So recently in my life, this happened and I wrote a story about it: The Echidna of Emberwood Deep in the soft, sun-dappled forest of Emberwood, there lived a young echidna named Elli. Elli wasn’t very big, and her quills were shorter than most, but everyone who knew her said she had the warmest heart in the whole forest. Elli spent her days collecting berries, helping tiny insects cross busy paths, and sharing stories with her friends. Life was peaceful… until the day everything changed. A Hurtful Rumour One bright morning, Elli was walking toward the stream when she noticed animals whispering and glancing at her. Even her best friend, a little sugar glider named Mira, looked upset. Finally, Mira approached her with teary eyes. “Elli… someone told me you said mean things about me. Is that true?” Elli’s heart dropped. “What? Mira, I would never say anything bad about you!” But Mira only looked more confused. “I don’t know what to believe…” From behind a bush stepped Vixie, a sly young fox known for stirring up trouble. She wrapped her tail around Mira and said sweetly, “Come on, Mira. Let’s go. You don’t need to waste time with someone like that.” As they walked away, Vixie glanced over her shoulder at Elli… and smirked. Elli felt something crack inside her, a mix of hurt, confusion, and betrayal. She curled up under a fern, wondering how everything had gone wrong so fast. Friends Who Knew the Truth Later that afternoon, as Elli sat alone, three familiar voices called out: “Elli! Are you okay?” It was Bram the wombat, Pip the parrot, and Tilly the bandicoot — her closest forest friends. “We heard what Vixie said,” Bram huffed. “And we don’t believe her,” Pip added, flapping his wings. “Not for a second,” Tilly finished. “Elli would never say anything bad about anyone,” Pip squawked loudly enough for half the forest to hear. Elli felt a warm glow in her chest. The forest didn’t feel so cold anymore. Clearing the Air The next day, Elli found Mira by the stream, alone this time. Elli approached gently. “Mira… can I talk to you? Just us?” Mira nodded. Elli took a deep breath. “I care about you. I didn’t say those things. Someone else did — and they tried to blame me.” Mira stared at the water, thinking… then whispered, “Elli, I believe you. I don’t know why I doubted you. I’m so sorry.” The two friends hugged, and the forest breeze seemed to carry away the last remaining shadows. Truth Always Finds the Light Eventually, animals began noticing that Vixie’s stories never quite matched. Some even overheard her bragging about how easily she could twist things. And little by little, the truth came out. Vixie’s smirk faded. Elli’s friendships grew stronger. And Mira never doubted her again. Elli’s Lesson Elli learned something important: Hard times show you who your real friends are… and who isn’t meant to stay in your life. And with her friends, Bram, Pip, Tilly, and Mira, Elli walked forward, stronger and braver than before. Because even small, gentle echidnas can have big, resilient hearts.
The story by me!
