Once upon a time there lived a young Hedgehog in the forest. One day she was walking along a path, walking along… and suddenly something fell onto her back. It was a large mushroom. The Hedgehog looked up, and there on the tree sat a Squirrel taking out her winter supplies from a hollow.
Squirrel, you dropped a mushroom right on my spines, – the Hedgehog called out to her.
Never mind, I have plenty of them. Let it be a gift for you!
A gift? Don't you mind parting with it?
No, – replied the Squirrel, – I've gathered lots of them.
Does that mean we're friends now? Only friends give gifts, – said the Hedgehog.
Friends, friends! – laughed the Squirrel. – Come and visit me later, but right now I'm busy tidying up. We'll play tag together!
Thank you, Squirrel! I'll definitely come and visit! – the young Hedgehog was delighted and ran on.
She came to the edge of the forest. From there you could see a wooden cottage – quite nearby. And next to the cottage was a barn, near which colourful hens were walking about. The young Hedgehog became curious about what these beautiful birds were doing. Besides, she remembered that her mother had told her about a very tasty treat – hen's eggs.
Hello, hens! – the Hedgehog called out loudly. – I've come to visit you. I want to be friends with you!
Who, who, who are you? – the hens clucked. – We don't know you.
I'm a Hedgehog. I was walking through the forest and decided to drop by to see you. Let's be friends!
Why should we be friends with you? There are plenty of us already, we don't need more friends.
The Hedgehog was very surprised by the hens' clucking and quietly said: "I've brought you a gift: I have a large mushroom on my back. It's very tasty and good for you".
All right, – took pity one young Hen. – I'll be your friend.
The Hedgehog was delighted and gave her the mushroom. The Hen began to peck at the mushroom and say: "Cluck-cluck! What a tasty mushroom my new friend has brought me!".
Suddenly a little puppy ran out of the cottage and rushed at the hens with loud barking. The hens scattered in all directions, and the puppy began to chase the speckled little Hen.
Woof-woof! I'll catch you now and bite you! Woof-woof! I'll pull out the feathers from your tail! – yapped the little dog.
The Hen ran past the Hedgehog with loud clucking.
Cluckkk-cluckkk! Help! Help! – she called for help.
The Hedgehog curled up into a ball, spread out her sharp spines and rolled towards the puppy. The puppy's nose touched the spines and he got pricked. He stopped abruptly, whimpered, rubbed his nose with his paw and ran away.
The hens gathered together and began to thank the Hedgehog.
You're wonderful! You saved us from the puppy! He would have plucked out all our feathers... He chased us for a long time yesterday. We'll be friends with you. Come and visit us every day!
I suggest we thank our friend and give her an egg, – suggested the speckled Hen.
Do you like eggs? – asked the large colourful Rooster.
I haven't tried them, but my mother said they're tasty, – replied the Hedgehog.
Here's a gift from us! – said the oldest Hen and gave the guest an egg.
Thank you, friends! You enjoy the mushroom too! But I need to head home now.
Come and visit us tomorrow! – the Hens clucked loudly.
Goodbye! – called the Hedgehog and ran off to enjoy her egg, scurrying along on her little paws as fast as she could.
