Swan - geese / Wild geese / Swans and geese Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, there was a man and a woman. They had a daughter named Masha and a son named Ivan. Masha was the eldest, and little Ivan was the youngest. One day, the children's parents set out for the city. Before leaving, they said to Masha:

 — Well, my daughter, be wise! The house and little Vanya are entrusted to you. Don't let your brother out of your sight. We are relying on you, okay? We will bring you gifts from the city, — they warned sternly and then set off on their journey. As soon as their parents left, Masha's friends called her to play in the yard. Masha placed Ivan on the lawn by the window and joined her friends. Some time passed, and Masha became engrossed in play. Little Vanya was completely forgotten. Just then, a group of wild geese appeared. They carried the boy, sitting by the window, on their wings and flew away. The girls, tired from playing, began to disperse. Masha returned home only to find that Ivan was missing. She ran around looking for him, her voice growing hoarse from shouting. Remembering her parents' words, she regretted it and cried. She had to find her brother. She ran out into the open field at the edge of the village. There, she spotted a flock of geese flying in the distance. The wild geese quickly entered the thick forest and disappeared from sight. Masha realized that these geese had taken Vanya. She remembered hearing a story about wild geese that steal children from the villagers. The girl followed the trail of the birds. As she was running, she came across a stove. Approaching it, she asked:

 — Stove, oh stove, please tell me, which way did the wild geese fly? —

 — First, you must bring me some firewood. Then I will tell you, — said the stove. Masha quickly gathered firewood. She placed the kindled wood into the stove. The stove showed her the way. The girl ran in the direction indicated by the stove. After a while, she came across a solitary apple tree. The branches of the apple tree were bending down under the weight of its bright red apples. Masha said to it:

 — Apple tree, oh apple tree, where have the wild geese flown? — she pleaded.

 — My branches are bending and about to break. If you pick my ripe apples, I will tell you, — sighed the tree. Masha quickly began to pick the ripe apples. As she picked, the branches that had been bending down gradually rose. The relieved apple tree pointed the way to the girl. Masha continued her journey. Soon she encountered a river. Instead of water, milk flowed through it. The girl approached and said:

 — Milky river, milky river, please show me where the wild geese have flown, — she said with a pleading voice.

 — Just now, a large stone rolled down and blocked my path. It is now preventing the milk from flowing further. If you can get that stone out of the way, I will show you the way, — the river lamented. Masha picked up a big stick and pushed the stone to the shore. The flowing milky river then told her where to find the wild geese. Thus, Masha ran straight into the thick forest. Not knowing where to go next, she stood in confusion. At that moment, she spotted a hedgehog sitting by a log. Approaching it, she asked:

 — Hedgehog, oh hedgehog, how can I find the wild geese? — The hedgehog replied:

 — Follow me, — and curled up to roll away. They first passed through the fir trees and then through the birch trees until they reached a clearing. In the clearing stood a hen-legged hut. Inside, an old witch was knitting by the window. And Vanya was playing outside the door with a golden apple. Masha tiptoed closer to the hen-legged hut. She picked up her brother and hurried away. After a while, the old witch looked out the window. The boy she had been playing with was gone. Angrily, she whistled for her wild geese.

 — Catch him quickly! Chase after him! Bring the boy to me! — she commanded. The wild geese squawked and took off into the sky. Masha, carrying Vanya, ran away. Occasionally, she turned around to look. Soon they reached the milky river again. Turning around once more, she saw the wild geese getting closer. The girl, not knowing where to hide, became frantic. She cried out to the river:

 — River, river, hide us from the wild geese, — she pleaded. The milky river rose above its banks. The children sat down beneath it. The river flowed over them, hiding them from sight. The wild geese flew past without seeing Masha and Vanya. Once the pursuers had left, the children came out from the riverbank, thanked the river, and continued on their way. The wild geese, unable to find the siblings, turned back but noticed Masha running again.

 At that moment, Masha, carrying her brother, had reached the apple tree she had encountered earlier. The girl said to the tree:

 — Apple tree, hide us from the wild geese, — asking for help. The tree sat Masha and Vanya under its thick branches and covered them with its leaves, hiding them completely. The wild geese, lost and unable to find the children after circling the apple tree, flew away. Masha emerged from her hiding place, thanked the tree, and continued on her way. Soon, they were close to home. Masha turned around to look back. The wild geese had pursued them again. They caught up with the girl and even tried to snatch Vanya away with their wings. However, the girl held her brother tightly in her arms. Just barely escaping from the birds, Masha reached the first stove she had encountered and said:

 — Stove, stove, save us from these wild geese, — she pleaded. The stove sat the children inside and covered them with a lid. The wild geese circled around the stove for a long time. They pecked at the lid with their wings, but after tiring themselves out, they were unable to open it. Thus, out of options, they returned to the old witch. Masha and her brother stepped out of the stove. They thanked it and went home. Soon after, their father and mother returned from the city, bringing many gifts for Masha and little Vanya.