The story of firebird and the prince
Once upon a time, in the vast forests of Russia, there lived a mighty king who had three sons. His kingdom was prosperous, but one thing troubled him deeply: every night, a mysterious thief was stealing the golden apples from his beloved orchard. These apples were no ordinary fruit—they gave eternal youth and strength to whoever ate them. The king was determined to catch the thief and sent his sons, one by one, to guard the orchard.
The two elder princes tried but failed to stop the thief. However, the youngest son, Prince Ivan, was clever and brave. One night, as he kept watch under the trees, a brilliant light illuminated the sky. To his amazement, a dazzling Firebird with feathers of gold and silver swooped down from the sky and began plucking the golden apples with its beak. Ivan quickly grabbed the bird’s tail, but the Firebird slipped from his grasp, leaving behind a single golden feather.
The next morning, Prince Ivan took the feather to the king, who was captivated by its beauty and brilliance. The king sent his sons on a quest to capture the Firebird, promising his kingdom to the one who succeeded. The eldest sons set out with large armies, but Prince Ivan, ever humble, departed alone on horseback with only his wits to guide him.
After traveling for many days through dark forests and barren fields, Ivan came across a wolf trapped in a hunter’s snare. Moved by pity, he freed the wolf, who then spoke in a human voice, thanking him. “You have shown kindness, Prince Ivan,” said the wolf. “In return, I shall help you on your journey. Climb on my back, and I will take you to the Firebird.”
The wolf carried Ivan swiftly through the woods to a grand castle, where the Firebird was kept in a golden cage. But the wolf warned Ivan not to touch the cage, only to take the bird. However, tempted by the beauty of the golden cage, Ivan couldn’t resist and tried to steal both. As soon as he touched it, a loud alarm rang out, and Ivan was captured by the castle guards.
The king of that land, angry at Ivan’s attempted theft, said, “I will spare your life, but only if you bring me the Golden Horse from the neighbouring kingdom.” Ivan agreed and set off once again with the wolf. The wolf took Ivan to the stable where the Golden Horse was kept and gave the same warning: take the horse, but leave its golden bridle behind. But once again, Ivan’s curiosity got the better of him, and he touched the bridle, sounding the alarm. He was once again caught and taken before the king of that kingdom.
This king demanded yet another task: to bring back the beautiful Princess Elena from a faraway land. Only then would Ivan be free. The wolf, patient and loyal, took Ivan to the kingdom where Princess Elena lived. This time, Ivan heeded the wolf’s advice and managed to bring the princess back without incident. As they travelled together, Ivan and Elena fell in love.
When they returned to the king with the princess, the wolf devised a clever plan to deceive him, allowing Ivan to keep both the Golden Horse and the Firebird. Ivan returned home to his father’s kingdom, where he was hailed as a hero. He married Princess Elena, and together they ruled the land in peace and prosperity. As for the wolf, he disappeared into the forest, leaving behind a legacy of wisdom and loyalty