wall up ahead. It was a mud wall. As he reached it he discovered he could not see over. He looked around and saw some sticks protruding from the earth on the wall. He grabbed onto the nearest one with his mouth and pulled himself up clambering with his little feet. Then he let go and quickly grabbed the next. He pulled himself up until he reached a final stick. He grabbed it with his mouth and pulled but just then he slipped. The stick bent over with the extra strong pull and suddenly sprung back up throwing poor Harry into the air. He landed on top of the wall and after a moment, sat up and shook his head.
When he came to his senses, he realised he was at the top. In front of him, he saw something amazing. He could not believe his eyes. A herd of white cows lay between the walls. They surrounded a small lake which reflected the moon and they seemed to all gaze in wonder at the beauty of this glistening bright water. The area was a flush with trees and shrubs and it was very peaceful.
The cows wore bells around their necks and seemed to be whispering to each other in soft moos. Henry noticed that like him, they too, were imperfect and vulnerable. One was missing a tail, another missing an eye. Some more walked with a limp and there were some oddly short legged ones too.
Harry felt this to be a place of great beauty. The cows looked happy and seemed content in their surroundings. Suddenly, something in the trees above caught Harry's eye. It was an owl. It looked forward as Harry did and seemed to smile at what he saw. He looked down to Harry for a moment and hoot once, greeting him. He did not judge Harry for being different. He welcomed him. Harry noticed then that the walls of this beautiful place were surrounded by other animals looking at these cows. Their soft moos and clanging of the bells seemed to draw these animals attentions and make these creatures happy.
The rays of moonlight seemed to focus on this area and it looked magical. Harry realised that he was not only different but he was special. If these cows were not perfect and yet not judged by other animals for being different then he should not be scared to be different either. From then on, Harry decided to come out more during the day. The other creatures got used to seeing him and they accepted him as Harry and not the hedgehog without spines. Harry often visits this special wood on moonlit nights and stares at these happy beautiful creatures. For beauty is not how someone may look. It is how they feel and Harry felt very happy.
