The morning smelled of needles and wet earth. Tosiek the hedgehog was walking along a path beside a stream. On his back he carried a tiny backpack with a leaf. He had a plan: to visit Kitka the squirrel in the pine tree. The sun flashed between the branches like goldfish. He heard a splash and stopped by the bank. A large speckled egg lay on the sand. There was no nest, just wet pawprints. Tosiek touched the shell with one spike, very gently. Tosiek whispered: Hello, are you here, little someone? The bush rustled and the water flashed in small circles. A tapping sound came from the forest, like footsteps on bark. Tosiek called out loudly: Kitka, come here quickly! Instead of Kitka, a long paw slipped out of the bushes. The egg tapped quietly from inside, once, a second time. Tosiek held his breath and took a step back. The paw lifted a branch, and something looked at him.