'See you soon Dad.' Hannah the Hedgehog shouted back as she left home.

'Don't be back too late.' Dad replied as he gave his usual double wave goodbye.

'It's okay, I'm just going to play with Cranefly and Bee until tea,' came the explanation.

After Hannah had met up with her friends Cranefly and Bee she took a stroll with them both through the forest. As they were discussing what they were going to do, they spotted Fieldmouse and Mole at the bottom of the hill that they found themselves on top of.

The three animals at the peak watched with fascination as the two animals below were sat on the grass joking with each other.

As the hedgehog continued to observe, Bee interrupted the silence with a sudden idea. 'You should go into a ball,' he whispered wickedly before continuing with 'then we will roll you down and then you can get them or at least give them a huge scare.' As he finished Bee laughed menacingly. Before the hedgehog could even turn to Cranefly for his opinion she heard the objection of 'You are not serious! I will not be a part of this!'

'Come on, why not?' Bee sneered. 'Why not? Because it will be spiteful and nasty, that's why not!' Came a stern reply. Bee grabbed Hannah's attention then explained 'Don't be boring like that spoil sport. Come on be adventurous! It'll be such a laugh and much more fun than just standing here doing nothing.' 'You must not do it!' Cranefly tried again.

'Yes we must! Look at how they are laughing and think about how we could be having a huge joke at their expense.'

Hannah did want to do something, and if it was fun for her then all the better. Even when Cranefly tried one last time to stop it, Bee again seized Hannah's attention to make sure that he drowned out any of the protests and instead provided the hedgehog with most hilarious consequences to this scheme.

As Hannah was instructed by Bee where to set off from, and how to roll, Cranefly disappeared as he was not going to be part of this cruelty. As she crouched in position Bee shouted '1…2…3…Go!'

Fieldmouse was rolling about with laughter after yet another joke from Mole. 'Oh…oh… stop it' she chuckled, 'you're so funny,' Fieldmouse shrieked as she held her stomach, trying her best to stop it from rumbling.

Before Mole could reply the two friends looked at each other with startled expressions and then both turned, following the direction of the thudding noise that was coming from above and getting louder and louder. Mole squinted up the hill to see what it was that was making the racket, however as he was closing his eyes tighter to try and get a sharper picture of what it was Fieldmouse shouted, 'Quick!' She then jumped on to Mole and pushed him to his left so that they were both safely out of the way of the rolling spike ball.

As Fieldmouse heaved up Mole from the muddy patch that they had landed in and helped wipe off the mess she explained why she had knocked her friend in to the dirty ground. Shaking Mole was about to reply to his friend, but was interrupted by the sound of uncontrollable giggling. Just below them, the two friends saw Hedgehog rolling about in tears of laughter. She didn't care that her victims were still trembling and shuddering because she had just taken part in the best thrill that she had had in ages. Even when Cranefly reappeared to point out to Hannah that Mole and Fieldmouse were hurt, she just ignored him. She was instead listening to Bee, who was describing how the two targets had only just got out of the way of her.

After calming down and wiping off the grass that had been stuck to her, Hannah, Cranefly and Bee decided to go and find some lunch.

Fieldmouse and Mole agreed not to let such a mean, rude animal like that hedgehog spoil their day. So when they spotted a berry by itself underneath a tree they started to pass it to each other. Soon they were involved in a great contest of 'Shuttle Shot'.

After many mazy dribbles, sliding tackles, diving saves and glorious goals the game stood at 11 to 11, although it could have been 78 to 78 with the amount of chances that they both missed.

Mole got the berry; he dribbled it forward, weaving in and out heading for Fieldmouse and her goal. Mole then accidentally touched the berry too far in front of him, which gave Fieldmouse the opportunity to rush to get it herself. As the two friends raced for the berry they were abruptly halted by a looming shadow that engulfed the berry. Within a second, the game was over and Hannah was sat on an empty berry. She had leapt on to the berry, popped it, and was now staring at the two players who were covered in juice.

The two footballers couldn't believe that such a horrid animal had ruined another one of their games. After yelling at her and telling her exactly what they thought of her, the fieldmouse and mole angrily marched off to search for something else to do.

As the hedgehog saw the two animals disappear in the distance she didn't feel like joining in with Bee, who was buzzing round and round with laughter. She didn't even want to listen to the jokes about the juice splatter that had got both her victims.

She was instead paying attention to Cranefly, who was saying that it had been completely unfair and totally nasty. She definitely did not sense the fantastic fun that Bee had told her she'd experience. As she got up and wiped off berry juice, Hannah the Hedgehog felt as deflated as the berry that she left on the empty wilderness.

Hannah wandered about with her two followers, trying her hardest to take her mind off what she had done. However, she could think of nothing, so she just sadly kicked about the leaves that covered the ground. Cranefly, watching this, wanted to make the hedgehog feel better, but every comment from him was just ignored because now Hannah was seeing pictures of the two animals that she had panicked.

