Once upon a time there was a forest, and there lived a family of hedgehogs in a huge pile of leaves. They were worried about the smallest hedhehog. Hedgehogs go out especially at night, when it is dark, and this little hedgehog went out only in the late afternoon when it wasn’t dark. Do you know why? Because he was afraid of the dark.
But one day, he went for a long walk. The sun was slowly setting when the little hedgehog remembered that he had wandered to the other end of the forest. He wouldn’t make it home by daylight, he thought to himself. He ran back as fast as he could. But hedgehogs are not fast. The sun had managed to sink below the horizon and the hedgehog was still a long way from home.
The hedgehog was slowly stomping his way through the leaves, unable to see the road anymore.
“Help, I’m scared!”
“Ho, ho, don’t be afraid,” called the owl from a branch high up in the tree. “The night is beautiful.”
“It’s not, it’s ugly, dark and scary,” cried the little hedgehog.
“Follow me, I’ll show you the way to the clearing,” the owl offered, and flew down in front of the hedgehog.
As promised, she flew low over the ground and showed the little hedgehog the way to the clearing. It was not so dark there.
In fact, it was quite easy to see. There was a full moon shining in the sky, and the stars twinkled around it.
“Wow, that’s beautiful,” marveled the hedgehog, looking up at the splendor of the sky. “But I have to go home through the dark forest, where neither the moon nor the stars can shine through the thick branches of the spruce trees.”
“And where do you live?” Thin voices echoed. Little Hedgehog looked around, but saw no one. Only small flies buzzed around his ears.
“In a pile of leaves at the far end of the forest,” said the hedgehog sadly.
“We may not lead you right there, but there is a beautiful pond in the middle of the woods. Follow us, we’ll lead you there.”
“But I don’t see anyone. Where are you? Who are you?”
Suddenly, a few bright dots lit up among the trees.
“We’re here, we’re fireflies.”
“Oh, you’re beautiful,” little hedgehog admired them, letting their lights guide him through the dark forest.
It was indeed very pretty by the pond. The moon and stars were reflected in its surface, fireflies were flitting around the sleeping flowers, and frogs crooned their night song.
“I always thought there was only darkness and silence at night. I never thought the night could be so beautiful,” sighed the hedgehog. “But I still have a long way to go home.”
A bat flickered over the hedgehog’s head.
“I know where you live. My home is not far from yours,” the bat whispered, leading the hedgehog to the edge of the forest.
“Thank you, my friends! This is my home! I can see the pile of leaves over there where our house is,” rejoiced the hedgehog, stomping his way to his home.
But before he climbed into the leaves, he took one last look at the starry sky, the moon, and the fireflies in the distance.
“Owl was right, the night is truly beautiful and magical. Much more interesting than the day, which I already know very well. From now on, I will go out like the other hedgehogs – at night.”
