Mirror Lakes Hedgehog

There are a number of misconceptions about the breed of hedgehogs native to the Mirror Lakes. What sets it apart from hedgehogs that are found in other dimensions is the fact that it is poisonous, which is widely known. However, hedgehog toxin does not work the way many people assume.   Hedgehog poison is one of the most deadly toxins in the world. A popular old wives' tale is that it is administered through a hedgehog's spines, and that handling such a creature is just asking to die, regardless of how careful you are. At the other end of the spectrum exists a myth that hedgehogs are only poisonous when their poison sac is eaten. Neither are completely false, but neither convey the whole picture.   For a hedgehog, to release their poison is very risky for themselves, so it tends to be a last resort. Typically this comes in the form of defending their young, or when the hedgehog has already been swallowed by one of its larger predators. Hedgehog poison is not just deadly to most species; it is in fact deadly to the hedgehog itself if it gets into the bloodstream. Prior to releasing their poison, the hedgehog changes colour as a warning. Anyone handling a hedgehog whose spines are suddenly brilliant orange should put it down immediately. It is not just a warning to predators to back off, but to any other hedgehogs close by to move away if possible.   Hedgehogs are often considered endearing and play an important role in the ecosystem, but their poison can also cause great damage to crops and the environment. As such their numbers are carefully controlled. Hedgehog meat is considered a delicacy, and it takes incredible skill and a licensed chef to prepare.   Many zoologists have wondered how such a creature came to be, with a natural trait so dangerous to itself and damaging to its habitat. The current hypothesis is that hedgehogs were not in fact originally poisonous, but specially bred or altered through magic. If this is the case, it's remarkable how other species, namely carrion snakes and piggyback scorpions, have since formed a symbiotic bond which allows them to "clean up" after the death of a hedgehog by consuming the poison sac, therefore preventing it from causing ecological damage.