#Indian long-eared hedgehog

[mechaseraph]

This is what happens when you go to take a bath, but have only one shitty bulb working there as way of lighting, and your brain decides to focus on Shadow the Hedgehog while you are at it. Anyway, uh, new Sonic OC I guess? :,D Basically, you know, Shadow’s DNA samples should had came from somewhere, right? Obv one was Black Doom, but other main was obviously a hedgehog, so...

His name’s Orthus (after two-headed greek dog), age somewhere in his mid 20s, he’s indian long-eared hedgehog mainly, other parent should be either common (european) or whatever hedgehogs are there in americas. Also he’s an albino, otherwise his fur would prob be very dark or black. Minus his eyes not being monolid, they should be the same shape as Shadows, it’s just he developed resting-bich face syndrome *cough* Was an emergency force or how do those called worker. Ie saving people from extreme situations/post catastrophes/etc. Even with getting strong injuries he managed to pull it through and heal fast, which got attention of ARK scientists, as developing medicines/cures/etc was one of their objectives and so they were using samples of individuals with outstanding health/different immunity resistances/etc For his next attempt at Ultimate Life Form, Gerald so happened to settle on hedgehog as main subject and it so happened Orthus was picked as main DNA donor. Idk if Gerald could get off of ARK back then but I like to think he personally talked with young hedgehog. Orthus honestly didn’t cared about what his data be used for, though, somehow, he had a hunch it be something bigger than some your typical cure-making tests. I feel he might had some foresight ability maybe? Anyway, he got divorced not that long before that, so it affected “fucks that he gives” so yea sure why not. I wonder if he would even be alive by current sonic time. I do think anthro-animals live about the same as humans, so it is possible for him to reach age of ~80 but also he def gives vibes of a guy who would get F on the job while saving someone...maybe he wouldn’t even be able to do that in the end and passes away with regret

[quackquackcey]

Ch. 17: Hedgehogs, Honey, & Hazelnut-Covered Strawberries

Written for @hdcandyheartsfest day 17 prompt: happy tears. 683 words. Many thanks to my beta @wqtson​! 💛

Start from beginning on AO3 here, or click the #fic: HHHS tag.

Summary:

A chance meeting—or is it a setup?—leads to the start of a relationship filled with buttery baked goods, sweet smelling flowers, and hedgehogs.~ 🌹🦔

“So, you said you had something important to tell me?”

Potter stood stiffly in Draco’s sitting room, clearly reluctant to sit down, with puffy, red-rimmed eyes partially hidden behind his round glasses and a wan smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Draco was so nervous he couldn’t breathe. “Um, right. You— You left before dessert last night,” he said as he tried to build up his courage. “Is everything alright?”

“I didn’t feel great,” lied Potter. “Maybe I ate something weird. Not your food,” he clarified, “but I did eat some yoghurt that could’ve been bad.”

Draco knew for a fact that Potter never ate yoghurt outside of the yoghurt sauce that came with their Indian takeaway.

“Um….” Draco felt like the inside of his mouth was the Sahara desert. He licked his lips, the words he wanted to say rolling around his mind like tumbleweed. “So, um, I— Do you want some lemonade?”

“…Sure,” said Potter, but before Draco even entered the kitchen, he said, “I know already. About the card.”

Draco turned around—he was on the verge of tears from sheer nerves even though he’d said absolutely none of what he wanted to say, but now, the distance between him and Potter had never felt greater.

Not even when Potter had hated his guts during Hogwarts.

“It’s fine,” said Potter, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. He seemed to misunderstand Draco’s deer-in-headlights expression. “You didn’t need to pretend you never got it, you know. I didn’t— I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I just….” He sighed and shook his head, then turned to leave. “I’m sorry, Malfoy. I’ll get out of your hair now.”

“Ah, wait!” The tears finally overflowed and spilled down Draco’s cheeks, and he didn’t even know why—he wondered since when he’d become such a crybaby. “I— I didn’t mean to—”

Potter looked shocked. “Hey, don’t cry, don’t cry,” he tried to console Draco. “Shh, hey, it’s fine, Malfoy, it’s my fault for owling you that card and bouquet out of the blue. I’m just sorry I made you awkward all this time—”

Draco grabbed the Valentine’s card from the sofa table’s drawer and shoved it in Potter’s hands. “I didn’t know,” he cried, his vision so blurry with tears he couldn’t even make out Potter’s expression. “I— I looked for a name, but—”

Potter opened the card.

“Oh my god.” The card dropped to the floor as Potter groaned and pulled Draco in for a tight hug. “I can’t believe— I was so nervous I must’ve forgotten to sign it. Merlin, I’m such a complete dunce. This is actually all my fault; god, I’m doubly sorry now, Malfoy.” He rubbed Draco’s back a while longer, then paused. “Wait, then what was the important thing you wanted to tell me?”

Draco didn’t move his face from where he’d buried it against Potter’s shoulder—he didn’t want Potter to see his face in such a teary mess. Instead, he pulled his wand out of his pocket, waved it in the general direction of Potter without looking, then buried his face even tighter against Potter’s now probably soaked shoulder.

Potter didn’t say anything for a long moment.

When he did, his voice sounded strangled.

“Malfoy, look at me.”

Draco did not budge an inch.

“Malfoy,” repeated Potter. “Draco.”

A tingle shivered down Draco’s spine, and Potter smiled—Draco knew he did because Potter smiled against his hair before pressing kisses to his head, then nipped his ear.

Draco yelped. “What’re you—”

The words died in his throat seeing Harry’s wet eyes and all-too-tender smile, and then Draco couldn’t help but tear up again, too.

Harry laughed. “Are you going to cry every time you see my face now?”

“Shuddup,” muttered Draco. “They’re happy tears.”

“They’d better be,” teased Harry as he gently tucked the red carnation Draco had Conjured for him behind Draco’s ear along with his long, silky strands.

‘I love you,’ the red carnation meant.

Harry kissed Draco, and it was wet and salty and perfect.

And then he whispered against Draco’s lips.

“I love you, too.”

[antiqueanimals]

Mammals of the Arabian Gulf. Written by David L. Harrison. Published in 1981. Illustrations by Maurice Wilson.

[animalids]

Indian long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus collaris)

Photo by Jono Dashper

[dingbatland]

Hedgehog Awareness Week - Day 7

Fact of the day: let’s cap this off with a general fact. All hedgies are part of the Eulipotyphla order, a name that means: 'truly fat and blind', which is kind of great. The second bit is probably in reference to moles, but the first bit works for our portly, prickly friends. 

It’s worth noting here that only some hedgehogs are adoptable, and if you want to have a prickly child, you should look up which ones are allowed in your area, and adopt one! Many hedgehogs are sadly abandoned, mostly because they’re misunderstood. Hedgehogs require lots of attention and specific care; they’re not just strange hamsters! So if you want a hedge, make sure you’re aware of how to keep them safe and happy first. 

Anyone down for a hedgie recap? HELLS YEAH YOU ARE

SO

MANY

HEDGE

HOGS

TO

BE 

AWARE

OF

!

ALWAYS 

BE 

AWARE 

OF

THE

CUTE

Thank you for your time

[pop-goes-the-sneasel]

have you ever done Donphan?

Donphan!!!! The Armor Pokemon!

So, after all that weirdness with Raichu and Indian elephants, we come to our first actual elephant pokemon: Donphan! This fellow existed well before the Indian elephant dex entries were written, making the references to real-world elephants doubly weird, but Donphan is also a Ground-type so it would be immune to the high-voltage Electric attacks of Raichu.

One notable thing about Donphan is how it was one of the very first Gen II pokemon to be revealed – appearing in the opening scene of the first movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back. Although Ho-Oh had appeared in the anime’s first episode, and Togepi had already hatched under the care of Misty, Donphan felt very significant. Perhaps this was because it was the first Gen II pokemon to be seen engaging in a genuine battle. This battle also featured the debut of the Gen II attack Rollout, being one of Donphan’s most-associated moves. Rollout showcases Donphan’s primary gimmick: its ability to curlup into a tire-like ball, then roll into the opponent at high speeds. Donphan is said to have difficulty stopping, however, which is appropriate given how the move forces you to continue using it for several turns. The dex also makes numerous references to Donphan’s ability to destroy a house with a single Tackle, which is notable considering Tackle is one of the weakest attacking moves.

Despite being based on an elephant – the world’s largest living land animal – Donphan is a mere 3 feet and 7 inches tall (1.1 m). Also unlike an elephant, its ears are very long and thin, which makes sense given it likely needs thin ears to be aerodynamic when spinning. The rolling tire concept is of course the core theme here, and it’s one that’s obviously quite distinct. Usually such attack methods are given to armadillos and hedgehogs, so having an elephant instead is a unique spin. That said, it does kinda seem like the tusks would get in the way. Donphan’s gray color does unfortunately feel a bit flat – its body used to have a pleasant purple tint to it that gradually got abandoned.

Like numerous pokemon, Donphan’s shiny coloration got radically changed over time and it’s…..frankly kinda disgusting at this point. Originally, Donphan’s shiny was a modest brown color, which then got saturated into an odd orange-and-yellowy color for awhile, before XY darkened it into this gross sickly green and bronze. I really don’t understand why, given they were willing to edit shinies, they decided to make so many look worse. Like???? If you’re gonna change them shouldn’t they be made better????? This shiny is…..abominable. But at least it’s pretty distinctive, I guess.

