Hailey the Hedgehog Read online

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  With special thanks to Liss Norton

  CHAPTER ONE

  Parade Day!

  Winter had come to Misty Wood, and the fairy animals were very excited—today was the day of the Christmas Parade!

  Hailey, a tiny hedgehog, lay in her cozy bed of moss, listening to the wind outside singing through the trees. She pulled her blanket of velvety dock leaves up to her nose.

  “I do love winter,” Hailey said with a sigh. As she pictured the wind blowing the last of the golden leaves from the branches and the woods twinkling with frost, she started to smile.

  “Are you up, Hailey?” her dad called from the far end of their burrow.

  “Nearly,” Hailey called back. She jumped out of bed, licked her tiny pink paws, and gave her face a quick wash. Then she checked her dandelion clock. “Yay!” she cried. “It’s breakfast time!”

  When she got to the other end of the burrow, her dad was busy chopping acorns. “Morning, Hailey,” he said. “I’m making you some acorn porridge to keep you nice and warm out there. The woods are going to need a lot of tidying up before the parade.”

  “Great!” Hailey exclaimed. “I love having lots of leaves to collect.” She fluttered her silver-and-red wings excitedly, sending sparkles of glittering light around the burrow.

  Hailey was a Hedgerow Hedgehog. Like all the other fairy animals, she had a special job to do to help make Misty Wood a wonderful place to live. The Hedgerow Hedgehogs’ job was to collect fallen leaves on their prickly spines, to keep the woods neat and tidy. That was why Hailey loved winter so much. There were so many colorful leaves to gather, especially on a windy day like this.

  Dad finished making the porridge and poured it into three nutshell bowls. Hailey took hers and went to sit on a pebble stool in the corner. Just as she ate her first mouthful, a gust of cold air came whisking through the burrow.

  “It’s only me,” a voice called. Hailey’s mom hurried inside. Her paws were full of mistletoe sprigs. “Goodness!” she exclaimed. “What a wind!” Laying the mistletoe on the conker table, she smoothed down the ruffled fur on her face and legs.

  “Ooh, is the mistletoe for the Christmas Parade?” Hailey asked. She could hardly wait for the parade to start. It took place every year. All the fairy animals dressed up in beautiful leaves and berries and marched through Misty Wood behind the Moss Mouse pipe-and-drum band. Afterward, everyone visited the nests and burrows of their friends to admire their decorations and to share a tasty nibble or an acorn cup of warm cranberry juice.

  “Yes,” her mom replied. “I’m using mistletoe and holly this year.” She turned around, and Hailey saw that her mom’s prickles were stuck all over with shiny red holly berries.

  “I’ll string them together to make garlands,” her mom continued. She shook the berries from her spines and pushed them into a tidy pile beside the fire.

  Hailey couldn’t stop smiling as she pictured herself wearing a beautiful red-and-white garland. In fact, she was grinning so much that some porridge trickled out of the corner of her mouth! Hailey quickly licked it up with her velvety pink tongue.

  “Here’s your breakfast,” said Hailey’s dad, passing her mom a bowl of porridge. “And I’m making my special chestnut pudding for after the parade.”

  “Yippee!” Hailey cheered. That was another good thing about winter—there were always chestnuts to be found, and Dad’s chestnut pudding was delicious!

  Hailey ate her porridge quickly. Every day she made sure that Misty Wood was spick-and-span, but today—parade day—she was determined to be extra careful. Today, she wouldn’t leave a single leaf out of place. And she had to make sure she got home earlier than usual, too, so she’d have time to dress up.

  “I’m off, then,” she said as soon as her bowl was empty.

  “Don’t forget that the parade begins at one o’clock, Hailey,” her mom reminded her.

  “I won’t,” Hailey said with a smile. There was no way she was going to miss her favorite event!

  Spreading her wings, she fluttered up the long passageway that led out of her warm burrow and into Hawthorn Hedgerows, which grew at the very edge of Misty Wood.

