Jean howled from loneliness. Jean was a lone wolf, a wolf without a pack. He was one summer old; his parents had died while fighting a cougar over a deer three moons before his day of life celebration it was now one moon after his day of life celebration. He howled once again into the moonlit night and was disappointed by the fact that he did not hear another wolf’s howl answering his own. He turned to walk off into the forest.

There was a sound of wings fluttering above him and Jean stopped, looking up to watch the dark shadow of his friend Erik, a raven, land beside him. Jean looked at his friend and smiled slightly.

“Hello Erik.” Jean said solemnly.

“Hello Jean, I found a rabbit den, want to come and see?” Erik said very quickly, his words practically blending together.

“No Erik, thank you though.” Jean said with a heavyhearted sigh.

Erik clacked his beak in an irritated manner at his friend.

“Jean! You cannot dwell upon one event all your life! You’ll never do anything with your life if you do!”

Jean growled angrily at Erik, his eyes flashing with rage.

“You don’t know how it feels to lose your family!” Jean yelled, his voice filled with vicious rage.

Erik fluttered backwards out of the range of Jean’s teeth. He clacked his ebony beak in annoyance, reprimanding his friend.

“That may be true but attacking me will not change a thing. Your family is gone and nothing you can do will bring them back.” The raven said, “You should find another pack, call to them with your howl, if they hear you, they should answer back. Tell them your tale in your wolf song, break their hearts with your story.”

Jean thought upon his friend’s advice; noting that ravens were very wise, knowing much about the world. He finally decided to heed his friend and smiled as he returned his gaze to the black bird.

“Very well, I shall do as you advise, thank you my friend.” Jean said with a sad smile, turning away to walk towards a nearby cliff.

Jean had his doubts, after all what did a raven know about the hearts of wolves. Eventually Jean came to the cliff and sat down on his haunches.

He threw his head back and prepared to tell his tale. He gathered his breath in his lungs and released the longest and most heartfelt howl of his young life. He sang of his early life, the happiness of he felt with his mother and father. From happiness he drifted into sadness as he sang of his parents death at the claws of the cougar. He then told of the advice his friend gave him and what brought him to tell his sorrowful tale.

He was done, his story was told. He panted heavily to catch the breath lost during his song. He listened intently for a howl of response but heard nothing. Jean’s heart shattered and he turned to go into the trees once again. But as he turned, he heard the joined howls of a nearby pack of wolves, a howl saying ‘Come join us. Join our pack young wolf.’

Jean’s spirits were lifted and he bounded off through the trees to join his new pack. And Jean grew to become the leader of the pack but never did he forget the wise advice of his friend Erik the raven.