Donphan’s a pretty cool pokemon that, while a big deal for one brief moment in time, has unfortunately become pretty obscure. Even its status as the franchise’s only fully-evolved elephant was recently lost, with the introduction of the much more ostentatious Copperajah in Gen VIII. A pleasant pokemon nonetheless.

They see me rollin

They hatin/10

[fenneykindlefire]

ComputerwolfUwU’s Other Mr. Men and Little Miss Animals

For @computerwolfartsy

Mr. Greedy - Common Wombat Mr. Sneeze - Hedgehog Mr. Snow - Polar Bear Mr. Topsy-Turvy - Meerkat Mr. Silly - Long-Tailed Macaque Mr. Uppity - Mountain Quail Mr. Daydream - Sheep Mr. Forgetful - Cacomistle Mr. Mean - American Crocodile Mr. Chatterbox - Cockatoo (because Little Miss Chatterbox was a Parakeet) Mr. Muddle - Side-Striped Jackal Mr. Dizzy - Elephant Mr. Impossible - Dolphin Mr. Clumsy - Scottish Wildcat Mr. Rush - Peregrine Falcon Mr. Worry - Least Chipmunk Mr. Nonsense - Chimpanzee Mr. Wrong - Cardinal Mr. Skinny - Whooping Crane Mr. Mischief - Bat-Eared Fox Mr. Clever - Great Horned Owl Mr. Busy - Dromedary Camel Mr. Slow - Tortoise Mr. Brave - Alpine Ibex Mr. Grumble - Cougar Mr. Perfect - Indian Peafowl Mr. Cheerful - Frilled Lizard Mr. Cool - Leopard Mr. Good - White Dove Bird Mr. Nobody - Mimic Glass Lizard Mr. Marvelous - Fancy Rat Mr. Adventure - Wandering Albatross Mr. Calm - Coatimundi Mr. Brilliant - Giraffe Little Miss Neat - Persian Cat Little Miss Tiny - Pygmy Shrew Little Miss Trouble - Dingo Little Miss Shy - European Mink Little Miss Splendid - Greater Flamingo Little Miss Late - Slow Loris Little Miss Scatterbrain - Ocellated Turkey (because Mr. Scatterbrain was a Wild Turkey) Little Miss Greedy - Common Wombat (same as Mr. Greedy) Little Miss Twins - Chinchillas Little Miss Dotty - Eastern Spotted Skunk Little Miss Lucky - Giant Panda Little Miss Star - French Poodle Little Miss Fickle - Duroc Pig Little Miss Contrary - Cape Genet Little Miss Busy - Arabian Horse Little Miss Quick - Greyhound Dog Little Miss Wise - Aardvark Little Miss Tidy - Monarch Butterfly Little Miss Brainy - Crow Bird Little Miss Stubborn - Donkey (because Mr. Stubborn was a Mule) Little Miss Fun - Pomeranian Dog Little Miss Somersault - Kangaroo Little Miss Bad - Wolverine Little Miss Princess - Griffin Little Miss Hug - Koala Little Miss Fabulous - Bird-Of-Paradise Little Miss Sparkle - Firefly Little Miss Inventor - Mongolian Gerbil Little Miss Brave - Gazelle Little Miss Kind - Lesser Bilby Little Miss Energy - Sugar Glider

[altamaranempire]

I have SO MUCH art backlog, but now that I’m not super sick I want to at least put up some of the nicer finished things I’ve done! These were a combo-practice of drawing different hedgehog species as Mobians/sonic chars, as well as some legitimate shoe drawing practice. (They’re a long eared/desert hedgehog, domestic/dwarf hedgehog and indian hedgehog from left to right!) The shoes are all based on real fashion shoes from an old booklet I picked up years ago as reference material: Shoes by Linda O’Keefe.

[lallemxnt]

a post to appreciate some of the people whom i love with my whole ass heart:

@tu-comptes-tant-pour-moi​ aka alec 

alec, baby, would-be-husband, fiancée, i can’t possibly thank you enough for sticking with my annoying ass. you have helped me in my times of need, unbeknownst, you’ve made me laugh when all i wanted to do was cry, you’ve supported me at my lowests, and loved me through it all. i do not deserve you baby, i really don’t. and ik i’m a shity friend, and will probably be a shittier wife, but i’m not shitty at one thing: and that is loving you. thank you for existing and making my life worth living. i love you hubby. 

@altereliott​ aka annie 

annie, annie, annie, where do i even start? you were my first friend on here. well, i don’t think i’ve told you this before but i actually read your fanfic on wattpad (remember the whole drama of an acc posting fics without asking the owners on wattpad?), it was the romeo/juliet elu fic and oh my god i was already dazzled, bewitched and spellbound by your writing. you’re so talented baby !! like wow is there anything you cannot do? you’re an amazing friend, really. like everyone deserves to have an annie in their lives. you support your friends and help them and give them solutions and it does not even matter that you might be feeling down yourself! like what more could someone need to fall in love with you? i love you so much. and i thank whatever god is above for making us meet. thank you for existing baby. xoxo

@starcassstic​ aka gao 

ye you guessed it right !! that’s an angelllll in human form right there !! if you know gao, then you should consider yourself to be lucky because you know an actual angel in your life. she is heavenly. she is beautiful. and she is so kind and loving. like gao is always there for her friends and she’s ever so supportive. i honestly think that this cruel world doesn’t deserve her because she’s just too good for it. gao is also my partner in thirsting over maxence and y’all just stan this friendship lol also; a major ass plus point, gao’s form thai origin !! ye, i love her for her personality and for being herself but i’m just saying that it’s a plus point !! thank you for everything you do and everything you are gao !! i can’t possibly imagine my life without you. xoxo 

@plvseok​ aka keiiiiith

ye this is my own personal hedgehog. keith is elu’s love child and you cannot convince me otherwise. you will be shocked to know that he also has their matching traits. he has eliott’s ever so loving nature and lucas’ gay panic ksjskjs he is my favourite indian boy and nope you cannot convince to choose anyone else for that spot except him. he is supportive, kind, caring and is ever ready to lend a ear if you want to vent. i’m just so blessed to have him in my life??? thank you for everything baby boiii !! i love you so much xoxo 

@elou-is-mylife​ aka timy

i honestly do not know where to start about timy because i’d probably end up writing a thesis. timy is beautiful, prepossessing, gorgeous, arresting, exquisite, generous, pleasant, enchanting and SHE OWNS ALL MY UWUS. timy is that one person, who’d be ready to cheer you up even if she’s pretty sad herself and does that not make you fall in love with her a little deeper? i honestly cry over timy because she deserves the best; and certainly better than me. but thank you for sticking with my annoying, whining and tomato-disliking ass, i couldn’t possibly thank you enough. i love you sweetcheeks <33

@harleyhype​ aka raina 

my favourite indian gurlll,,, i love raina’s cute and loving nature and the fact that she’s extremely good at elu aesthetics !! raina is also so supporting and she always has your back and i just wanna take a moment here to thank her for everything she has done for me. i might have not known her for a long time, or not known her enough, but i plan on getting to know her better, and staying by her side for a long time. thank you for everything baby !! i love you x

@luneaurose​ aka my babie

the coolest motherfucker i have ever known !! be careful because she might just step over you and you wouldn’t even mind it because she might slay your ass and reign over your heart. i’m in love with her personality alright? and i’m in love with her. periodt. nothing more to say. 

@salutmonmec​ aka brooke 

nothing much to say about her because word could never depict my love for her or how amazing she is !! just know that she is the most beautiful babe and i’m totally gay for her and that she really has a way with words. i love u baby u a snacc mwah !

@spidermecc​ aka selin

selin, selin, selin, i miss you okay? we really ought to catch up honeyboo !! you’re really reallll cute and super funny and i actually laugh out loud at your jokes okay? XD thank you for making me laugh and for having my back and being your wonderful self. i love you so much. xoxo 

@jebentnietalleen aka taraaaa

practically my favourite axel stan and my all-things-axel-source !! tara is honestly so kind and lovely and she’s also pretty hilarious ksjsk i just stan this woman with my whole ass heart and want to say that i love her very much !! (ps; hmu b i miss you !!) 

-

(i just wanna thank you all for making me smile at some point. and that i’ll always be there for you, to love &’ support you. xoxo)

(ps; excuse my forgetful ass bc i know i will forget someone but even if you aren’t here, just know that you, each and every single one of you, from the anons to the followers and everyone else, i love you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. mwah !) 

[melodiouswhite]

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde rewritten - Ch. 16

16. The strangest Christmas tidings

Utterson was in a hurry today. It was Christmas time, so he had closed his office for the holidays. Unlike normally around this time of the year, he felt euphoric. This year's Christmas was better than all the others. Lady Summers had invited him and Lanyon to celebrate with them and because Jekyll and Hyde were there too, he could be in the presence of the dearest person in his life. And this time, no one had to hide their feelings. The lawyer suspected, that Hyde had a negativistic attitude towards the most wonderful time of the year, but also hoped, that the small brunette wouldn't make a fuss. But what he hoped even more was that Hyde would let Jekyll be in control, just for a while.

