Her finger was the same size as the chicken bone that the morning star had given her. \n\nShe looked around... was there anything else she could use? \n\nThere was nothing. \n\nJulia grasped the knife in her hand, took a deep breath and cut off her small finger. Wrapping her hand, she then took the bone and opened the glass door. \n\nBreathing deep through the pain, she walked down a long hallway. A dwarf came around the corner, and looked at her.\n\n"Child, what are you doing here?" he asked. \n\n"I... I... am looking for my brothers, the seven ravens", Julia replied. The dwarf looked at her. \n\nJulia wondered, \n\nshould she [[trust the dwarf]]\n\nor\n\nshould she [[run]]?\n
Julia felt her parents leave the room quietly, thinking that she was already asleep. She sat up quietly in bed. \n\nWhen she was much younger, her parents used to tell her bedtime stories of the mountains. She felt drawn to go there because she knew that she could and would save her brothers. Julia didnt know how but she made plans to go soon.\n\n\nFor several days, Julia fought sleep. She would lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. Suddenly she could rest no more and sat up.\n\n[[Deciding to leave, Julia packed a ring to remember her parents, some food and some water and crept out into the night.]]\n\n[[Julia couldnt leave her parents, so she laid back down.]]
There was a family of nine, seven sons and their parents. The brothers, John, James, Peter, Michael, Aaron, Luke, and the youngest brother, Tom, were all mischevious boys. Their days were spent fighting invisible foes and making messes wherever they went.\n\nDespite the joy the brothers brought their family, their father so wanted a daughter. \nOne day it was revealed their mother became pregnant and a girl, Julia, was born. \n\nThe day of her birth, Julia was sick and the brothers were sent to gather water. \n\nThe boys arrived at the source of water and it was there that clumsiness befell them and the bucket for water fell into the water. Unable to reach it, the brothers ran to hide in fear of failing their parents and sister.\n\n[[Oh no!!]]\n\n
A sad mother sat looking out her window. How she wished her children would return. \n\nIn the distance, she saw a group of children. Seven boys and one girl. She yelled for her husband, who came to her. She pointed and they together ran out the door. The family of ten embraced, crying.\n\n\nThe End.
Julia found a spot from which she could see but not be seen. \n\nSeven ravens came in and perched upon the seven seats. She watched as each looked at their plates and cups. She heard one talk and then they all were talking. Remarking on the fact that someone had eaten from their plate and drank from their cup, Julia watched as the raven who sat at the head of the table was inspecting the ring. \n\n"Silence, brothers", he spoke.\n\nThe ravens looked to him. \n\n"This was in my cup," he said, "It is our family ring. I wish our sister be here and we could be set free!" \n\nAs this wish was spoke, Julia walked out and in one blink, the seven ravens were now human again. The eight children embraced, thanked the dwarf and returned [[home]]. \n\n\n\n
As time grew on, the parents kept their word. They mourned the loss of their boys and with every birthday that passed uncelebrated, they hid a sadness that Julia never understood. \n\nJulia, a bright young girl, gave her parents many delights. Every milestone was celebrated and she grew into her spirit. Her mother would braid her dark raven hair and dress her in the prettiest gowns. One day when she was old enough, she went to the local shop for her parents. \n\nAs she shopped for the items, she smiled and greeted each person warmly. \n\nAs Julia shopped, many people recognized her and the story of her brothers disappearance. \n\nJulia went to pay, and on the way out of the shop, she became intrigued.\n\n[[Whispers]] hit her ears.
Julia listened hard as the townspeople spoke around her. Stories of seven brothers and their mischevious nature made her head spin. \n\n"Brothers? I have no brothers," She thought.\n\nListening more and more, she gathered more and more of a picture of seven boys, her brothers, who disappeared and it seemed to be her fault. Sick with guilt, she ran back to the house and slammed the door behind her. \n\nHer mother, cooking dinner at the stove, asked her what was wrong. Between tears, she asked, "did I have seven brothers?" Her mother's eyes were full of tears. "We will talk but first gather yourself and go wash your face. When your father comes home, we will talk."\n\nJulia got herself together. Setting the table quietly, dinnertime came but no one really ate. Her parents stared at her and she placed her fork down and told the story of her visit to the shop. She told them about the whispers. \n\nJulia asked, "Do I have brothers?"\n\nHer parents looked at each other.\n\nThey shared [[their truth]]. \n
The Seven Ravens
Upon reaching the glass mountain, Julia found that it was much more steep to climb. As she climbed, she slipped several times. She stopped for a moment to rest and then perserved on. She finally reached the top and saw a great door. \n\nPutting her hand into her pocket, Julia realized that her pocket was now empty. She had lost the bone and therefore, lost a gift from the stars. How was she going to get in? \n\nShe thought and then reached into her pouch. She searched for the little knife that she kept with her. She saw the ring and held that for a moment. Julia knew her parents must be worried for her, as she had not left a note. Julia knew in her heart that she was doing the right thing. She just had to do what she needed to do. \n\nJulia looked at [[the knife]].
The brothers huddled together. \n\n"What should we do?" Michael, the middle brother, asked.\n\nJohn, the oldest, responded, "Let's go home and tell Father we have failed."\n\nPeter replied, "Father will be mad at us."\n\nAaron asked, "Why can't we just get another bucket?"\n\nJames thinking, "Can we reach the bucket that fell?"\n\nTom replied, "Let's run to the forest and hide."\n\nLuke stood quiet. \n\nWhat should they do?\n\n[[Find another bucket]]\n\n[[Try and reach the bucket]]\n\n[[Go home to face Father]]\n\n[[Run to the forest and hide]]
Julia woke up the next morning. She noticed the pain in her family even more strongly then she ever had before. Joining their sides and their sadness, she embraced the air of the room and grieved for the brothers she would never meet.\n\n\nThe end.
