THERE WAS ONCE A YOUNG MUSICIAN, who was all alone in the woods. He thought: "time does not pass easily under the trees, and I'd best find someone to keep me company".

He then took a flute out of his bag and started playing so as to be heard from within the trees and attract attention. A few minutes later, a wolf appeared who sat right in front of him to enjoy the music. The musician was scared but didn't stop playing even for a moment. The wolf then told him:

"My good musician, if only you let me sing for you, we will become friends and you will have company in your music"

The musician agreed, but much to his surprise, the wolf was so out of tune that he howled instead of singing. So angry did the musician get that he was forced to send him away, preferring to be left alone.

His loneliness kicked in again after a few hours, so he thought: "time passes slowly in these woods, and I really do need someone to keep me company". The then took the flute again out of his bag and played music as he felt best. A clever fox approached him this time, who told him:

"My dear musician, I am unlike the wolf. My voice is sweet and I can make forty different sounds. Soon you will see that if I try, we will become best friends and I will be the best company for your music".

The musician agreed. The fox then did her best, mimicking the many different sounds she had heard, many of which were almost as good as singing. The musician found it strange, but, seeing her effort, kept playing the flute, thinking that she would get better over time. A skulk of jealous foxes soon gathered around them, each and every one of them producing a different sound. So eerie was the sight, that the musician immediately packed his belongings and left.

As soon as he had escaped the animals, he sat down to get some rest. Then he saw an owl sitting on a tree branch, who asked him:

"My dear musician, could you please play some music for me so I can get an idea of my talent in singing?"

He then replied:

"My dear owl, I would very much love it, but I have yet to meet an animal in this forest with a voice that is good enough to be compared to my talent in playing the flute".

The owl was not angry to hear it. Realizing what had happened, she told him: "go and sit in the shadow of the tree at the end of the road, and you will find what you are looking for".

The musician heard the wise owl and walked to the tree. He waited for such a long time, that in the end he fell asleep. After a while, he woke up to the magnificent bird call of a nightingale. He then took his flute out of his bag for one more time and played music as he knew well.

As he played the flute, the nightingale flew over and sat on his shoulder. From that day on, they became best friends, as one needs to be equally talented as his companions.