When he arrived, the butler let him in and wished him a merry Christmas. The lawyer requited that wish, only to then remember, that Mr. Singh was a Hindu and didn't really celebrate Christmas as anything other than a day to spend with the rest of the household. Awkwardly he apologised to the Indian, who chuckled good-humouredly and took it in stride.

This happens every year, he thought in embarrassment, as he allowed the butler to lead him to the parlour.

As always, the decoration was colourful and multicultural. Just like the mistress of the house preferred it. It smelled of exotic, expensive spices and baked fruits and for a few seconds, the lawyer allowed himself to be enveloped by the heavy, but rich scent.

Then he was torn back into the moment by cheerful laughter and saw Lanyon and Jekyll sit on one of the couches. They were chatting and laughing about old times.

Utterson felt his heart swell at the sight and silently hid behind a curtain to listen and see, when they would notice him.

“… And do you remember that one time in chemistry class, when we messed up the professor's chemicals, while he wasn't looking?”

“Ugh, don't remind me. That was such a low point.”

“Come on! It was priceless!”

Lanyon chuckled: “Alright, I admit it: that was completely worth the subsequent beating and permanent notation in our school files.”

Jekyll smirked: “Prof. Whitby's reaction was … an utter masterpiece!”

The white-haired doctor smirked back: “I remember, how the principle had to tie him to a chair, until he calmed down! He screamed bloody murder the entire time!”

The blond giggled: “Yes, he was like a burnt, rabid monkey! And with all the coal on him and his hair looking like a hedgehog, it was glorious! Oh, if only I'd had a camera back then!”

Now Utterson spoke up: “I think if you had, they would have taken it away from you.”

The two doctors yelped in surprise and whirled around.

The lawyer smiled and opened his arms. “Merry Christmas, you two.”

Jekyll immediately jumped up and ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.

Utterson laughed and allowed himself to melt into the taller man's embrace for a moment, until Lanyon joined them.

“Merry Christmas”, the latter replied to his friend, before prying Jekyll off of him, so he could breathe again.

“Don't suffocate him, Henry”, Lanyon chuckled. The other doctor let go and mumbled an awkward apology and a 'Merry Christmas'.

The lawyer laughed: “I see, you're talking about the good ol' times!”

Jekyll smiled: “Yes, we are. It feels so good, that we can do that again.”

“It is”, Lanyon agreed softly, smiling as well. “And not just because it's Christmas.”

The lawyer smirked: “Let me join you two. I also remember some silly stories from back then.”

They sat on the couch and resumed their dwelling in the old times. Utterson contributed with the silly debaucheries Jekyll had been up to during their college time.

“ … And do you remember that one time you almost got the three of us expelled for throwing a party in our dorm and getting us drunk?”

“Of course I do! Not proud of it, but seeing you drunk sure was an event!”

“Or that one time Gabriel and I woke up one day long before due, only to find that you weren't there?”

“Don't you dare, Lanyon!”

“Oh yes! We were worried sick and spent the entire morning looking for you-”

“Not you too, Gabriel!”

“-only to find you passed out in the school garden, half naked, with love bites all over you!”

“Noooo, why did you have to bring that up?! That was the worst thing-”

“Come on, Jekyll! Apart from the two of us, no one saw you!”

“You never let me hear the end of it!”

“Well, serves you right! That's what you get for sneaking out in the middle of the night.”

“Come on, that was over thirty years ago! How do you even still remember it that vividly?”

Lanyon smirked: “Because it was that hilarious, that's how! Besides, it's just payback for that one time you drew on my face in my sleep! Or that one time you laughed at my pony tail and called it old-fashioned!”

“Oh come on! I apologised! And didn't I always defend you, when our fellow students were mean to you?”

The bespectacled man smiled fondly: “Yes, of course I remember that. Like that one time someone called me a teacher's pet with freak eyes and you brawled with him in front of everyone! And somehow you still managed for him to get expelled, instead of yourself. That was really wicked of you, Jekyll.”

“I know, but I would lie, if I said that I regret it.”

Lanyon muttered something under his breath, that sounded like: “Idiot.” But he smiled.

Utterson laughed and put his bag on the table. Just when he was about to hand his presents to his friends, suddenly an angry screech tore through the festive atmosphere.

“What was that?”, Jekyll asked in shock.

Utterson frowned: “That must have been Lady Summers.”

Lanyon sighed: “Sounds like she received a letter or a cable from her relatives in Germany. She isn't very fond of them-”

Before he could end his sentence, the Lady herself rushed into the room. She was sputtering something that sounded dangerously like German profanities, pieces of paper in her gloved hand.

Then she flung herself onto the couch by the fireplace in a rather unladylike manner.

“Agh!”, she fumed, “Ich hasse diesen Kerl!”*

When she saw the three clueless gentlemen staring at her, she cleared her throat and sat up.

“My apologies, gentlemen”, she excused herself, “That you have to see me like this. I just received a letter from my second cousin and it's extremely offensive.”

She threw one piece of paper onto the red carpet and rested her feet on it.

The gentlemen winced and exchanged looks. Whoever this second cousin was, he must have really infuriated her, if she treated his letter so disrespectfully.

Finally it was Jekyll who gathered his courage first. “Uhm … Milady, if you don't mind … what does it say, that offends you so?”, he inquired as cautiously as possible.

She huffed, removed her feet from the letter and picked it up.

“Normally, I don't read the letters of my relatives out loud”, she conceded, “But there is no harm in letting people know, what an idiotic sod he is. Feast your ears on this gibberish!”

She unfolded the letter and began to translate the content:

“My dear cousin,

I wish you a happy Christmas tiding.

It's truly a shame that a member of our exalted house is not here to celebrate this joyous time with us. It's a disgrace really, that a woman like you chooses to spend it with English snobs, rather than in her true father land, with her true people and her true family. But if those are the people you want to waste your formidable skills on, that's none of my concern.

But this is the time of forgiveness, so I shall not hold any grievances.

I am well. The emperor is having health problems, but that's no surprise for such an old man. He's almost ninety after all, he won't last another five years.

Father and mother are fine, if only they wouldn't waste their time on those treacherous  so foolishly.

Old chancellor Bismarck is patronising as always and I wish he would finally bite the dust or at least resign.

I hope you and your exotic household have a merry Christmas and say hello to my uncle and grandmother from me.

Most respectfully and hoping that one day you will come to your senses and serve OUR monarchy rather than the British,

Prince Wilhelm.”

She stopped and crushed the letter in her hands, her ice blue eyes blazing with fury.

Meanwhile the men in front of her were mute with disbelief. The servants present in the room stood in awkward silence.

Utterson wasn't sure if he was more shocked by the rudeness of the letter or by the revelation of just how powerful her father's family was.

“Can you believe this?!”, she seethed, “It's already bad enough that this arrogant bastard has the impudence to bother me on Christmas Eve, but this takes the cake!”

With a growl, she tore the letter into half.

“That 26-year-old brat has the gall- ”

She tore it into quarters,

“-and the nerve to sign 'Prince'-”

She tore it into eighths,

“-just to rub into my face how inferior he thinks I am!”

She threw the pieces into the fire place. Then she dropped back onto the couch with a frustrated sigh. Her Japanese lady-in-waiting fanned her with a huge paper fan. Her butler served her a glass of cordial, she thanked him meekly and downed it in one gulp.

The gentlemen also received a glass of liquor each.

Jekyll began: “I'm really sorry, Milady-”

“No, no”, she interrupted him, “It's me, who's sorry. You are my guests and clients, you shouldn't have to deal with my family issues, especially not on Christmas Eve.”

She skimmed over the other letters, burned another two of them and gave the rest to her butler, who left the room with them.

“Foo! And that on this day!”, she lamented.

Finally, her nurse approached her: “Milady … don't let that silly, foolish letter upset you. It's Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year! Don't let that be ruined by a piece of paper! Wilhelm is just a proper rake. Forget him and the entire brood and celebrate!”

Her mistress smiled sadly and tiredly and replied: “You're right. Thank you, Marie.”

Then she turned to her guests.

“But I realise, I haven't greeted you properly, how rude of me! I apologise. Merry Christmas, gentlemen. Thank you for joining us today.”

“The thanks are ours”, Lanyon answered, then saw the bottle and spoon the butler handed to her and added, “But please lay off the brandy. You shouldn't get drunk today, Milady.”

“Oh, that's not brandy”, the Lady assured him, “I'm just taking a spoonful of laudanum to calm myself down.”

“Fine”, the hoary doctor consented doubtfully.

Yet the three gentlemen were still concerned. Jekyll had never and the latter two only a few times seen the Lady so genuinely upset and they were a bit helpless in that moment.

Utterson particularly loathed himself, because she had always been a source of support and good counsel to him, whenever he had needed it and now, that she herself was out of order, he didn't know how to help her and he hated it. When he regarded his friends, it became clear, that they were thinking similarly.

It was Lanyon, who spoke next: “Merry Christmas, Milady. That means, a merrier one than it is right now.”

The other two followed suit.

She smiled gently and thanked them, before sitting up and gesturing to the empty space next to her.

