Journal #2: Manners

Once upon a time, there was a hedgehog named Hank. Hank was an adventurer, backpacking through the wilderness of Cleveland. One day while out in the forest, Hank stumbled across a wild blackberry patch. Because he was living off of cheap diner food and saltines, Hank decided that he would pick blackberries and eat them.

While he picked his blackberries, Hank noticed that the forest had gone eerily quiet. He thought nothing of it, and just continued to pick berries. But then, he heard a loud growling noise and turned around. Standing in front of him was a huge black bear named Burt. The blackberry bushes belonged to Burt, and he was very angry to find Hank the hedgehog stealing the berries. But Hank did not know the bushes belonged to Burt, so he was very confused and scared.

Burt continued to growl and roar, so Hank just took off and ran like the wind. Now, when you're a scrawny little hedgehog like Hank, it is very hard to run like the wind. Not long after he started to run for his life, Hank became very tired. He knew that Burt was probably right on his heels, but he was just seconds away from giving up and facing the wrath that Burt would bring down on him.

Just as Hank was about to slow down, there was suddenly an even louder commotion behind him. Still running, Hank looked over his shoulder and was stunned to see that Burt had stopped chasing him, and was having an extremely heated discussion with a moose who looked very angry. Finally slowing to a stop and taking a breath, Hank turned around and moved a little closer to the arguing bear and moose, forgetting about his safety and just focusing on what in the world was happening between the other two.

Upon coming closer, Hank was delighted to hear that Burt was being chastised by the moose, who's name was Mauve. When Hank came even closer, Burt turned around, and Hank froze. But Burt did not attack Hank. The moose gave Burt a pointed look, and Burt grudgingly apologized to Hank, telling him that he could continue to pick blackberries so that he would have food to eat.

Then Burt bumbled away, looking very ashamed and put off. Hank began thanking Mauve profusely, and Mauve simply said 'you're welcome', and headed off on her own way, having accomplished what needed to be done.