In a kingdom far, far away, beyond seven mountains, grew an enchanted forest. Everything there was magical: the plants and the animals. Every morning, dew glistened on the grass in the rays of the sun. Birds sang bright songs, and after a warm rain, a vivid rainbow appeared in the sky. The forest's inhabitants kept it clean and protected it from ill-wishers as best they could.
And there was another forest. Animals and birds lived there too, but drearily and joylessly. The forest was full of rubbish, and everyone often fell ill.
One day, the king of the dreary forest—the grey wolf—fell gravely ill. He became sorrowful and howled long and loudly because of it. From his howling, the forest fell silent, and its inhabitants were afraid to leave their homes. The wolf's sadness wouldn't let go, and he decided to call the animals to a council.
Foxes, rabbits with hedgehogs, beavers, snakes, and various birds gathered at the forest edge.
My illness is no accident: I live without joy,—said the wolf, looking at everyone.—I've heard rumours that not far from us there is an enchanted forest, and there one can find a real rainbow. A magpie used to say that if you sit on a rainbow, you can become happy and healthy. I won't make it there myself; I've no strength left because of my illness. And the guards won't let me in anyway. If only one of you would steal that rainbow for me! Then I'd recover at once!
The animals listened to the grey wolf and were afraid to contradict him.
Caw!—said the raven, sitting on a pine branch.—Interesting business. But I have questions. How will we steal this rainbow if we don't know where it lives? The forest is large. And who will take on such a task?
The animals lowered their eyes. They stood and trembled with fear, knowing that one of them would be sent on a bad errand. And they couldn't refuse the king!
So be it! Here is my decree!—continued the wolf.—You, raven, will fly to the enchanted forest first and distract the guards with your 'caw-caw'. You, snake, will meanwhile crawl there and find out where the rainbow lives. And you, spiders, start weaving nets, and plenty of them. You'll wrap the rainbow in them and bring it to me.
Early in the morning, the raven and snake set off to the enchanted forest. The raven perched on a branch above the guards and began to caw: 'Caw-caw-caw! Caw-caw-caw! Caw-caw-caw!'.
What are you cawing about there, you silly bird?—asked the guard, a bear.—It seems to me you've come to no good. What, tired of the mess in your own forest and decided to make a mess here?
No, really,—answered the raven,—I was flying past and decided to rest in this beautiful place. I have no bad thoughts. I'm curious, bear, why is your forest so cosy? Perhaps you know a secret and would share it?
Oh, you've made me laugh, raven!—laughed the bear.—There's only one secret here: wherever you live, you clean up after yourself. The forest is our home. This means everyone must pick up their rubbish and treat what surrounds us with care.
The raven remembered the secret and headed home, and forgot all about the snake. Meanwhile, the snake crawled into the depths of the wonder-forest, but found no rainbow anywhere. Instead, she met the hedgehog guards.
Snake, you're not from these parts, what do you want?—the hedgehogs asked the snake sternly.
Everyone knows that hedgehogs quickly deal with snakes. Out of fear, the snake immediately confessed why she'd been sent.
Hedgehogs! Little brothers! Spare me, don't destroy me! The grey wolf, king of the dreary forest, sent me to you. He wants to know where the rainbow lives and steal it. He's been ill for a long time and can't recover.
Crawl home and tell the grey wolf to clean up his forest. Perhaps he'll get his own rainbow then. Cleanliness and order—that's the secret of joy and health. And we won't give our rainbow to anyone!—answered the hedgehogs.
Meanwhile, the raven flew back to the dreary forest and found the grey wolf.
Wolf, oh Wolf! I've discovered the secret of our neighbours,—blurted out the raven,—it's cleanliness! Praise me, king, and give me a reward!
Ugh, you silly bird!—said the wolf sadly.—Why did I send you to the wonder-forest? So you could tell me about cleanliness? Get out of my sight!
The king threw a dry branch at the raven and even shouted: 'Silly bird!'. After some time, the snake crawled to him.
Wolf, ruler of our forest! I didn't find out where the rainbow lives. They hide it well. But I did discover the secret of joy, health, and happiness. It's cleanliness!
What am I to do with you?—sighed the wolf. He didn't even have the strength to bare his teeth.—It seems you and the raven have conspired to deceive me, and you weren't even in the neighbouring forest. A secret about cleanliness, no less. Couldn't you think of anything smarter? The spiders are weaving their nets for nothing.
And the raven, offended by the grey wolf, was already flying through the dreary forest telling everyone about the secret of the enchanted forest. The animals decided to check if the bird was telling the truth. They all gathered for a general clean-up.
They worked on tidying up for a long time, almost until winter—there was so much rubbish! White snow covered the clean forest, but the rainbow didn't appear. Birds flew to warmer lands, hedgehogs and snakes settled into winter hibernation. Nature rested and gathered strength.
Spring came, and the snow melted. The inhabitants of the dreary forest emerged from their burrows and gasped: how beautiful and clean everything was around them!
Our hard work before hibernation wasn't in vain!—chattered the animals excitedly. They smiled, enjoyed the freshness and sunshine, and joy reigned everywhere. And after a warm spring rain, a long-awaited bright rainbow appeared over the dreary forest. The wolf saw it and rejoiced.
What beauty all around: a babbling stream, a rainbow, and flowers! It turns out our neighbours were right. Cleanliness—that's what we needed! Our forest is no longer dreary!—he said admiringly.
And hard work helps with everything!—added the hedgehogs running past.
Now our forest has become enchanted too!—sang the birds cheerfully and loudly in the trees.
