🦔 The Hedgehog's Night Walk

Most nights, Tiger the cat was snuggled inside. But tonight was warm, so he sat on the back step and watched the garden glow under the moon.

Snuffle, snuffle. Shuffle, shuffle. Something round and prickly was trundling across the lawn. Tiger's ears pricked up. "Who's there?"

"Only me," said a small voice. It was a hedgehog with a pointy nose and bright little eyes. "I'm Hattie. I'm going on my night walk. Want to come?"

Tiger had never been on a night walk. He followed Hattie along the edge of the flowerbed. "Why do you walk at night?" he asked. "Because that's when my breakfast is awake," said Hattie, crunching on a beetle.

They passed a frog sitting by the pond, singing. Ribbit, ribbit. The breeze carried the sweet smell of night flowers. An owl hooted softly from the oak tree.

"The garden is different at night," whispered Tiger. "It's busy, but in a quiet way." Hattie nodded. "Lots of us only come out when the moon is up."

When they reached the hole in the fence, Hattie stopped. "This is where I go next door," she said. "Thank you for walking with me." Tiger gave her a gentle nose bump. Her prickles didn't hurt at all when he was careful.

Tiger padded back to the step and gave a big yawn. The moon winked. Somewhere, a little hedgehog was snuffling happily through the night.