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The tale of Lupold and Ravetti

There once was a wolf named Lupold who was black as coal, as thick as a tree trunk,and feared like death.He had teeth the size of carving knives, powerful claws of stone, and eyes that glowed

like fat fire flies.He could smell your sweat before the first bead broke from your skin, he could hear yourheart beat from miles away and he could see you even in the blackest of pitch.No one knew the real Lupold. Under the menacing exterior he was the most harmlessand lonely wolf to ever bay at the moon.

No one knew that he'd swear eternal loyalty to you if you would only scratch his belly.He would love you forever if you would only run and play with him, and he would follow

you to the ends of the earth if you would only call him friend.

There once was a crow named Ravetti. Ravetti was very much like Lupold.He too was black as pitch, weighted with might, adorned with fearsome claws andglowing eyes, and as frightening as a crow could ever be.

Only Ravetti was not a lonely crow, and far from harmless.Ravetti the crow was friends with each and every creature. He was comical and clever,

he lavished compliments and told wonderful stories.Yet no one knew, Ravetti was poisonous to his hollowed-bone core.

Only becoming your friend to make ruining your life all the more sweet. He made thehen hunt the worm, the fox hunt the hen, and the man hunt the fox.

He made every thing an enemy to another, all with a smile, a kind word, and a "How yadoin?"One night while coaxing moths to a flame, Ravetti realized he was being watched.At first, Ravetti was naturally frightened by Lupold's presence, but when Ravetti lookedcloser, he saw a deep sadness in the fearsome wolf's eyes.Never passing up a chance to exploit a weakness, Ravetti ventured a few words with the

forlorn beast."The moon is sure bright tonight, isn't it?"

Lupold, at first shocked that the bird did not flee instantly upon seeing him, replied,"The moon, my only friend, a balefire that keeps me company during the lonely night."

Just as he did with every other creature, Ravetti treated Lupold with kindness andquickly won his trust.He listened to Lupold's tale of loneliness oh so attentively and by the time the story wasover, he had already hatched a mischievous plan to torment him."Brother, I'm good friends with the villagers. The way to get in good with them isthrough their children. Make friends with the children. Children love wolves," Ravettiexplained.Lupold was so lonely he needed no convincing, he agreed straight off to go to the village

the next night and make friends with the children.Lupold thanked Ravetti for his advice and they parted ways.

The next day before Lupold was to arrive, Ravetti flew into the village and told everyoneabout a town in the north that had been attacked by the black wolf,the children stolen in the middle of the night.The terrified villagers thanked Ravetti for his warning and set up, waiting in case the wolfshould come, looking for a late night snack.That night when Lupold came to befriend the children he was met by the villagers, whochased him off into the woods, where he spent the night running for his life.Ravetti was so amused by the outcome, the next day he flew from village to village

warning the people of a deadly black wolf that steals children in the night.Soon hunting parties were formed. They combed the woods every night, looking for

Lupold.

Running for your life every night is not an easy thing to do, and because of it Lupoldbecame an angry, desperate wolf.

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His once soft and good natured heart was turned as black as his fur.This one time harmless wolf became what everyone thought he was, a vicious predator

ready to prey on whomever should cross his path.One night a very old and very weary wolf came across a line of crows sitting on a fenceon the outskirts of a small village.Upon sight of the wolf all but one of the crows flew away. "Do I know you," asked the

wolf.The crow recognized the wolf instantly, but decided it best not to let on. "I think not,

brother," the crow answered."Oh, forgive me. I'm just a tired, old, hungry wolf. I've spent the last ten years running

from hunters. I don't remember much else," the wolf explained."You must be the infamous black wolf that steals babies in the night," said the crow.

"It's true I killed many, but only for survival. I know not why they hunt me," the wolfadded."What a sad story indeed. Let me go to the village and get you something to eat. Youstay here and rest," the crow offered.The crow smiled and then flew to the village, convinced that the wolf did not recognizehim.

Once there, the crow woke the villagers, alerting them to the black wolf waiting on theoutskirts, near the woods.

They came running, ready to kill the infamous black wolf. When they arrived the wolfwas gone.

"Perhaps he went into the forest," the crow posed. The villagers went into the forest,foolishly following his tracks to a wall of thorns with only one way out.When they reached the dead end the wolf was hiding. He surprised and killed all thevillagers, save one.The crow was rather amused at the unexpected but enjoyably gruesome outcome.As the wolf watched one villager run away, the crow sat on a high branch, cackling, wellout of reach."What are you laughing at, friend," the wolf asked.

"Well brother, you see I was planning on delivering you to the villagers, and instead Idelivered the villagers to you. No matter," said the crow.

"Why ever would you do such a thing," asked the wolf."Because I'm Ravetti and I'm friend and betrayer to all. I made the hen hunt the worm,the fox hunt the hen and the man hunt the fox and I made them hunt you.I am the one responsible for all your misery. Years ago, I was the one who madeeveryone fear you and by eating those villagers you have become my lie,"chattered Ravetti.To this the wolf replied, "Yes I have become what you made me but I knew you wereRavetti, which is why I let you lead them to me.

It is also why I allowed that last one to live, so he will return and tell everyone about anevil crow that led them to slaughter.

No one will ever listen to your kind again. They will fear you, they will hate you.They will throw rocks, chase you off their lands and never let you rest for more than a

moment in their presence.In their eyes you will be the bearer of bad tidings and a sign of evil.

Now we truly are brothers," and with that the wolf walked off into the woods, licking his lips from hismalicious feast,leaving Ravetti to wallow in his bleak future