Night had fallen, and the darkening sky shimmered with stars. The men of the tribe could be heard singing to The Great Mystery, and to the spirits of powerful animals, praying to be granted their wisdom. At sunrise, three young friends would set forth to do what boys of their tribe had always done in order to become men: they would go on a journey to search for the spirit animals who would guide them through life.

Eagle Son, Little Bear and Running Wolf huddled in the darkness, listening to the prayers of the elders. "Tomorrow," said Eagle Son, "we will travel to the world beyond our world. No matter what struggles lie before us we must find the strength in ourselves to follow the wisdom of our elders: to respect the land, which is our mother, and to honor the animal people, who are our brothers. Then we will be prepared to receive our visions and become men." At dawn, the three boys met at the edge of the village. Eagle Son led the way, proud and strong. Little Bear stumbled along sleepily, looking back toward his warm lodge. Last came Running Wolf, clutching his knife, fierce and restless...

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Once upon a very long time ago, when butterflies knew how to sing and the stars whispered to the trees, there lived a beautiful young maiden named Olwen, who each year brought spring to the earth. Olwen's gentle kiss could make the deadwood of bleakest winter burst into blossom. She could call forth a warming breeze to caress the land like a melody. And she was beloved by all the world.

But one year her jealous brother, the Master of Winter, decided to keep the world in the clutches of his snow and frost forever. So when the time came for spring to return, he met his sister at the crossroads of the four seasons and kidnapped her.

Cruel Winter cast a spell on Olwen, freezing her power to awaken the tender green of springtime, and locked her away in his icy palace deep in the desolate forest. He knew his icy reign would never end if he could keep Olwen's heart as cold and lonely as his own...

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But the old man wouldn't hear of that. "Now look son, that's no ordinary kind of fiddle," he said. "It's a magic kind of fiddle, and there's no one but me can play it, or there's going to be trouble, trouble, and more trouble..."