“Sit with me, Dr. Lanyon”, she requested and he obeyed.

Utterson suppressed a grin, when her hand brushed his with obvious deliberation and his old friend blushed.

Jekyll didn't even bother to hide his smirk. “Something we should know, Hastie?”, he teased.

“Shut up”, the other muttered, his blush increasing.

Utterson came to his friend's aid: “Leave him be, Jekyll. Their matter is a convoluted one.”

“Indeed it is”, Lady Summers confirmed, “But I can assure you, Dr. Jekyll, that there is nothing indecent about this matter. No ground for teasing.”

“Of that I have no doubt”, Jekyll defended himself, “I just couldn't help myself there. But I would never accuse either of you of being indecent.”

“Good.”

Then the butler returned to fetch the bottle of laudanum and inform everyone that brunch was ready.

“Oh, that's wonderful!”, the hostess exclaimed in delight, “This brightens my day immediately! Gentlemen, you must join us! My employees and I will be happy to have three more at our table! Especially, since my cooks prepared far too much food this year!”, she added with a teasing wink and everyone laughed.

So the butler saved the morning, which from there was passed with the appropriate merriment.

“Oh my! Mr. Utterson, you really didn't have to!”, Lady Summers cried, holding up an expensive new black raincoat.

“I beg to differ”, Utterson said, “I saw the state of your old raincoat and I thought one can never go wrong with a practical present.”

Jekyll smiled.

Of course, that's so much like you, Gabe.

“It's beautiful!”, she marvelled, running her hands over the elaborate pattern and needlework. Then she jumped up and darted off with the coat, bubbling in excitement about how she had to try it on immediately.

Jekyll chuckled good-naturedly. It was so hard to believe, that this woman was actually fifty years old, when she was looking and behaving as excitedly as a young maid.

Meanwhile Lanyon got his present from Utterson and beamed at the new walking cane he unwrapped. “Oh, thank you, Gabriel! How did you know?”

“Lawyer's instinct”, Utterson said mysteriously.

Jekyll blushed a little. He hadn't heard that tone in ages, yet it still managed to grab his attention.

Then the black-haired man handed him his own present and his heart beat higher.

With barely held-back curiosity, the blond looked at the package in his hand. It was small and rectangular and wrapped in red paper. It took him some self-restraint to open it in an appropriate manner, instead of just tearing the wrapping off like a spoiled child.

In the end, his eyes widened in awe: he held a beautiful golden locket in his hand. When he snapped it open, it contained a miniature portrait of Utterson on one side and on the inside of the lid a silver engraving.

From: G. J. Utterson

To: H. Jekyll.

Before Jekyll could say thank you or … anything really, his hand closed around the treasure, he clutched it to his chest and burst into tears in front of everyone.

In his head, Hyde groaned: “Really, Jekyll? He gives you a locket and you start to bawl? Instead of, I don't know, kissing him?! Really?!”

Hyde, shut up!

Suddenly he felt Utterson's smaller hand on his own.

“What's the matter?”, the lawyer asked worriedly, “Do you not like it?”

“I do!”, Jekyll choked, “It's … it's … beautiful!”

Then he cried harder.

“Oh good grief, somebody stop the waterworks!”, Hyde yelled in frustration.

Oh shut up, you hell child cried yesterday!

“I didn't cry over a present! I was in great distress! Partly because of you, may I add! Also, I didn't cry that much!”

Finally Lady Summers ended the mental argument by handing the doctor a handkerchief and telling him to compose himself.

“This is a day of joy, no more tears”, she said.

“But surely, tears of joy must be acceptable!”, Jekyll cried and dried his tears with the kerchief.

But she shook her head. “No. Settle down, doctor, before your alter ego gets the vapours. Besides, some of the people present here are really uncomfortable with tears.”

“Oh, thank you so much!”, Hyde sighed in relief.

You're a brat, do you know that?, the doctor thought in annoyance, then he inhaled deeply and blinked away the last tears.

“You're right”, he finally agreed with the Lady, “My apologies. What ungentlemanly behaviour of me. I just didn't expect to be caught by surprise like that.”

“No one judges you”, the Lady pardoned him graciously, “That is a wonderful gift you received.”

Then her face turned pensive and dreamy. “Yes”, she murmured, “Love is a wonderful gift.”

Her eyes became distant and melancholy, as if she was thinking of times long gone. Jekyll guessed, that she was thinking of her late husband.

“I miss him”, she told them sadly, “It's been twenty-one years, since we last celebrated Christmas together. And my father always sat with us. Then we would chat and laugh about the silliest things. He died five years after my husband. Honestly, gentlemen, one of the reasons I invited you, is that every Christmas I sit here and then I see the two of them again. And then I feel lonely, despite all the servants I employ. None of them knew my husband and only a few knew my father. And do you know what the worst is? Today would have been my father's 70th birthday. Every Christmas is bittersweet.”

Jekyll felt his heart clench.

He couldn't imagine how it was to lose someone so dear, that you mourned them for decades.

Sure, when Lanyon had left him almost eleven years ago, he had taken the loss really hard. He been had completely lost without his colleague's constancy and sense to keep him sane.

But it wasn't the same.

Lanyon was still alive, thanks to the help of Lady Summers. He could talk to him, they could still argue, reconcile, cry and laugh together and be there for each other.

But the Lady herself had lost her husband and father (likely the most important people in her life) forever and nothing would ever bring them back.

It was heart-wrenching and Jekyll had to bite his lip.

“Don't! Don't you dare!”, Hyde warned. “I don't care how depressing this is, you will not start to bawl on me again!”

Don't worry, I'm not going to.

“Be glad, that you can do all these things, Henry. You owe that to her.”

You're right.

Jekyll cleared his throat.

“Milady, may I tell you something?”

She blinked. “Oh? Ah, sure.”

“Thank you. For saving Hyde and me and for saving Lanyon.”

Her eyes grew softer than he had ever seen, as she smiled in response.

“You don't have to thank me, Dr. Jekyll. It was my pleasure.”

Then, all of the sudden, she broke into a huge grin. “But away with these melancholy reflections! I haven't given out my presents yet!”

Lanyon almost laughed at Jekyll's face, when the Countess handed him her present.

“A pot plant?”, the blond asked incredulously.

The Prussian Lady nodded enthusiastically: “When I first went to your house to fetch your chemicals, I saw that you didn't have any plants in your house. What a depressing atmosphere! I thought I had to change that! A flower in the office brightens everyone's mood!”

Jekyll didn't reply and for a moment the white-head thought he was disappointed. But the younger doctor just stared at the pot full of earth, that contained the seed of what surely was to become a beautiful flower.

“It's … it's such a delicate life form … I don't think I can-”

“Nonsense! You're a doctor, of course you can! Besides, you need something to take care of, when you're not treating your patients. This little flower will depend on you to live. You're its parent from now on, so take good care of it.”

“What kind of flower is it?”, Jekyll wanted to know.

The Lady's eyes twinkled. “That's a surprise!”

Lanyon got his present next, a pair of velvet gloves. He didn't show his friends the other present hidden between them: a locket with a miniature portrait.

“Thank you, Milady.”

He hoped that she would understand.

She laughed warmly. She understood.

Utterson received a bottle of fine champagne. “Oh Milady, you shouldn't have!”

“I absolutely should have!”, she objected, “I will not have you force that nasty cheap gin down your throat! Nothing is too good for my friends!”

The black-haired lawyer chuckled and put the bottle into his bag.

Then the servants had their moment of joy, as the Lady handed out a present to each of them.

Jekyll was the next to give out his gifts.

Lady Summers beamed at the scientific protocols she held in her hands. “Thank you, Doctor! This will certainly aid me in my own scientific research! That is an interesting formula, I shall try it out on my blood samples as soon as possible! What a useful present!”

The giver blushed. “Thank you. I'm not sure if it works, but I didn't want to test it on someone else. It would have been too risky.”

She nodded in approval. “I'm glad you think this way. That's one of your redeeming qualities.”

Her secretary took the protocols and went off to her office to put them there.

Then Jekyll gave Lanyon a small package.

When the white-haired doctor opened it, he was surprised to find a brand new golden pince-nez.

“This one suits you much better”, the blond remarked, when Lanyon replaced his bronze-framed pince-nez with the golden one. It was slightly more comfortable and the glasses were stronger than those on the old one.

“Thank you”, he told his friend, “Now I can see better.”

“That's what I thought”, Jekyll commented drily, “Your old one isn't strong enough, I observed.”

The other smiled. He hadn't expected Jekyll to actually notice that.

Utterson received his gift next.

A pocket watch of silver, with a golden engraving on the inside.

“Thank you, Henry”, he said gently, “But may I ask, when you had the opportunity to acquire all the presents?”

That's a good question, Lanyon thought.

“On the first day the Lady allowed me to go out for a walk. Her coachman accompanied me to the bank and to the shops. He had to support me several times, when my legs gave away.”

The coachman, a freckled redhead, whom Lanyon knew to be Irish, shrugged.

“Eh, that 'appens, when ya walk that much after lyin' an' sittin' in bed fer weeks”, he remarked.

Jekyll chuckled: “I know. But I just had to. I needed to get out. I can't sit and lie around all the time.”

“Fair 'nuff”, the coachman agreed. “Neither can I.”

