The Last Wish of the Snow Raven
Long ago, in the icy reaches of northern Siberia, there was a small village called Kolyanka, where the winters were so harsh that even wolves feared the cold. The villagers depended on their reindeer and fur trade to survive, and they told stories around the fire to keep their spirits warm.
Among the oldest and most mysterious tales was that of the Snow Raven—a bird as white as the tundra, said to appear only during the coldest nights of the year. According to legend, the Snow Raven could grant one wish to anyone who proved their heart was pure and their purpose noble.
In this village lived a humble orphan boy named Ivan. Though he had little, Ivan was known for his kindness—he shared his bread with birds, helped elders carry firewood, and never turned away from someone in need. One year, during an especially bitter winter, a deadly blizzard swept through Kolyanka. The village was cut off, and many feared they wouldn’t survive until spring.
One night, Ivan ventured into the forest to search for firewood and herbs to help the sick. As he wandered through the snow, nearly frozen and lost, he saw a glimmer of white in the sky—a majestic raven, glowing softly, flying in slow circles above him. He followed the bird, stumbling through knee-deep snow, until he came upon a tall fir tree where the bird perched.
The Snow Raven looked directly at Ivan and spoke—not with words, but through the wind in his ears.
“Speak your wish, child of the snow. But be warned: only one with true heart may ask.”
Ivan thought of food, warmth, even treasure—but then he shook his head. “I wish only for my village to survive the winter. Help the sick and the hungry. Let them see spring.”
The raven blinked once, and then it opened its wings wide. A gust of warm wind swept across the forest, melting the snow beneath Ivan’s feet. The next morning, the villagers awoke to find fresh berries growing under the snow, game animals returned to the woods, and the storm finally breaking. The entire village rejoiced—but when they looked for Ivan, he was gone.
Some say the Snow Raven carried him away as a guardian spirit. Others believe he became the next Snow Raven, watching over the frozen lands in times of need.