It was then that Cranefly spotted the perfect chance for Hannah to change her mood. Bee also saw the chance for change, but his idea was for another fun joke, not the helpful generosity that Cranefly was now suggesting to Hannah. 'Why don't you go over and help that squirrel?' On this note, the sad hedgehog looked up from the leaves to spy a squirrel who was obviously distressed as it was darting back and forth around the same area of tree, lifting up leaves, looking under them, tutting and then going to the next spot. This squirrel was clearly searching for something.

'If you help find whatever this squirrel is after then you will be proud of giving assistance and supporting someone in need.' Cranefly insisted.

'Don't be daft, the best way to cheer yourself up is to assist this squirrel by spiking his bum.' Bee remarked, before spelling it out with 'It will be so funny, that you'll be chuckling for the rest of the week.'

After hearing more arguments from both parties Hannah was sure what she was going to do. As she crept closer to the squirrel, she rolled up in a ball and spun and spun until she was at the feet of the grey squirrel.

'Hello.' Hannah cheerfully introduced herself.
'Hello.' The squirrel replied.
'Do you need some help?' Hannah asked.
'Well, I have lost my food.' Came the swift, anxious response.
'Well, hopefully I have helped with that.' As Hannah said this she turned to show what she meant.

As the squirrel looked at Hannah's back it saw that Hannah's spikes had picked up the leaves that she had rolled on. Once recognising this the squirrel surveyed the ground. 'Oh!' The delighted squirrel exclaimed. 'Oh! Look. My nuts! My food! My oh my! Thank you! Thank you!'

Hannah couldn't have smiled any more if she had tried. She was so happy to have helped because she was feeling all the jubilant emotions that Cranefly had promised. The squirrel rushed about collecting in all the food, offered some to the helpful hedgehog who refused, but who did thank the squirrel for helping to spread a smiling beam across her ecstatic face. The squirrel, not quite understanding this, tugged off the leaves from Hannah's spikes, wished her a pleasant journey and invited her to come back any time she wanted to for a play.

As Bee was complaining about not having had fun, Cranefly was praising Hannah for all that she had done. Hannah answered that she was so glad that she had because it was so much more enjoyable than all the actions that Bee had described as being fun. On hearing this, Bee offered more ideas to Hannah about what could have been done to make the experience more pleasurable for her. The hedgehog hardly heard this as she was now asking Cranefly of ways in which she could repeat this sensation.

Whilst this discussion was occurring, the path that Hannah was on opened up and in front of her she heard the sound of chirping and pecking. Mother Chicken and her chicks were rushing about outside their home taking seeds from a mountainous pile of them and spreading them about in some soil. 'No! No! That won't work!' Mother Chicken bellowed, 'Bring them back, we will have to start all over again.' She sighed and then helped the chicks pick up all the seeds that they had obviously steadily put out, but now had to collect in. They looked as annoyed and fed up as Mother Chicken.

While the seeds were being brought in, Hannah went over Mother Chicken to share an idea with her that Cranefly had just given to the hedgehog. 'That sounds wonderful, thank you so much.' Mother Chicken cheerfully cried out as she saw how superb Hannah's idea was. So Hannah set about rolling along the soil lines that the chicks had constructed. As the hedgehog rolled she left precise holes for where Mother Chicken and the chicks were to plant their seeds.

Whilst Hannah was receiving compliments from Mother Chicken for her wonderful assistance another rush of happiness came over the hedgehog. Just as Mrs Chicken was finishing her highly praised comments there was a sudden burst of shouting coming from the bushes that were behind the house. 'Help! Help! He is stuck! Someone please help us!' It was Fieldmouse and she was hurrying about panicking shouting these words again and again. As Fieldmouse spotted Mother Chicken she ran over to her to ask for help.

'What is wrong?' Mother Chicken asked with great concern. 'Mole has fallen in the river and he can't swim!' Fieldmouse explained speedily, before taking a deep breath.

'Oh, we must help,' Mother Chicken said as she turned from Fieldmouse to Hannah. Hannah nodded in agreement and was about to ask Fieldmouse where the river was, but was interrupted by Fieldmouse who ignored the hedgehog and told Mother Chicken bluntly that 'I am not asking that hedgehog, I want to know if you will help us.'
'But I want to help,' pleaded Hannah.
'No you don't!' Fieldmouse harshly responded, 'You just want to come and have a laugh before you make things worse for poor Mole.'
'Look, I am really sorry about earlier. It was wrong, but now I can help, so please let me.'

As Fieldmouse was ready to angrily challenge Hannah again, Mother Chicken swiftly jumped in with 'This is silly, let her help, she has helped us with no problems and anyway, the more you complain the less time your friend has and the less people you have to save them.' Fieldmouse gave one more glare to Hannah before agreeing that there was time to argue, so just ordered 'Come on, follow me!'

As a rescue team of Mother Chicken, her chicks, Hannah the Hedgehog and Fieldmouse arrived at the edge of the riverbank they were all shocked to see how far out from them the poor flapping, scrabbling Mole was.
'Help! Help!' Mole begged as he spluttered and splattered out the water that was filling up into his mouth.
'I'm back with help!' Fieldmouse shouted across, trying to assure her alarmed friend.
'Thank you, thank you,' came the spluttered response. That was, until Mole spotted who was with her. 'No not her! She'll just want to laugh.' He cried out, as he tried once again to clear his mouth of water and gasp for air.

