The Seven Ravens

Once upon a time, in a quiet village nestled between rolling hills and whispering trees, there lived a kind-hearted woodcutter and his gentle wife. They were blessed with seven sons, each as brave and adventurous as the next. However, these sons were not ordinary boys – they were born with feathers instead of hair and wings instead of arms, for they were the seven ravens.

Despite their unusual appearance, the woodcutter and his wife loved their sons dearly and raised them with care and affection. The ravens grew up surrounded by the beauty of nature, soaring through the skies and exploring the forests with boundless curiosity.

One day, as the ravens' father ventured deep into the forest to gather firewood, he received word that his wife had fallen gravely ill. Hastening home, he found his beloved wife lying on her bed, her face pale and her breath shallow.

With her dying breath, the woodcutter's wife whispered a final request to her husband. "Promise me that you will always take care of our sons, no matter what happens," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

The woodcutter promised to honor his wife's dying wish, but grief weighed heavy on his heart as he watched her slip away. In his sorrow, he forgot to keep a vigilant eye on his sons, and they wandered deeper and deeper into the forest, unaware of the danger that lurked nearby.

As night fell and the forest grew dark, the seven ravens found themselves lost and alone in the depths of the woods. With a heavy heart, they huddled together for warmth, their feathers ruffling in the chill night air.

Suddenly, a wicked witch emerged from the shadows, her eyes gleaming with malice as she spotted the seven ravens. With a wave of her hand, she cast a dark spell upon them, turning the brothers into ravens of stone.

For many years, the seven ravens remained frozen in stone, their wings outstretched and their faces frozen in silent agony. But even in their stony slumber, their hearts beat as one, longing for the day when they would be free once more.

Meanwhile, back in the village, the woodcutter mourned the loss of his sons, unaware of their fate. But deep down, he held onto hope, believing that one day, he would be reunited with his beloved boys.

Years passed, and the memory of the seven ravens faded into legend. But one day, a brave and kind-hearted girl stumbled upon the stone statues hidden deep within the forest. Moved by compassion, she reached out and touched the stone, her heart filled with love and longing.

To her astonishment, the stone began to crack and crumble, revealing the seven ravens trapped inside. With a flutter of wings and a joyful cry, the brothers were set free from their stony prison, their feathers once again soft and sleek.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, the seven ravens thanked the girl for her kindness and led her safely back to the village. There, they were reunited with their father, who wept tears of joy at the sight of his sons returned to him.

And so, under the light of the full moon, the woodcutter and his sons embraced, their hearts full of love and gratitude for the brave girl who had set them free. From that day forward, the seven ravens vowed to protect their family and the forest they called home, their bond stronger than ever before.

The end!