Scared and still bleeding, Julia ran. She ran out the glass door. She fell over the side and was found by seven ravens who were flying in. The seven ravens found the girl, and upon seeing the ring were sad and knew that this girl must be their sister and that she had tried to save them.\n\nThe end.
Afraid of facing their father after their failure, they ran to the forest. Each brother in his own right was upset. They couldnt go home. \n\nTime passed. The father growing impatient, told his wife he would run fast and return as soon as he could with the water. He looked around and the brothers were nowhere to be found. He ran up to the well, hooked his bucket on and lowered it down. The bucket grew heavy with water and the father worked to bring the bucket back up into reach. Securing the rope, the father grabbed the bucket. Looking around, he muttered [[a wish]].
Walking further, Julia met another mountain, taller than the first. She climbed the mountain and met the moon. Hoping for better luck, her wishes were crushed when she heard the moon say, "I smell, smell human flesh." The moon was cold and frightening. Julia ran and ran fast.\n\nAfter running far enough away from the moon, Julia stopped to rest. It was there that she met the stars. The stars comforted her and listened to her story. \n\nThe stars knew of her brothers and their plight. They told her stories of the seven ravens and with every story she smiled. They spoke all night. When the morning star arose, it gave Julia a chicken bone. \n\n"Your brothers live in the glass mountain, nearby. Use the chicken bone to unlock the glass mountain and you will be able to find them." \n\nJulia put the chicken bone into her pocket and walked the path to [[the glass mountain]].
The evening air was warm, and it felt like Julia was on the right path. Julia walked and walked, only stopping to rest and eat. She walked to the base of the large mountain range . She started her climb and before soon, arrived to the top of the closest mountain. It was there that she met the sun. Intending to ask for help from the sun, the sun was hot and mean. Julia was not going to get any help from the sun. \n\n[[Sadly, she walked on.]]
The brothers ran back to the well, and looked into the deep and dark water below. \n\nThe bucket lay on the water's surface. The brothers looked at each other and then around. Nearby a tree with long luscious limbs gave hope to the brothers. Rushing to it, the brothers broke a limb and tried to reach the bucket. It was too far down and the brothers gave up. \n\n"At least we tried", James said. \n\nIn shame, the brothers went home where they found their parents sad with loss.\n\nSad themselves, they laid in their beds and guilt weighed heavy on their spirits.\n\n\nThe End.
The father spoke these words, absent of intent. \n\n"Those boys are naughty, I wish they would turn into ravens and fly away."\n\nIt was at this moment, that a gentle breeze blew through the courtyard and with that wind, seven ravens took flight and rose over the house. The father looked up, mentally counting the birds, and he stumbled. \n\n"It couldnt be. My sons will come home. They will."\n\nHe didnt tell his wife, not that day.\n\nAs night fell, the fire died down in the house and the mother cradled their daughter. Calling to her husband, she asked where the brothers were. It was there that he shared the horrible wish he made. \n\nThey made a plan to never tell one person, for they didn't want her to feel any guilt.\n\n[[Julia.]]
Deciding to look for another bucket, the seven brothers ran in seven directions in the courtyard. \n\n"Anything?", Michael called. \n\n"Nothing over here, nothing!" called Peter. \n\n"I found something", Aaron called. \n\nThe rest of the brothers ran to Aaron and together in teamwork, they were able to retrieve a small amount of water and bring it back to their family. \n\nUpon return to the house, the water was brought to their sister's lips and the child savored the taste of the water. Thankful for the water, the parents allowed the brothers to sit nearby. When more water was necessary, the father allowed the oldest to go alone. The other brothers were not allowed.\n\nAnnoyed, [[a wish]] escaped their father's lips.
Her father cleared his throat and started to tell the story of how stressful the day of her birth was. He shared the story of the water and the misbehavior of her brothers. He then, looking down, shared the wish that he spoke.\n\n"I never meant it to happen. I love your brothers and I don't know if there is a way to fix this", her father spoke. \n\nJulia sat quietly. \n\nHer mother softly said, "we kept this from you so that you wouldn't feel guilt. This was not your fault. This was no one's fault." \n\nJulia swallowed. "Tell me about my brothers."\n\nStories were told at dinner of John, James, Peter, Michael, Aaron, Luke, and Tom. Funny stories were shared over dessert. Then at bedtime, her parents sat the end of her bed and shared more as Julia stared out the window as [[the mountains]] that lay in the distance.
The brothers decided to go back home to their family. Upon reaching the door, they heard a pitiful cry. Their father looked up and asked, "Where is the water?" The brothers shared their story of how the bucket fell into the well. John was given another bucket and sent on his own. Rightfully upset, the rest of the brothers were sent outside to sit and wait. \n\nAnnoyed, [[a wish]] escaped the lips of the father.
Julia decided to trust the dwarf. The dwarf nodded and led her to a large room. It had a large glass table and seven seats. \n\n"Please wait here," the dwarf said. \n\nJulia walked around looking out the open windows and admiring the view. \n\nThe dwarf returned with a serving tray that had seven plates and seven cups on it. He set the table and left to return to the kitchen. \n\nThe food smelled amazing. Julia took a bite from each plate. She took a sip from each cup. Without thinking, she drank the contents of the last cup, which sat at the head of the table. She knew that this must be her oldest brother's seat so she took the ring out of her pouch and put it in the cup. \n\n\nHearing the sound of wings in flight, she ran to [[hide]] for she was more nervous than scared.
The Brothers Grimm\nRetold by Anna Sherman