On hearing this Hannah was saddened, but also determined that she was going to prove the Mole wrong and save the poor animal. She quickly searched round trying to locate anything that could be useful. Suddenly, Cranefly appeared to offer assistance to Hannah who was trying, but struggling to keep calm. 'Grab one of those branches' he quickly told her, 'Now, you take the branch and throw it out to Mole.'

As Hannah rushed over to the riverbank with the branch and got ready to launch it, the others applauded her for this idea and encouraged her to reach her target. As Fieldmouse counted down '3…2…' Hannah just ignored her and aimed for Mole, well, she knew that he didn't have the time for a silly countdown.

As Mole grabbed hold of the branch Hannah followed the next instruction that was issued by Cranefly, which was to jump down on to the ground so that her spikes could dig in to the ground and keep hold as the rest of the rescue team took this as their cue to help pull in the poor casualty. 'Heave ho! Heave oh!' Hannah yelled as she tried to encourage the others to pull even stronger. 'Come on, we are doing it'. She kept on bellowing at them as she saw Mole steadily move closer to them.

The reason for Hannah being so confident and sure about this was because she was also being urged on at the same time. Cranefly was willing her to just hold on that little bit longer, to cope with the pain because it was soon going to be over. Even when Bee whispered 'Go on, let go and see that Mole splatter and beg again, it'll be so funny.' The determined Hannah just ignored these cruel thoughts and instead shouted even louder, telling Mole 'You're nearly safe! Don't worry we are going to rescue you! Just hold on a little bit longer!'

Hannah was proved right, because after some more huffing, puffing and extremely tiring pulling, Mole was tugged from the water on to the riverbank. With the job done, the whole exhausted group collapsed into a heap on the grass.

As Mole got his breath back and moved into a more comfortable position he looked up to Hannah, then politely said to her 'Thank you so much, you saved my life.' These words made Hannah feel so amazing inside, but as she went to raise a smile she was stopped from doing it by the question that Mole added, 'But why were you so unkind to me and my friend earlier?'

This enquiry finished the smile off, as Hannah was now too concerned about her earlier actions to think about the good that she had done. The only reaction she could muster was to glance over her left shoulder and describe to Mole how it had all been Bee's ideas that she had listened to. As Mole paid attention, his eyes followed the path of where Hannah was directing. But after a few seconds of trying to identify what she was talking about, he confusedly looked back at her, showing her that he didn't see what she was pointing towards. On recognising that Mole was perplexed Hannah turned to face Bee, but Bee was gone. As the hedgehog turned back to Mole, she breathed a huge sigh of relief, hid the smile that she so desperately wanted to display, and then apologised for everything that had happened. As she spoke about all the awful actions that she was so sorry for doing, she turned from Mole to look at Fieldmouse, who was just picking herself up off the ground, to also show her that she was truly sorry for ruining their day and causing so much hassle and hurt.

After Hannah had finished, she stared in turn into the eyes of both of the animals, and then lowered her head. Fieldmouse and Mole seeing this glanced at each other and then together moved up to stand in front of the silent, still hedgehog. 'Don't be sad, we know that you are sorry for what happened, so we forgive you for it as that is the correct thing to do.' Fieldmouse explained.

Hannah remained motionless, so Mole assured her with 'Come on, you made some mistakes, but you also saved my life. You only did that because you care. So which do you think is more important to us?' Before Hannah could answer, Mole carried on with 'Now we know what you are really like, we really want to be your friend. I hope that you want to be ours'.

On hearing this Hannah raised her head, slowly dabbed away the tears that were falling from her face and produced a small smile, which steadily grew into a huge beam. The two animals that faced her, who also wore glowing smiles both grabbed their new friend and gave her a great big hug, making sure that they dodged the spikes on Hannah's back. Mole and Fieldmouse told Hannah that everything was going to be fantastic between them and that they must find something to do that they would all enjoy together.

At that moment, Mother Chicken who had been shushing her chicks to keep silent during the last few minutes took this opportunity to interrupt with. 'Right then, it's a job that you want to do is it? Then follow us!' And with that she strode across to the three friends, grabbed hold of all of them and then marched them with her to her house. The chicks knowing their job followed behind, one by one.

Before any of the three smiling, yet puzzled animals could ask what was going on Mother Chicken stopped suddenly, pointed to the seed mountain that lay outside her doorway and explained. 'Right, well your first job as friends can be to help us plant all of our seeds.' The three animals looked at each other, lost the puzzled face and nodded in agreement that 'yes, of course they were going to help.'

And with that the whole group set to work happily planting the seeds. Mole would dig out the soil lines, Hannah would roll down them to spike out where the seeds needed to go and then the Mother Chicken, her chicks and Fieldmouse would scamper up and down the lines planting the seeds in to the holes that the spikes had left. This was the most enjoyable experience that Hannah had had in ages. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much, but she definitely knew that it beat being unkind or nasty.

As Hannah the Hedgehog was sat taking a rest from having so much fun with her new friends who were busy sorting out where the next seeds had to go, she looked up over her right shoulder to Cranefly and softly whispered 'Thank you.'