“Hey, I know you!”, Utterson suddenly cried and stood up. “Aren't you the coachman, who drove us here for free that night, when Mr. Hyde-?”

“Aye”, the Irishman confirmed. “Was the only place I knew where you'd get 'elp that late. And I can't just let people die. So that kid's name was Hyde?”

Utterson nodded. “Yes. Edward Hyde. Some twit shot him in the abdomen for no good reason.”

“Indeed”, Lady Summers muttered under her breath, so only Lanyon heard it.

“Thank you for helping us”, the lawyer spoke to the coachman. “If you hadn't let us ride along for free, he would have died.”

The redhead just waved it off. “Mah. Is natural to help someone on the brink o' death. A life's more important than money. B'sides, I get good cash from her Ladyship.”

Lanyon had been keeping a close eye on Jekyll during the conversation.

The blond had grown pale and sombre, but never said anything. Maybe he was considering to later talk to the coachman in private.

Lanyon was the next to hand out his presents.

The Lady received a new black Sunday hat, which she accepted gracefully and put on. It fit perfectly with her new raincoat.

Utterson got a blue velvet scarf, that he wrapped around his neck immediately.

Jekyll pulled a face, when he uncovered an awfully gaudy purple bow tie. “Really, Hastie? Really?!”

The other doctor burst into laughter. This was just the reaction he had hoped for!

“What's the matter?”, he giggled, “Don't you want some colour in your wardrobe? All of your clothes are brown, white, grey or black! Bring some life into that!”

Utterson smirked: “Come on. It's a Christmas present, you have to put it on.”

Lady Summers agreed: “Yes, Dr. Jekyll, come on! Don't make a fuss, lest you want to offend the giver!”

The blond threw them all an evil glare, then he put on the purple bow tie, that absolutely didn't correspond with his beige waistcoat.

“You will pay, Hastie Lanyon”, he threatened darkly, when everyone giggled, “I will get back at you for this prank, when your birthday comes! Just you wait!”

“Totally worth it!”, the white-head snickered.

Yes … that face is totally worth it.

When everyone had calmed down, Utterson noticed a few untouched packages that still lay under the Christmas tree.

“Who are those for?”, he asked.

“They're for Hyde”, Jekyll explained. “I didn't want him to get no presents at all. The small one is from Lanyon, the long one from Lady Summers. I couldn't decide what to give to him, but it wouldn't have worked anyway, because he always knows what I'm thinking. It's no fun, if the other already knows, what you want to give to them.”

Pensively, the lawyer looked at the pile under the tree. Then he revealed a medium-sized package and a small one of his own. “What a coincidence. I have two gifts for him too.”

Jekyll alone looked curious and Lanyon was quite sure, that Hyde himself was brimming with excitement in the blond's head.

“He can't wait to see what you all got him”, he said warmly.

“I can imagine”, Utterson chuckled.

The rest of the day went by in a blink and all too soon it was evening. All the while Jekyll was sticking to him like glue. Meaning he sat next to him the entire time and brushed his hand, as if by accident. After a while Utterson had just grabbed the larger hand and not let go. Jekyll had blushed like a winter rose and grinned like an idiot. Lady Summers had giggled at the sight. Lanyon had just rolled his eyes and muttered something the likes of “about bloody time”.

In the evening after Christmas dinner, Lanyon had been about to go home, when Jekyll had pulled him to the side. Utterson had given them some space, but heard hushed words being exchanged and a sob here and there, which had prompted him to check. Lanyon had been crying on Jekyll's shoulder, while the taller doctor cooed soothingly into his ear. The white-haired doctor had gone home, smiling like he had finally found his long-lost peace.

The three others waved after him, before Lady Summers returned to her work and Utterson and Jekyll went to Jekyll's sickroom to have time for themselves.

No sooner had the lawyer closed the door, that the doctor's arms wrapped themselves around him and the taller man rested his head on his shoulder.

So clingy … one more thing these two have in common, he caught himself thinking and grinned.

“Harry, as sweet as this is, I'm afraid you have to let go of me”, he told the other.

Jekyll let out a sound that sounded suspiciously like a whine, but let go.

They sat down on the bed and the black-haired man allowed the younger to lay his head on his shoulder again.

“You're so cuddly”, he laughed, “That's not just because it's Christmas, is it?”

“No”, Jekyll replied smiling. “I'm just being clingy, while I still can.”

“You're making it sound like one of us is leaving somewhere.”

“Hyde wants out.”

“Oh.”

The lawyer was caught by surprise, when Jekyll sat up and cupped his face in his hands.

“Gabriel”, the blond whispered. Utterson realised the other's intent and blushed.

But before their lips could touch, the black-haired man swiftly turned his head to the side and got kissed on the cheek instead.

“Forgive me, Henry”, he apologised sadly, when Jekyll blinked in confusion. “I'm not ready yet.”

“I see …”

The doctor was obviously trying his best to hide his disappointment, but didn't quite succeed.

The lawyer felt guilty. But he really wasn't ready to go even that far. He loved Henry, but how could he kiss him, if he couldn't even tell him that he loved him? It didn't feel right.

“Please be silent for a minute”, Jekyll suddenly said.

“Huh? Why?”

“I'm having an argument with myself. It's just as ridiculous as it sounds.”

Utterson bit back the laugh that was threatening to escape him. Of course he knew what Jekyll meant, but the idea of the doctor and Hyde having a petty domestic inside his head was too funny.

But the lawyer contained himself and silently waited until the doctor relaxed.

“What were you arguing about?”, he then asked curiously.

Jekyll groaned in annoyance: “That little beast guessed that you've never been kissed before and now he's cackling like a hyena.”

“And I assume he wants to steal my first kiss now?”

“Yep.”

Utterson scowled. “Let him know that I'm not above hitting someone on Christmas Eve, if they don't respect my personal space.”

“Noted. Just remember, he's a professional brawler.”

“I know someone else who used to be!”

“Shut up! You always punched like a girl!”

Utterson ignored that jab at how he had always refused to seriously engage in brawls. “Just tell him not to flirt at me and if he honestly promises not to, he will get his Christmas presents.”

“He says you win.”

“Good. Now come here, you clingy fifty-year-old doctor.”

Said clingy fifty-year-old doctor giggled and returned his head to its spot on Utterson's shoulder. Then the lawyer ran his fingers through the blond hair and the other man purred.

“This is my happiest day in decades”, Jekyll cooed. “I love you so much.”

“I know, Henry. And I'm happy that you do.”

They sat like that for a while in comfortable silence. Then the doctor whispered: “I have to go. Hyde is getting impatient.”

Utterson nodded. “Good night, Henry. And merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Gabriel.”

That was the last thing he said, before closing his eyes and letting go.

The lawyer felt the blond hair beneath his fingers grow longer, darker and thicker and the doctor's frame shrunk considerably.

Utterson looked down on Edward Hyde's café brown mane, as the boy shifted and slowly became aware that he was in control.

“Mister Hyde”, he greeted gently.

Hyde looked up. “Mister Utterson!” He grinned. “How come that, every time Jekyll leaves the reins to me, I find myself in your arms?”

The lawyer shrugged. “I don't know, Mr. Hyde. Ask your other half. And don't even think about doing what you obviously want to do right now!”, he added, when he saw the roguish smirk on the younger man's face.

Hyde pouted childishly. “Hmph! Spoilsport.”

Utterson realised that he had to provide compensation and began to scratch Hyde's head. A long-stretched, pleased purr was the result.

Does Henry know that his alter ego is secretly a cat?

For a while the lawyer managed to keep the young man in trance through the scratching, but of course it couldn't last. After a while, Hyde looked up expectantly.

“Alright, I behaved. Now I would like to get the presents I was promised”, he demanded.

Utterson resisted the temptation to roll his eyes and handed him over the gifts he, Lanyon and Lady Summers had got for him.

Just as Hyde took them, there was a knock on the door and Lady Summers walked in – as she always did in moments like this one.

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Hyde!”, she cried cheerfully, “I just wanted to check, like the control freak I am and it seems my timing was perfect!”

“Your timing is always perfect”, Hyde noted drily. Then he added something unintelligible, that sounded like 'Merry Christmas to you too'.

Lady Summers fake blushed. “Oh you!”, she giggled, obviously flattered. “Now come, open your presents! Like every woman, I'm curious to see if you will like them!”

Hyde snorted. Then he tore the wrappings off the first present, till he held a dark blue umbrella in his hands. He frowned in confusion.

“Is that one from you?”, the brunette asked the Prussian Lady, who nodded.

“Thanks, but I already have an-”

“Oh, that's not a normal umbrella”, the Lady informed him, “The cover is made out of a bulletproof material a friend of mine invented. A mad scientist, just like Dr. Jekyll, only in a different field. It's tested, easy to clean and I can assure you, that it works perfectly.”

The young man stared at the innocuous-looking item in his hands, as if it was the holy grail.

The next present was Lanyon's. “Oh, a coat! Give Lanyon my thanks. I really needed one, the old one was beyond saving, after-”

Hyde broke off, realising that he had involuntarily brought up a subject, that he himself had been trying to forget.

He took a deep breath and turned to the bigger one of Utterson's gifts.