  As soon as Hailey got above ground she could see that the wind had been busy. Only a few leaves still clung to the twigs above her head. They fluttered as the wind danced around them, whistling its winter tune.

  They’ll be off soon, too, thought Hailey, smiling. And then I’ll have even more leaves to tidy.

  She flitted out from under the hedgerow and gasped in delight. Jack Frost had been at work during the night, sprinkling his glittering ice crystals across the grass. The crystals shimmered pink, blue, and silver in the wintry sunshine, and each blade of grass stood up stiff and straight no matter how hard the wind blew.

  Hailey gazed around. “Beautiful,” she breathed. She fluttered up into the air and spread her wings wide so the wind would lift her high. She wanted to look at the grassy spaces between the hedgerows. “I’ll start collecting leaves in the messiest patch,” she said to herself.

  Up, up, up she soared into the clear blue sky. Soon, Misty Wood was spread out beneath her like a colorful patchwork quilt. The frosted grass glinted silver. Dewdrop Spring was the same bright blue as the sky, with spots of shiny ice here and there. And the patch of snowdrops beside it looked as clean and white as a fluffy cloud.

  Farther on still, Moonshine Pond shone pearly blue, full of glowing moonbeams, and beyond that was the pretty, vivid purple of Heather Hill.

  Right in the center of it all was a patch of deep, dark green—the mysterious Heart of Misty Wood, where the Wise Wishing Owl lived. Hailey had never seen the Wise Wishing Owl, but she had heard lots of stories about her wisdom. And everyone said that she had the power to grant wishes.

  As Hailey looked around, she spotted a patch of leaf-strewn grass not far from her burrow. She quickly fluttered down. “Perfect!” she cried happily, puffing out her spikes. “Now I’m ready to start work!”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Hungry Hugo!

  Tucking her nose and legs in against her tummy and folding her glittering wings, Hailey curled herself into a tight ball. Then she rolled to and fro across the frosty grass, gathering the leaves on her prickles.

  Soon the patch of grass was clear. Hailey scurried over to a nearby hedge and shook herself. The leaves fluttered down from her spines, and she scooped them into a tidy heap at the base of the hedge. Smiling, she looked across the spotless grass. “Good job!” she congratulated herself. “Now on to the next one.”

  She unfurled her wings and flew farther into the woods.

  Soon, she came to a grove where the Holly Hamsters were hard at work. They were nibbling the glossy holly leaves into their beautiful curved shapes.

  “Hello, Holly Hamsters!” Hailey called as she fluttered past.

  “Hello, Hailey!” they called back, their chubby cheeks bulging.

  Just bey
ond the holly grove was an ancient chestnut tree with twisted branches and a huge, fat trunk. Leaves were scattered around it, and Hailey eagerly swooped down to gather them all up.

  As she rolled to and fro, collecting the leaves, she made up a little song:

  I love winter when the wild wind blows,

  Scattering the leaves all around, all around,

  Even though it chills my nose and toes,

  When I roll on the frosty ground.

  Suddenly, she heard a small voice. “I hate winter,” it said. “I don’t know why you’re singing about it. It’s the worst season of the whole year!”

  Hailey stopped rolling and uncurled herself. She looked around in surprise. How could anybody hate winter?

  A teeny-tiny Holly Hamster with pale brown fur and yellow wings was crouched on the edge of the holly grove. His head and wings were drooping miserably. Hailey recognized him—it was Hugo.

  “Whatever’s the matter, Hugo?” asked Hailey.

  “I’ve ruined my holly bush,” he replied, looking up sadly. “And now it’s going to look horrible for the Christmas Parade. Every fairy animal in the whole wood will march past here and see what I’ve done.”

  Hailey fluttered over to him. “Perhaps it’s not as bad as you…” She fell silent as she spotted the bush. “Oh, dear.”

  The bush was almost completely bare, with every leaf nibbled right down to the stem.

  Hailey stared at Hugo. “What happened to it?”

