The Seven Ravens

Once upon a time, in a quiet village between rolling hills and whispering trees, there lived a kind woodcutter and his gentle wife. They had seven sons who were born with feathers instead of hair and wings instead of arms. They were the seven ravens.

The woodcutter and his wife loved their sons very much and took good care of them. The ravens grew up surrounded by nature, flying through the skies and exploring the forests.

One day, as the ravens' father went deep into the forest to gather firewood, he heard that his wife was very sick. He rushed home and found her lying in bed, very weak.

With her last breath, the woodcutter's wife asked him to always take care of their sons. The woodcutter promised, but he was so sad that he forgot to watch his sons, and they wandered deeper into the forest.

As night came, the seven ravens got lost and were alone in the woods. They huddled together for warmth.

Suddenly, a wicked witch appeared. She saw the ravens and, with a wave of her hand, turned them into stone ravens.

For many years, the seven ravens stayed as stone, with their wings outstretched and their faces showing silent pain. But even in stone, their hearts beat as one, hoping to be free again.

Back in the village, the woodcutter was very sad about his sons. But he hoped that one day, he would see them again.

Years passed, and the story of the seven ravens became a legend. One day, a brave girl found the stone statues in the forest. She touched the stone with kindness.

To her surprise, the stone began to crack and break, and the seven ravens were freed. With a flutter of wings, the brothers were free again.

The seven ravens thanked the girl for her kindness and took her back to the village. There, they were reunited with their father, who cried with joy.

Under the full moon, the woodcutter and his sons hugged, their hearts full of love and thankfulness for the brave girl. From that day on, the seven ravens promised to protect their family and the forest.

The end!

Follow-up questions:

• Why did the woodcutter forget to watch his sons?

• How did the seven ravens become free from the stone?

• What did the seven ravens promise to do after they were reunited with their father?