When  he unwrapped it, he laughed: “A diary?!”

The lawyer scratched his head awkwardly. “Uh no, more of a normal notebook. Alright, technically it's supposed to be a diary, but I already guessed that you wouldn't use it as such. So consider it a notebook with a lock.”

Hyde chuckled and put it into the lower counter of the night table. Utterson caught a glimpse of the ivory comb he had given the younger man a fortnight ago. It was still in one piece and neatly placed on his nightshirt, like a crown on a pillow. That warmed his heart.

Meanwhile the brunette was opening Utterson's second present. With wide eyes he regarded the content. A silver locket with a portrait of Utterson himself on one and a golden engraving on the other side:

From: G. J. Utterson

To: E. Hyde

After a while, the young man remembered to close his mouth.

He smiled wryly and commented: “Nice touch. My locket mirrors Jekyll's. A golden one with silver engraving for him, a silver one with golden letters for me. Well played, Mr. Utterson.”

His tone was dry, but there was no bitterness or envy. And the lawyer noticed there was a certain softness in the brunette's eyes. Without another word, he added the locket to his treasury and shut the drawer.

“Thank you. Both of you”, he said softly.

The lawyer and the Countess smiled warmly.

Shortly before midnight, Utterson had gone home and Hyde was now by himself. Well, himself and Jekyll.

He didn't know how to deal with all the feelings and thoughts that were running through him.

No one had ever given him presents before and actually put thought into what he might like. Sure, Jekyll had given him a name, clothes, flat and a bank account, but that had been out of necessity.

And now someone had given him something without him asking for it, just because they had wanted to, because they had thought that he might want or need it.

Hyde didn't know how to deal with so much genuine kindness.

Vehemently he blinked the wetness in his eyes away.

He wouldn't cry.

Not tonight.

Tonight he would feel at peace, just for a little while.

“Hyde.”

Jekyll's voice was soft, almost timid. As if he feared that he was disturbing Hyde's temporary peace of mind.

But the brunette only smiled lopsidedly.

“Jekyll.”

“May I sit with you?”

“Sure.”

In the dim light of the petrol lamb, Jekyll's shadowy form was faint and transparent, as it appeared and sat next to him.

“Are you happy?”, the doctor asked.

Hyde smiled a little bit. “I don't know. I suppose. Maybe your hype from earlier is rubbing off on me.”

“Maybe”, the older man chuckled.

“… Hey.”

“Hm?”

Hyde stood and pecked the other's forehead. An uncharacteristically tender gesture from him, but it was Christmas and that was his perfect excuse.

“Merry Christmas, Henry”, he muttered and sat back down.

Jekyll smiled and intertwined their fingers.

“Merry Christmas, Edward.”

They sat in comfortable silence for the rest of the night, holding hands and smiling, because just for a while everything was fine and they were at peace.

Hyde couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present from his doctor.

---

(A/N: Yes, I know that this is mushy and all, but this is a Christmas chapter so screw you!

*Ich hasse diesen Kerl! - German for: I hate this guy!)

[shyrebelchild]

Ranthambore National Park

The National park is just 7.8 kilometers from Astroport Ranthambore. When you arrive at the park you can take a safari and see around the Park. The Park is celebrated for the faunas like the Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, Common or Hanuman langurs, Common Palm Civets or Toddy Cat, Common Yellow Bats, Macaques, Jackals, Jungle cats, Caracals, Sloth bears, Blackbucks, Rufous-tailed Hare, Indian Wild Boar, Chinkara, Desert Cats, Five striped Palm Squirrels, Long-eared Hedgehogs, Ratels, Small Indian Mongoose, Small Indian Civets, Indian False Vampires, Indian Flying Foxes, Indian Foxes, Indian Gerbilles, Indian Mole Rats, Indian Porcupines, and Common mongoose. Different types of reptiles are likewise found in this park.

Ranthambore is quite possibly the most pursued spots to see tigers. Seeing them in their characteristic territory is inside and out an unexpected involvement with comparison to seeing them confined. They don't look scared, yet they look savage. They look great. There are additionally an assortment of birds you will discover there like, Brahminy Starling, Oriental White Ibis, Wooly-Necked-Stork, River Tern, Indian Scops - owl, Large Gray Babbler, Purple Heron, Hoopoe, Greater Coucal, Indian Pond-heron, Rufous Treepie, Black Drongo, Ruddy Shelduck, Bar-headed goose, Peacock, Brown stone, Red-wattled Lapwing, Purple Sunbird, Gray Francolin, and Baya Weaver.

[lovemychinchilla]

Should You Get a Chinchilla Or a Hedgehog?

Exotic pets are great fun. But which is better: a chinchilla or a hedgehog? And if one is better than the other, why?

Should you get a chinchilla or a hedgehog? Both chinchillas and hedgehogs make goood pets, so you can't go wrong with either. But we believe chinchillas make the better pets, because they live longer, have the softest fur of any pet, and are legal to keep almost everywhere (unlike pygmy hedgehogs). However, you might find hedgehogs cuter as they're smaller, or prefer that they are a more unusual exotic pet. Try to spend time with both pets to see which you prefer before getting either. We recommend adopting your new pet rather than buying one where possible.

Our guide looks at every way chinchillas and hedgehogs are different, so you can see which one you prefer. We'll also give guidelines on whether they can live together (hint: they can't) and how to decide between them if you aren't sure which you prefer.

Are Chinchillas Better Than Hedgehogs?

We believe chinchillas are the best pets of all, so it shouldn't surprise you that we think they're better than hedgehogs. However, what's also true is that different people want different things from the experience of owning a pet: fun, long-term companionship, novelty or something else entirely. As such, while chinchillas may be our favorite pets they may not be yours.

Below, we've looked at all the most important aspects of owning either chinchillas or hedgehogs: handling them, feeding them, spending time with them, how long they live, how likely they are to get sick, how much they cost and more. By the end of our guide, you should have an idea of which pet you prefer.

What's The Difference Between a Chinchilla And a Hedgehog?

Hedgehogs and chinchillas are separate species entirely. You can tell just from looking at them that they aren't particularly closely related.

The kind of chinchilla that's kept as a pet is the long-tailed chinchilla; the only other species is the short-tailed chinchilla. These both come from the Andes Mountains. They're in the same family (Chinchillidae) as the viscacha, an animal that looks like a cross between a chinchilla and a hare. Another rodent from South America, the guinea pig, is distantly related to the chinchilla too. Chinchillas have very thick, long fur to protect themselves from the cold of the Andes. They have large rounded ears and rodent-like faces.

There are lots of species of hedgehog, and they come from all over the world. The most common domesticated kind is the African pygmy hedgehog, also known as the four-toed hedgehog. Other domesticated species include the Egyptian long-eared hedgehog, the Indian long-eared hedgehog and the Algerian hedgehog. The guide below applies to all of these different domesticated species. The most distinctive feature of all these species is their spines, which aren't as sharp or as long as a porcupine, but can still hurt if they poke you.

Are Hedgehogs or Chinchillas Easier to Care For?

Hedgehogs and chinchillas require roughly the same amount of care, although the care you provide for one is different to the care you provide to the other. Things that both require include:

Food. Chinchillas need a diet of hay and hay pellets. Pygmy hedgehogs are omnivores, but they eat insects more than anything else; despite that, people mostly feed them dry cat biscuits.

Shelter. Chinchillas need to be kept in cages. People keep pygmy hedgehogs in aquarium-style tanks.

Vet care. When any pet gets sick, you have to take it to the vet. It doesn't matter if your pet is big or small.

Company. Chinchillas like the company of other chinchillas. Pygmy hedgehogs live alone, but your company stops them from becoming stressed and unhappy in their tanks.

Cleaning. Both pets go to the toilet and make a mess of their food on occasion, so you have to clean up after them. That means spot cleaning the cage every day, and deep cleaning it every few months.

While they're both small pets, and small pets are thought of as 'low maintenance', that's not the case for either of these exotics.

Which is better? Neither.

Are Chinchillas or Hedgehogs Cheaper to Keep?

Neither chinchillas nor hedgehogs cost significantly more than the other, despite their differing care needs. The initial purchase of a tank/cage, plus everything that goes in it, is expensive for both pets.

Ways in which the cost of each pet differs include:

Temperature regulation. Pygmy hedgehogs need to stay at between 21-25 degrees Centigrade/70-77 degrees Fahrenheit. This means you have to heat your hedgehog's tank, which is an ongoing cost. Chinchillas, on the other hand, should be kept at regular room temperature.

Food. Hay is cheaper than whatever you decide to feed your hedgehog, be it dried cat food, wet dog food, insects bought in bulk from pet stores, or anything else that's suitable for them.

Number of pets. Chinchillas thrive in pairs, while pygmy hedgehogs are solitary. It's possible to keep chinchillas alone, provided you spend lots of time with them, but most owners don't.

Lifespan. As we'll get to in a moment, chinchillas live longer than hedgies. You'll therefore be paying for your chinchilla (or chinchillas) longer than you'd be paying for a pet pygmy hedgehog.

If you have any reservations as to whether you can afford your pet, be it a hedgehog or a chinchilla, we don't recommend buying one. But hedgehogs are cheaper overall since they won't live as long.