  “I was hungry,” Hugo said. “And the leaves were so yummy I couldn’t stop eating them.” He peered up at Hailey dreamily. “Honestly, they were the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted—even more delicious than chestnuts!” He sat back on the ground and gave a loud burp.

  Hailey’s tummy rumbled as she thought of her dad’s chestnut pudding. It was hard to imagine anything tasting nicer. They must have been very tasty leaves indeed!

  “Maybe I should try digging up the whole bush,” Hugo said. “Then I could hide it.” The tiny hamster leaped up and began scratching at the soil around the bush’s roots.

  “No, Hugo!” Hailey cried. “Don’t do that.” She rubbed her nose thoughtfully. “I think I know what to do,” she said at last.

  Hugo looked at her hopefully, his dark eyes shining. “Really?”

  “Wait here a moment,” said Hailey. She fluttered back to the chestnut tree and quickly rolled over the last of the leaves to stick them to her prickles. Then she whooshed back to Hugo.

  “Here you go,” she said, shaking the leaves to the ground. “You can nibble these into holly leaf shapes, and I’ll hang them on the bush.”

  Hugo bounced up and down on his hind legs. “That’s brilliant! Thanks, Hailey!” he cried.

  “Just make sure you don’t gobble them all up this time,” Hailey said with a grin.

  “I won’t,” Hugo said, patting his furry tummy. “I’m far too full!” Then he set to work, taking dainty little bites out of the edges of the bright chestnut tree leaves.

  Hailey twisted the leaf stems around the holly twigs and soon the bush was covered in golden holly-shaped leaves.

  “These leaves make my bush look so pretty!” Hugo cried out happily. He hugged Hailey, then leaped back. “Ouch! I forgot all about your prickles!” He chuckled, rubbing his paws.

  “Sorry,” giggled Hailey. “But I’m glad you’re pleased with your holly bush.”

  “I am!” Hugo exclaimed. Then he looked at the little pile of spare leaves next to him. “Can you close your eyes for a minute?” he asked Hailey.

  “Why?” Hailey said, puzzled.

  “I can’t tell you yet—it’s a surprise.”

  Hailey loved surprises. She closed her eyes and listened, trying to work out what Hugo was doing. But all she could hear was the rustle of leaves.

  “Ta-da!” cried Hugo after a few minutes.

  Hailey opened her eyes.

  “I made this just for you,” Hugo said. He held up a beautiful garland made from all the spare leaves. He slipped it over Hailey’s head. “It’s to say thank you for helping me.”

  “It’s lovely!” Hailey exclaimed. “Thanks, Hugo. I’ll wear it in the Christmas Parade. Ooh, I’d better get going—I’ve got loads of work to do before then!”

  CHAPTER THREE

  A Shimmer of Moonbeams

  Hailey soared into the air and fluttered quickly over the rabbit warren. Down below, her friend Bella the Bud Bunny was hard at work opening snowdrop buds with her twitchy nose. Hailey waved, but she didn’t fly down to speak to Bella in case it made her late for the parade.

  She flew over Dewdrop Spring, then on to Moonshine Pond, which shone like a blue pearl in the winter sunshine. “Ha!” she cried as she spotted some leaves at the pond’s edge.

  Hailey flew down to land. She curled into a ball and rolled quickly down the bank, gathering the leaves on her prickles as she went. She sang her song as she rolled faster and faster:

  I love winter when the wild wind blows,

  Scattering the leaves all around, all around,

  Even though it chills my nose and toes,

  When I roll on the frosty ground.

  “I used to love winter, but I most definitely don’t anymore!” said a gloomy voice.

  The voice was coming from a tall pine tree beside the pond. Hailey unrolled quickly, and looked around in surprise. “Who said that?” she asked.

  “Me, Maisie the Moonbeam Mole,” the voice replied softly.

