In the times before humans, when the animals talked freely, the world lived in an endless summer. The sky was always blue, except for a few puffy, white clouds who wandered down from the cloud kingdom. The sun shone every day and it only rained at dawn and sunset, when rainbows displayed their colourful faces. The moon went through its phrases; the stars were tiny flickering Christmas tree lights brightening the deep maroon night. The grass was always green, the trees never dropped their leaves, and sweet scented flowers perfumed the air.
A Muslim or a Christian might think this was surely paradise and not be far off, but everyday was the same as every other day and the animals grew bored. A few of the more adventurous ones, bears, weasels and otters, got together and petitioned the Creator to make some changes. They didn't exactly know what they wanted, but went ahead anyway.
The very next day, the animals were surprised and delighted by the tiny drops of flaky white stuff, which came drifting down from the cloud kingdom. It covered the green grass, and stuck to the tips of the tall evergreens. It sparkled like the stars of the night season and chilled the skin, while burning the tongue if you tasted it.
Except for a few old grouches, the animals loved the snow; the otters and weasels created the first toboggan run and took turns sliding down the snow-covered hills. The baby bears made snowballs and pelted the adults. A few agile wolves and coyotes went skating on the frozen ponds and many of the birds did the same. All in all, they thought the Creator's invention of winter was marvellous fun!
However, as day followed day and the snow kept swirling down, and the drifts grew higher and higher, the creatures became frightened. "Fun is fun," some of them said, "but if this keeps up we will run out of food and freeze to death." So the animals had a convention and decided to petition the Creator and ask Him/Her to bring back the sun. Naturally the proud Eagle nominated himself for he task. He could fly higher than any of the birds, and was only too ready to point this out.
The animals agreed; the eagle fluffed his feathers; spread his giant wings and started his long flight to the cloud kingdom. He did his best, but alas the warm thermals did not lift him up and the heavy snow weighed down his feathers. He struggled and struggled, but finally had to admit defeat and returned to the animals waiting below.
The next to try was the swift falcon, the fastest of all birds. She thought she could out fly the snow drops and ice crystals so they wouldnt have a chance of sticking to her feathers. Alas, this did not prove to be the case, and after a day of desperate attempts, she had to admit defeat.
Finally the beautiful Raven stepped forward. Now the original Raven didn't resemble the noisy black creature we see today. Its feathers would put the Peacock's iridescent plumage to shame and its voice was sweet enough to bring tears to your eyes and healing to the sick. Raven was much respected among the birds, for even though it didn't fly as high as the Eagle or as fast as the Falcon, it was a creature of its word and once it set out to do something it would not quit!
So Raven set out on its long, upward flight to the abode of the Creator. The winds blew and the snow fell. Ice crystals collected on its iridescent, rainbow feathers and still it persevered. Hour after hour, meter by meter, it climbed and climbed. Though Raven was sorely tempted to turn back, it thought of all the creatures depending on its mission and refused to give up.
At long last Raven ascended above the snow-laden clouds and made its way to the golden domed abode of the Creator. Being a courteous creature, Raven thanked the Creator for the gift of changing seasons and the pristine beauty of winter. "But," Raven continued," the snow keeps falling, the animals are getting very cold and some of the little ones could be buried in the drifts."
The Creator turned to Raven and said," Once I create a thing, I do not alter it to suit mortal needs and desires. However, if you go beyond the next cloudbank, next to that bright light you will find something that will solve your problem. Just stick this staff in it and be sure and don't drop it on your way back down."
Raven thanked the Creator and taking the staff in its mouth, Raven set it aflame in the fire of creation. Grasping the burning branch firmly in its beak, Raven began its flight home. The smoke choked it, and made Raven's eyes tear, the fire singed its beautiful feathers and Raven began to wish it had never set out on its mission. However, through snow and smoke and fire, Raven persisted, finally bringing the gift of the Creator down to Earth.
The anxious animals all praised Raven and the Creator and drew close to the warmth of the fire. But Raven was not particularly happy. Its beautiful rainbow feathers had either dropped off or been blackened by the soot. When it opened its mouth, only harsh, screeching sounds came out. So instead of rejoicing with the other creatures Raven slunk away to brood and sulk.
Then the Creator called to Raven, "Why are you so upset? What is troubling you?"
"Just look at me!" Raven cried, "my voice is gone. My feathers have all turned black and I stink from the smoke of your fire!"
The Creator chuckled and said, "Raven, your black feathers are emblems of honour so all the animals will know of your bravery and your sacrifice. You do not know it now, but soon I will create a new creature called man. Because of the harshness of your voice and the stink of your flesh, he will never hunt you for meat or put you in a cage like other singing birds."
Stories For A Winter Night