Which is better? Over the course of their lifespans? Hedgehogs. On a day to day basis? Chinchillas.

Do Chinchillas or Hedgehogs Live Longer?

This is one way in which you might think either chinchillas or pygmy hedgehogs are the better pet.

Chinchillas have the longest lives of almost all the rodents. They live for ten years on average, although twenty years isn't unhear of among experienced owners. The oldest ever chinchilla lived to the ripe old age of 29, which made it older than most common pets, let alone rodents. Hedgehogs, on the other hand, have short lifespans. The average pet hedgehog lives to between 3-6 years.

Whether you prefer having a pet that could live for 20 years or one that's only likely to live to 4 or 5 years is up to you. If you want long-term companionship, you would do better to have a chinchilla, as your friend could be by your side for a significant portion of your life. But if you frequently have to move house, don't have or don't want a steady job, or aren't sure if you're ready for that kind of commitment, then a shorter-lived pet would be the better choice.

Which is better? It depends on what you want from your new pet.

Do Chinchillas or Hedgehogs Handle Better?

There are a few ways to address this question.

The first is, is it more pleasant to hand a chinchilla or a hedgehog? Well, hedgehogs aren't as spiky and spiny as you might think. Picking one up isn't like trying to pick up a cactus. You can hold a pet pygmy hedgehog without getting spiked, and they can learn to tolerate being held. Chinchillas, though, are definitely more pleasant to handle: they have the softest fur of any pet by far. While you shouldn't squeeze them and cuddle them close—they're too delicate, and you could break their ribs doing so—it's still lots of fun to stroke and pet them.

The other way you could interpret this question is as asking which pet tolerates handling better, and enjoys being around people more. In this regard, chinchillas and hedgehogs are roughly even. They're both skittish pets that aren't as fully domesticated as others like cats or dogs. As such, you need to very gradually teach them to get used to you: first sitting by their cages, getting them to sniff your hand, having them eat from your hand, and bit-by-bit teaching them that you aren't a predator.

Which is better? Chinchillas, as they have such soft, lovely fur.

Are Pygmy Hedgehogs Legal in The U.S.?

Another way in which chinchillas are better is that they're indisputably legal throughout the continental United States, while pygmy hedgehogs aren't. The only place you can't legally own a chinchilla is Hawaii, where it's illegal to import any non-native pets, both chinchillas and pygmy hedgehogs included.

Beyond Hawaii, though, there are a few states in the U.S. where you can't legally own a pygmy hedgehog without a permit. These include Pennsylvania, California, Georgia and Maine. You may still be able to get a permit for your hedgehog. But it'll take lots of applications, letters and time to get one.

There's also confusion over which hedgehogs are legal to own in certain places. Across Europe and the western world, certain species are illegal to own, while other species aren't. What's typically the case is that pygmy hedgehogs are legal to own, but European hedgehogs aren't. So:

Austria: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs (African Pygmy hedgehogs) may legally be kept as pets.

Australia: All hedgehogs are classified as exotic pets that are illegal to import.

Canada: In Quebec, European hedgehogs are illegal. Four-toed hedgehogs are legal. In Ontario, European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

Denmark: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

Finland: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

Germany: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

Italy: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

Latvia: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

Netherlands: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

Poland: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

Spain: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs are illegal and considered an exotic invasive species.

Sweden: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

United Kingdom: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

United States:

In Idaho and Oregon, European hedgehogs cannot be kept as pets. Four-toed hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.

In New Jersey and Wyoming, a permit is required.

In Wisconsin, an import permit from the state department of agriculture is required to bring a hedgehog into the state.

In Fairfax County, Virginia, it became legal to keep hedgehogs as pets in 2019.

In Pennsylvania, hedgehogs may not be imported into the state, but hedgehogs in the state as of 1992 and their descendants are allowed

It is currently illegal to own a hedgehog in California, Georgia, Hawaii, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

Singapore: Hedgehogs of all kinds are illegal, along with other exotic pets such as iguanas, tarantulas, scorpions, and snakes.

Turkey: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets, and four-toed hedgehogs may also not legally be kept as pets.

And as is always the case with the law, it changes. So, your city or state may outlaw keeping hedgehogs as pets; or, it may repeal a law that bans them. As such, you have to be certain of the legal status of hedgehogs where you live before you buy one. There's no such issue with chinchillas.

Which is better? Chinchillas, since they pose no legal issue except in very few circumstances.

Which Is Better, Hedgehogs or Chinchillas?

We believe that chinchillas are by far the best pet there is, but you shouldn't take our word for it. What we like in a pet might not be what you like in a pet.

As such, you should endeavor to spend some time both with a chinchilla and with a pygmy hedgehog. Whether that's seeing them at a pet shop, spending time with a friend that has one or both of them, or talking with a breeder of either, you can only really get a feel for which you prefer by being with them both. If you can, ask if you can handle them. And besides, don't discount what makes each individual pet so special: there's always one that will win your heart, whether because it's particularly affectionate, particularly cute, or whatever else.

That doesn't stop us thinking chinchillas are better, though.

Extra Credit: Can a Chinchilla Live with a Hedgehog?

Chinchillas like to live in groups, and there's limited evidence that in the wild, they can even share burrows with other similar creatures like degus. So, can chinchillas live with hedgehogs in captivity?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. If you put them together, they will fight, and in the end it's likely that one will kill the other.

Why Can't Chinchillas Live with Hedgehogs?

Chinchillas can't live with hedgehogs because they've evolved to not like other animals using their resources. This is something that's common to almost all species. You'll even see chinchillas fighting other chinchillas over things like food, water and space—so it stands to reason that they wouldn't want to live with a hedgehog, either.

As for your pygmy hedgehog, it's a solitary creature. They live on their own in the wild, and live on their own in captivity, too. They are protective of their space and their things, so yours would hate to live with a chinchilla.

What you could do instead is keep your chinchilla and hedgehog in two separate cages. There's no problem with that, so long as the cages aren't so close together that the pair can see, hear and smell each other (otherwise the presence of the other could cause stress). As such, what you can do is keep your chinchilla's cage in one room and your hedgehog's cage in another. Just make sure to wash your hands after handling one and before handling another, as you could pass on viruses, bacteria or infestations.

Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter!

#chinchillas #chinchillafaqs

[haleybeads]

Get The Most Attractive Native American Jewelry Online

The most attractive jewelery brings together the three most attractive and beautiful aspects of all jewelery, the artistry and craftsmanship of handcrafted items, the wealth of materials used, and the rich heritage behind each piece of jewelry. In addition to the necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and pins you'd expect, it also includes more traditional forms like keto (hand protection), vampum (pearl necklace), and labrets, usually among piercing jewelery. Orally). This form of Native American Necklace is made by a native of the United States and is beautiful and meaningful. Although these pieces are often made for sale or trade, and not just for the tribe itself, they provide a window into tribal life and help convey information about the person wearing them, such as status, major life events, and tribal identity.

When most people think of Native American jewelery, the first thing that comes to mind is jewelry that is primarily made of silver, turquoise, and coral, but is traditionally made from a variety of materials such as wood, vegetable fiber, animal teeth, bone and leather, and pearls. and fur.

Some tribes are known for their ideograms in their jewelry while others are known for their expertise in certain materials. Most of the tribes do what is at hand and this results in some interesting and enlightening work. The Native Americans of the Great Plains were famous for beads made of lignite, shells, hedgehogs, and long cylindrical bones that were used to make beads called hair tubes. The tribes of the northeast forest were famous for their barrel-shaped and whole pearls, as well as vampums. Wampum refers to the bee's milk-white channeled shell as well as the purple pearl of the quahog shell. Used as a form of money, these string beads were in great demand as an inter-tribal commodity and were popular with settlers and traders. Jewelry on the northwest coast was typically made of walrus shells from ivory, argillite, and dentalium, and items such as glass and copper beads were traded. Authentic Indian jewelery is the best jewelery for the needs of those who desire it.

For More details, Visit Us: Handmade Navajo Pearls

Navajo Pearls

Navajo Pearl necklace

Native American Bead Necklace

Haley Family

Haley Beads

[mytooop1]

Top 12 Prettiest Creatures Around The World

 Top 12 Prettiest Creatures Around The World

Just a video of a cat or a dog can make all of us go ‘aww’ and love cats and dogs, there are several other cute creatures around the world that are a treat to watch. Some are furry, some spiny and some feathery but there is one thing in common – they are the 12 prettiest around the world.

1. PERSIAN CAT

The Persian cat is a well-famous name for anyone who is a cat lover, owner or breeder. The Persian is one of the prettiest cat breeds between cats and is famous for its socially nature. Be it the big eyes, the long silky fur or the playful nature, the Persian scores high in every category on the cuteness index. It is also very easy to keep and does not need constant care. This breed adjusts very simply with other creatures and kids in the house king it one of the prettiest creatures around the world. Cats are one of the friendliest creatures in the world.

2. FENNEC FOX

The word fox can conjure images of hungry packs of creatures in your imaginary, but the Fennec Fox is different from that. It appears more like a cross between a cat and a dog rather than a fox making it one of the prettiest creatures. The big ears, small body, and big inquisitive eyes further make this creature very huggable. Though it is not a commonly kept pet, it can be domesticated in some countries and is a very playful and active animal. Baby Fox is one of the prettiest baby animals around the world.

