Pebble's Solemn Watch

Pebble was a creature of dignified mystery. An African Pygmy Hedgehog with salt-and-pepper quills and a shy nature, her world was nocturnal. Her daytime was spent snoozing in a fleece-lined igloo. At night, she would emerge—a sniffing, snuffling explorer. The initial ball of spines would slowly relax as she grew accustomed to handling, eventually revealing a soft, warm belly and curious face. She loved running on her wheel, the steady *pat-pat-pat* a nightly rhythm. She was not cuddly in a conventional sense, but there was a deep satisfaction in earning her trust, in feeling her uncurl in your hands. Her quiet, serious presence is deeply missed in the night.