The Tiger who became friends with a Hedgehog

Jack snuggled Hodge in next to Stripey near his pillow.
Mum had her thinking face on. She tapped Hodge’s nose.
“I think I’ve got a story. Do you want to hear it?”
Jack nodded. He loved stories. “Tell me how it goes.”

Mum said, “A tiger was walking through the forest.
The light shining through the trees looked
like the stripes on his back. He was hungry,
and getting hungrier and he looked and looked.

It was a cold day and most animals seemed
to be hiding so they could try to keep warm. Stripey
began kicking up piles of leaves in case a snack
was hiding. He saw a sniffing nose, small and shiny.

Something shuffled out from a pile of leaves.
Stripey smelt a meal. The thing didn’t seem to see Stripey.
Stripey put one of his paws on the creature, then bent
his head to take a bite, expecting something tasty.

“Ow!” Stripey leapt backwards and let go of the creature.
The thing was covered in spikes. ‘Careful what you eat,’
said the hedgehog. He laughed. He showed no fear.
Stripey could only shake his head in defeat.

Stripey whimpered and backed away, bowing down to Hodge.
Since that day Stripey bows to any creature he sees with spikes,
even fallen chestnuts. When his mouth had healed, he met Hodge
again. Stripey bowed. Hodge bowed, relaxing his spikes.

Sometimes Hodge rolls into a ball and lets Stripey bat him.
Stripey lowers onto his stomach, turning his mouth away
so Stripey can nestle in the softer fur, warming himself.
But Stripey has never tried to eat Hodge since that day.”