3. RABBIT

Anyone who has seen a rabbit has definitely been won over by the stunning appearance of this creature. It has a twitchy snout, big ears, lovely front teeth and charming eyes making it one of the prettiest creatures one can have as a pet. Perhaps due to this reason, these creatures are one of the most famous pets in the world. These furballs come in a big range of colors and patterns and their babies are a sight to behold.

4. POMERANIAN

The Pomeranian is to dogs what the Persian is to cats. Similar to the Persian cat, this dog breed is one of the most lovely dog breeds among owners and is also one of the most vastly breed dogs. Since they are famous as the prettiest creatures and are very easy going dogs, they are also famous as toy dogs. Their thick fur, fluffy tail and teddy bear like face make them very desirable pets. The trend among celebrities to carry around small dogs has further augment the desirability of Pomeranians.

5. RED PANDA

This extremely rare creature is noticed only on the slopes of the Himalayas and the few who have watched this creature will testify to its cuteness. Though it is named a panda, it is not very closely related to its black and white cousin. The Red Panda has dark reddish to brown fur with white markings, a bushy tail, and short legs. Unlike the Giant Panda, this creature is very small – about the size of a dog – and is a herbivore. The population of the Red Panda is highly declining due to environment destruction, poaching, and climate change. It was once very familiar to wear clothes made out of Red Panda fur, though that has been banned now. It is also one of the nocturnal creatures around the world.

6. ARCTIC FOX

Arctic Fox is a creature that is very well adapted to live in one of the most colder climates on Earth but despite this is one of the prettiest creatures around the world. It sheds its fur twice a year and one of the color changing creatures depending on the season. In winter, the fur is extremely thick and pure white in color while the summer coat is brownish and sparse. The arctic fox has big ears and a thick bushy tail that it uses to shield its body from the cold winds and this ball of fur is the prettiest creature you’ll ever see!

7. KOALA

One of the animals noticed only in Australia and is one of the few Marsupials left in the world. It appears like a teddy bear, making it one of the prettiest creatures, though it is not even remotely attached to the bear family. The Koala spends most of their life in trees and eat leaves of the Eucalyptus plant. Since its diet have enough moisture in it, it does not need to drink more water to stay alive. In reality, the word ‘Koala’ means ‘no water’. The big nose, round ears, and innocent face have made the Koala one of the most famous attractions in Australia. It is also one of the slowest creatures around the world.

8. PYGMY OWL

An owl is not something you would consider as pretty, but the Pygmy Owl is sure to turn this conception on its heels. This small bird is noticed in Europe, North America, and Asia and is one of the smallest species of owls. Like most other owls, this owl too has big eyes and mixed with the small body, lovely patterns on the wings make it one of the prettiest creatures. These owls are also deadly predators and expertly hunt rabbits, rats and other small creatures at night.

9. PENGUIN

A penguin waddling in the ice is perhaps one of the perfect sights you will ever see and w flightless birds, due to their human-like gait, are one of the prettiest creatures around the world. Even prettiest than average Penguins are little penguins as their small size somehow adds to their cuteness. These little penguins require to be looked after by their parents and will die in the absence of food. In zoos and conservation parks, they are some of the most visited species.

10. HEDGEHOG

This small spiny mammal is one of the prettiest creatures in the world because of its small size, lovely face and tiny limbs. As is the case with all creatures, the babies of hedgehogs are way cuter than the adults and can melt even the hardest hearts. These creatures are commonly noticed in Europe, Asia, and North America and are nocturnal. They are omnivores and do not have several natural predators because to the spines present on their bodies, which deter any animal trying to eat them.

11. CLOWN FISH

One of the most wonderful fishes around the world, Clown Fish wins popularity after it was appeared in the animated movie “Finding Nemo”. It is mostly noticed in the Indian, Pacific, Red Sea and Australian Great Barrier Reef. Clownfish is one of the most famous small fishes in the world due to its colorful variations.

It can reach 2 and 5 inches in length. Also famous as anemonefish due to its preference of living in the community with sea anemones. The relationship between the two species is famous as symbiosis that means they both have benefits mutually. Clownfish used to feed on anemonefish leftovers like small pieces of fish and Anemone make use of clownfish in removing f dead tentacles and to augment circulation of water across the body.

12. CHINCHILLA

The cute small animal mostly noticed in the South America. The species is adapted mountains and rocky surfaces and prefers at an altitude above 12 000 feet. The nocturnal creature mostly active from the dusk to the dawn. One of the prettiest creatures in the world, Chinchilla mostly famous by its big and round ears with a bushy tail and soft thick fur. Chinchilla are friendly animals and mostly noticed in the groups of approximately 100 members. Also, Chinchillas are vocal creatures that produce various sounds like barking, grunting, squealing and chirping sounds while communicating with each other.

Look around you to spot more prettiest creatures. Have you noticed any that are cuter and should be on this list of the 12 prettiest creatures around the world?

The post Top 12 Prettiest Creatures Around The World appeared first on My Tooop.

from WordPress https://mytooop.com/top-12-prettiest-creatures-around-the-world/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-12-prettiest-creatures-around-the-world

[dingbatland]

Hedgehog Awareness Week - Day 3

Fact of the day: Long-eared hedgies - which live in Central Asia and some countries in the Middle East (there’s also a species of long-eared hedgehogs distinct to India!) - protect crops by eating harmful little creepy-crawlies like termites and, get this - scorpions. These are some hardcore hedgies.

Bonus fact! They look perpetually surprised, which is absurdly adorable.

!!

Tiny curl of cute

Some of them are darker!

Hedgie on the move

HOW ARE YOU SO SMALL AND PRECIOUS

[rudimentaryrecollections]

Budapest 12 - 16 October 2017

I got to the hostel around 6pm. Budapest was lively, . I had booked into Grandios, a party hostel. It was a ruinous styled building, with a large beer garden in the middle. The surrounding area had a bustling nightlife, and plenty of places with cheap eats. Yes, it was a party hostel.

The first night I went on a pub crawl which ended at the partner hostel, Retox Hostel – which I had almost booked. There I witnessed wild and wreckless binge drinking. Guys drunkenly trying to get with girls. Guys outnumbering the girls, which always affects the vibes. Loud Americans, Australians and Canadians.

Young Aussie tradies on holidays volunteering at the hostel. They drink every day. Bulky Aussie tradie who calls this place 'his home' whinges to me as I drink with him. He whinges about the state of buildings here, especially the one we're in. What more did he expect from such an old city? I tell him he should see Nepal or India. A Dutch couple sits with us. They decide they should go upstairs to get ready for the night out. They start speaking Dutch to each other. The Aussie guy tells them they are rude to speak Dutch in front of us, they should speak English. Does he not realise how rude that is to say? I tell them I like to hear people speak they're native tounge, so I can get a better ear for them.

The second night I went on a boat party. I made friends with a cool Liverpudlian guy who was staying at Hostel One. Later I danced with a nice Dutch girl who worked there. I wished I'd checked in there instead, as they split after the party and people from my hostel go to a club. I'm not huge on nightclubs, so I wonder round and dance, and eat chips and go back and sleep like a log.

I had fun those nights but also got over it. I'd done this sort of thing in my first two years of university, and sort of got it out of my system back then. I mean I'm all for having a good time and partying, but my style of doing it has changed. The first day I managed to walk across the Danube and up to the Fisherman's Bastion to take some photos. Otherwise I pretty much slept all day in my bunk or on some grass in a park after crawling out to get some food. I felt ill from the alcohol.

I regretted booking for four nights. The last two nights I avoided the hostel. I declined coercions to join the night's activities. I seel solitude. Saturday night I try to retire when everyone is out but people are having sex in my bedroom so I go out night walking and have some drinks. When I get back the room is empty. But I wake up to the sounds of sex in the bunk above me. It's perfectly acceptable in this hostel, with there being a caution that you should be comfortable with this if you were to book. But it didn't exactly rock me gently to sleep.

They were a couple, as I met them as they checked in. They both were stuck with top bunks in the room, and kept their luggage on the one adjacent to mine. I wonder why they would not go for a private room? Because they wanted to experience the party hostel, which only had dorms? To save money? Because they prefer banging in dorm rooms? I ponder this as I slip my headphones on, to replace the creaks and moans with classical music.

Unfortunately they extend their stay an extra night in the morning, when the staff come in to loudly clean the room. I sleep all day again, and go for a long walk early evening. I get some Indian food. I go to the cinema but they are not playing anything in English. I keep walking, and essentially do all the sight-seeing I had been meaning to during the day. I walk through the palace, and up to the citadel. I hang out with hedgehogs in the park, who forage by night. It is a good time for sight-seeing, there are no tourists around. It is solitary, tranquil, beautiful to see the these popular spaces empty. So empty that a man collects the more valuable coins out of a fountain at the palace which people throw in to make a wish. I take many photos and return at 3am in the morning.

So from all this I longed to be somehwere with a job and income. I fantisised of washing dishes at night and working on video projects by day, as people drank and partied around me. A decidedly good thing to be feeling as my travels temporarily come towards their end.

I am glad to leave for Olomouc, back in Czechia first thing the next day.