Once upon a time, a talented Musician wandered the world with only his violin for company. One day, while walking through a dense forest, he felt a deep sense of loneliness. He stopped beneath a maple tree and told himself that he needed to find a companion to ease his solitude. He lifted his violin and played a beautiful melody that echoed throughout the woods. The music was so enchanting that it drew the attention of every creature nearby.
Before long, a large Wolf emerged from the bushes, drawn in by the sound. It listened with fascination and then said it wished it could play the violin just like him. The Musician assured the Wolf that learning was simple as long as it followed instructions. Pretending to teach it, he led the Wolf to a hollow oak tree and told it to place its front paws inside a narrow opening. When the Wolf did so, the Musician quickly tied its paws with rope and wedged a piece of wood in the opening, trapping it securely. The Wolf thought it came to learn music, but the Musician only wanted to get rid of a dangerous animal. Leaving the Wolf behind, he continued playing as he walked deeper into the forest.
As the melody spread once more, a Fox appeared with bright, cunning eyes. It praised the Musician’s skill and eagerly asked whether it could learn to play too. The Musician agreed and instructed the Fox to lay its long tail flat on the ground. The moment it obeyed, he tied the tail tightly to a nearby tree trunk, leaving the Fox stuck and furious. The Musician again escaped by using his wits instead of force. He walked away while the Fox struggled behind him.
A short distance later, the Musician saw a Rabbit racing nervously through the woods. He played a cheerful tune, which made the Rabbit stop and listen with relief. The Rabbit said the music eased its fear, and it asked if it could travel with him and learn to play. The Musician invited the Rabbit to place its hind legs inside his violin case. Believing this was part of the lesson, the Rabbit agreed. As soon as its legs were inside, the Musician tied the case shut and hung it from a tree branch. The Rabbit realized too late that the Musician was not interested in teaching anyone at all.
The Musician resumed playing, and the sound carried far enough to reach a Hunter who was walking nearby. The Hunter heard not only the violin but also angry cries that did not belong in the peaceful woods. Curious, he followed the sounds and discovered the Wolf still tied to the oak tree. The Wolf had struggled so violently that it accidentally trapped itself even further. When the Musician walked away earlier, the Hunter arrived and shot the Wolf, ending its suffering and preventing any danger.
The Hunter then continued along the trail and found the Fox frantically tugging to free its tail. He used his axe to cut the rope, but in doing so, he also severed the Fox’s tail. Terrified and in pain, the Fox dashed into the forest and did not return.
Finally, the Hunter reached the Musician, who was quietly chuckling near the violin case hanging from a tree. Inside was the trembling Rabbit. The Hunter asked why he had trapped such a harmless creature. The Musician explained that he only wanted a companion, yet none of the animals seemed suitable. The Hunter freed the Rabbit, which immediately hopped away to safety.
The Musician then told the Hunter that he had been searching for someone to travel with. The Hunter agreed to join him, becoming the true companion the Musician had hoped to find all along. From that day forward, they journeyed together, the Musician playing his violin while the Hunter protected them from any danger they encountered.