  Hailey was very puzzled indeed. Moonbeam Moles didn’t usually come out during the day. They did their special job at nighttime—catching moonbeams and scattering them in Moonshine Pond to make it look pearly and beautiful. During the day they stayed in their burrows and slept—and they certainly didn’t go climbing trees! Hailey knew that they woke up specially for the Christmas Parade each year—but it was a bit too early yet.

  Hailey fluttered over quickly to investigate.

  A pair of tiny brown eyes peeked out from among the pine needles. They looked very tired and were full of tears.

  “What’s wrong, Maisie?” Hailey gasped. “And why are you still awake?”

  “I’ve been here since last night.” Maisie sniffed sadly. “My net’s caught in this tree, and I can’t pull it free.” She crept along a branch and pointed up to the top of the tree with a trembling paw.

  Hailey saw something glowing among the branches. It was the net—crammed full of twinkling moonbeams. It had gotten tangled around some pinecones.

  “I can’t put my moonbeams into the pond”—Maisie gulped—“so it won’t look lovely for the Christmas Parade.”

  “But it does look lovely,” Hailey told her. “I noticed it when I was flying this way. It looks like a beautiful pearl.” She flew up and patted the tiny mole’s shoulder, trying to make her feel better.

  “Not my bit of the pond,” sobbed Maisie. She pointed to a patch of water close to the bank. Now Hailey understood why Maisie was so upset. The water there was dark and still, with not even a hint of glistening moonlight.

  Hailey thought hard. “I know what to do!” she cried. “I’ll hook my prickles through your net. Then I’ll be able to fly up and lift it clear of those pinecones.”

  Maisie stopped crying and gazed hopefully at Hailey. “Do you think it will work?” she whispered.

  “There’s only one way to find out,” said Hailey.

  She soared to the top of the tree, then fluttered around it, hooking the net over her prickles. “Here goes,” she called. Flapping her wings hard, she flew higher still. Part of the net came free and some pinecones dropped to the ground.

  “It’s working!” squealed Maisie happily.

  Hailey flapped her wings harder than ever. More pinecones dropped down and now most of the net was free. “One more try,” Hailey panted. Using all of her strength, she zoomed into the air and suddenly the net was dangling free below her. The moonbeams twinkled as they swung from side to side.

  “Hurray!” Hailey cheered
. She flew to the ground with the heavy net.

  Maisie fluttered down beside her, her lilac wings shimmering in the sunshine. “Thank you, thank you,” she cried. Her tiny eyes shone with relief as she unhooked the net from Hailey’s spines. “Now the pond will look perfect for the parade!”

  Scooping out a pawful of moonbeams, Maisie tossed them into the patch of dark water. They plopped down out of sight, then rose to the surface and their beautiful pearly light rippled out, making the water gleam.

  “That looks beautiful, Maisie,” breathed Hailey, flying up to see the pond from above.

  “All because of you,” replied Maisie. She reached into her net and took out the last glowing moonbeam. “May I give you a present to thank you for helping me?” she asked shyly.

  “Oh yes, please!” Hailey cried. She loved presents!

  Maisie placed the moonbeam on the biggest leaf in Hailey’s garland. Hailey watched entranced as gold and silver sparkles spread from leaf to leaf. Soon the whole garland was twinkling brightly.

  “Thank you!” gasped Hailey, astonished. She’d never seen anything so beautiful before. It was as though she were wearing a necklace made of glittering moonlight.

  “No, thank you, Hailey,” Maisie said. “If you hadn’t helped me, the pond wouldn’t have looked its best for the Christmas Parade today.”

  “The parade!” Hailey cried, remembering how much she had to do before it began. “I must go! Bye, Maisie.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  A Starry Surprise

  Hailey fluttered up into the air and headed for the trees that grew in the Heart of Misty Wood. She could see a few untidy leaves on the grass there. As she drew near, she started to sing her winter song:

  I love winter when the wild wind blows—

  “Well, I don’t!” boomed a cross voice. It was coming from behind a tree at the very back of the Heart of Misty Wood.