How did the porcupine get his quills?

Written by Cynthia Girard, Alice Mainguy & Anne Soucy

A long time ago, Porcupine was walking defenceless and naked in a dark forest. He was shy, thin-skinned and didn’t want to go too deep in the woods. He preferred to be alone and wasn’t used to people being close to him.

Porcupine was so annoyed that he pushed Squirrel off his shoulder and ran away.

One day, he was heading to the lake and came across Squirrel.

It was the first time they met each other. Squirrel was so excited that he jumped on Porcupine’s back to greet him, which hurt the soft skin.

He bit Porcupine’s delicate leg with his

beak.

Poor Porcupine all he wanted to do was relax! He sets off for a walk around the lake.

Porcupine was so preoccupied that he wasn’t paying much attention on his walk. He was about to step on a nest of eggs when Duck ran to protect his eggs and stop Porcupine

Porcupine was very annoyed and confused by the bird’s bite because he

didn’t understand what he did to deserved it. Once again he walked

away as fast as he could drag his leg in pain.

He decided to see if he could tease him too. Walking slyly behind Porcupine, Fox gave him push with his long nose and poked him around his face,

his back, and his legs and under his belly.

Fox had been following Porcupine for a while. He thought that it was amusing to see Porcupine get angry so easily.

Porcupine tried to escape from Fox but he was fast and trapped him.

The porcupine started groaning, his face turned red and sharp pointy things

started poking out from his skin. So Fox ran inside its foxhole in fright.

!!

Porcupine was surprised to see that Fox left so quickly. He opened his eyes

slowly and discovered a layer of pointy pins coming out of his back, and all over

his skin.

He was amazed and excited. "Now nobody will bug me anymore!" he

thought. He continued on his way into the forest, feeling proud about his brand

new quills all over his back.

He came across a group of other wild animals. "Who’s that?" they asked not recognizing Porcupine at first.

"It's that good old Porcupine!"

said Duck.

What happened? Did you roll around

in the pine needles?’’

screamed Squirrel.

"Did you get puberty over night?" asked Bear with a

laugh.

These remarks touched a nerve.

Porcupine got so mad that some of his needles shot out

towards them. They yelled in pain and

fright "Ouch! Ouch!" they cried in shock

and ran away.

OUCH!!!

Porcupine was surprised again to discover his new

armour's properties. However, he had no time to test them: he was mad. So he left, feeling alone

and scared about his new powers.

!!

Porcupine slowly walked out of the forest to his favourite hiding place in

the flowers.

“Hello! I have been following you all day!” said Hummingbird

“Well, I just need to be alone right now.”

said Porcupine. “Don’t worry; I won’t

bother you for long. I noticed you don’t let people get close to

you.”

You know that with your quills, other animals will not push you around anymore. They know you can defend

yourself now” said Hummingbird softly.

Porcupine didn’t answer but seemed encouraged by what he heard.

“And look with my long beak; I will be able to give you a good clean between your

quills, in all these hard to reach places.” said Hummingbird her wings flapping fast.

Porcupine smiled with contentment

So that’s why porcupines have quills.

They are safe from others; no one can get too close to them.

But, those who really know them know how to get through their tough skin.

THE END!