Tal and The Moon

Once upon a time, in an ancient forest, there was a beautiful black wolf.  His name was Tal, and he was strong and lean, with a beautiful glossy black coat that he was very proud of, and deep green eyes that would flash with the fires of life.
Because Tal was so beautiful and strong, other wolves would frequently attack him.  Tal was a great fighter, and was never even touched by his opponents.  Then one day, while a young wolf challenged him, he saw the Moon rising into the sky.  Stunned by her beauty, he let his guard down and the young wolf ravaged his beautiful coat and took one of his eyes.  Tal let loose a heart broken cry, for who could ever love such a disfigured wolf?
While Tal sat bemoaning his loss, a forest spirit walked by.
"Oh, Tal, why do you howl and cry so?"  Said the spirit, concerned that one who had been so beautiful and strong was so upset and damaged.
"Oh, spirit, I have gazed upon the beauty of the moon and I have fallen in love with her."  Said Tal, his voice full of sadness and pain.
"But this is news to rejoice over!"  Said the spirit. "Why, I am close friends with the moon, and I know that she grows lonely, and I am sure that I could arrange a meeting between the two of you, since you are both my good friends."
"No, please don't, my friend," cried Tal, " for who could ever love me, now that my coat hangs in tatters and I have but one eye.  Even if I grew fit and strong again, my skin will be forever scarred and I will have one eye."
"You silly wolf," said the spirit, "the moon is not one to be troubled by such things.  She will look into your heart and see the gentle, intelligent being that you are.  However, if this physical appearance troubles you so, I will help you."
"You will?"  Said Tal.  " Oh thank you, my friend.  I will forever be in your debt!"
"Now, now, let's not be too hasty, friend." Said the spirit.  "All I ask is that when you win the moons heart, don't keep her from the skies for more than three nights at a time, for without her the tides and the water will not function properly and all will waste away."
"Done." Said Tal.  "Anything to gain the heart of the moon.  Now, how shall you help me with my appearance?"
"Well, first I shall fashion you a new coat."  Said the spirit.
"Out of what materials?  All the fur is either in use, or bloodstained and tattered."
"I shall fashion it from shadow of course!  You shall have a coat so deeply black that it will glisten nearly purple in the light.  Now leave me to work, and return in three days and you shall have your coat."
So, Tal left the spirit to work.  Over the three days he grew increasingly nervous about his appearance, especially his eye.  He trusted his friend to fashion him a wonderful coat, for the spirit was well known as a weaver of shadows, but who could ever love a one eyed wolf?  No matter how beautiful the coat, he needed a new eye.
When the three days were over, Tal returned to the spirit.  True to its word, the spirit had fashioned a beautiful coat from the shadows, shading from the grays of moonlit night to the deepest black of the hollows under the trees.
"Oh, it is more beautiful than I had dared hope, my friend.  A thousand thanks."  Said Tal, "but whatever shall we do about my eye.  For no matter how beautiful my coat, who could love a one eyed wolf?"
"The moon could," said the spirit, "but I understand your distress, and I have found a solution for this too.  I shall fashion you a new eye, from river stone and moss."
"Oh, my friend, thank you, thank you!"  Cried Tal, truly overjoyed at the news.
"Yes, yes. Love is, of course, the greatest cause." said the spirit. "Now leave me be, for three nights.  Then return here and I shall have your eye for you."
"Yes, my friend, and again, thank you."  Said Tal, and he left.
Over the three nights, Tal again grew increasingly worried and nervous.  He worried that despite his beautiful coat and new eye, the moon would reject him.  Who was he to ask for the love of the moon.  Just some common wolf.
When he returned, the spirit, true to it's word, had fashioned him a gorgeous new eye.  Made from a smooth white river stone that it had carved and polished and some deep green moss, the exact shade as Tals' deep green eyes.
"It is beautiful and perfect, my friend." Said Tal.
"Yes, I daresay it is one of my best works," said the spirit "now put it in and we're off to see the moon."
"Thank you my friend," Said Tal, his heart full of trepidation, " But I am concerned that even with your efforts, the moon cannot love a mere wolf."
"Tal, I have slaved away for six nights for your love.  I have done all that I can to help you and urge you forward.  Now I have the last piece for you."  Said the spirit.  " I have a message for you, from the moon."
"What?!" Cried Tal, fear and hope filling his voice. "Let me hear it please, my good friend."
"Six nights ago, she rose and saw you look up at her.  She was stunned at your beauty, both physical and in you heart.  She could see how much you hated this violence, and how much you despised hurting others, and she loved you for it.  When you were wounded, she heard your heart broken howls and ran, fearing that you blamed her for you loss.  She fled crying for these six nights, and has been laying in bed inconsolable.  The earth grows stale and empty without her to guide it through space, and the oceans and rivers are dying.  I beg you, my friend, go to her.  Go to her and confess your love, if not for your sakes, then for the sake of this world."
"Oh, no!"  Cried Tal, " I have unintentionally injured my dearest love!  I am off to set things to rights.  Thank you again, for all your help my friend."
"You are welcome, Tal. May the Gods speed you on your way."  Said the spirit.
Off went Tal, and the winds and the earth sped him on his way, so that it was still the middle of the night when you came upon the moon.  She lay face down in her bed, hair the color of quick silver pooling around her head, sobbing inconsolably.
"My lady, why do you weep?"  Asked Tal softly.
Without turning her head the moon replied, " I weep because I am in love with Tal the wolf, and I have caused him great injury and he could never love me now."
"Maybe," said Tal, " or maybe he loves you all the more, for helping bring humility to his proud soul.  Maybe he looks at you with hope and love.  Maybe he has spent these past six nights worried over your loss and working to be worthy of your love.  My lady, look at me."
Then the moon turned her head, and when she saw that it was Tal standing there saying these things a great sob went up from her heart, and turned to laughter and joy.  For she could see the love in his slightly mismatched eyes.  She could see the humility in his patchwork coat.  He was more beautiful and lovely for the loss of his beauty and the hardship therein than she could imagine.
As for Tal, his breath was stolen away at the sight of her deep amber eyes and the love they shined with.  At the beauty of her porcelain skin and her shining hair.  At the oval shape of her face and the her little nose.  Every part of her was perfect, even the lines and wrinkles from nearly a weeks worth of crying.
They fell into each others arms, and exchanged such kisses of passion and love that have rarely been seen on this earth since.  They vowed their love to each other, and the moon went out and set the world to rights.  A month later, they were married.
When the moon has to leave Tals' side to guide our planet, she is thin from sadness and longing.  But as she travels through our skies, she grows heavy with child.  When she returns to Tal, she gives birth to the stars, and they love each other and their new children.  This is why the wolves howl to the moon, for she is their sister by marriage, and this is how the stars were born.