Golden Bird Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, there was an old man with three sons and an apple tree. Every year, the old man would eat its fruit and rejuvenate himself. One year, someone unknown ate the apples. The following year, the old man decided to be cautious and assigned his eldest son to guard the tree. However, during the night, he fell asleep and let the apples be eaten. The second time, the middle son took his turn to guard, but he too fell asleep. On the third attempt, the youngest son volunteered to guard the tree. Instead of sleeping, he stayed awake all night playing his flute. At some point during the night, a golden bird came and started eating the apples. When the boy managed to grab the bird by its wing, it flew away, leaving a feather in his hand. The next day, he brought the feather to his father. The father said:

 — Now, find the bird itself, – he instructed. Wanting to find the miraculous bird, the two sons mounted strong horses and set off. At that moment, the youngest son said:

— I want to go too, – and asked for his father's permission. The father agreed and saddled a yellow colt for him. On the way, the boy came across a black stone with an inscription that read: "Those who go left will die, and those who go right will lose their horse." The colt spoke up:

— I may die, but let’s go right, – it said. When the boy entered a forest, he encountered a wolf. He jumped off the horse and fled. The wolf chased the horse. The boy, having lost his colt, hid behind a poplar tree and wept. The wolf said to him: — Don’t be afraid, I ate your horse, but I will grant your wish and take you where you want to go. 

— I was looking for the golden bird, – said the boy.

— Then get on my back and close your eyes, – said the wolf. The boy climbed on and closed his eyes. The wolf took off swiftly. After a while, the wolf said, "Open your eyes." When the boy opened his eyes, they had arrived at a city. The wolf instructed:

— The bird is in this house; go in quietly, grab it by the wings and bring it out without touching its feet. – However, once inside, the boy forgot the wolf's words and grabbed the bird by its feet. At that moment, the bird's bell jingled, and the king's guards caught the boy. The next day, they brought him to the king. The king asked:

— Why did you try to steal the bird? – The boy replied:

— My father has a single apple tree, and your bird has been eating the apples for three years, causing my father to age rapidly. – The king said:

— I won’t spill your blood for your father. There is a horse with a golden mane and tail belonging to a certain king; if you bring it, I will give you the bird. – The boy went to the wolf and relayed the king's request. The wolf said:

— Get on my back and close your eyes. – Soon they arrived at another city. The wolf instructed:

— After forty palaces, there is one palace. The golden-maned horse is in that palace. Don’t grab the reins, just take it by the mane. – The boy forgot the instructions again and, thinking he would lead it by the reins, ended up getting caught once more. The next day, when he stood before the king, he explained why he had come. The king said:

— I won’t punish you for your father. There is a beautiful princess in this area; if you bring her to me, I will give you the horse. – The boy went back to the wolf and told him the situation. The wolf said:

— This time I will go myself. – The princess had gone out to the garden with forty other girls. The wolf hid behind an apple tree. As the girls passed, the wolf quickly grabbed the king's daughter and brought her to the boy. On the way, the boy and the girl fell in love with each other. The boy said to the wolf:

— We don’t want to be separated; find a way for us. – So they arrived at the city. The wolf transformed into a beautiful girl. The boy brought the transformed wolf to the king and said, "This is the girl I want." The king, pleased with the boy, gave him the golden-maned horse. After the boy left, when he approached the girl, she was gone, and there stood the wolf. The king fainted in fear, and the wolf dashed out, chasing after the boy. The boy said to the wolf:

— I don’t want to part with this horse either; find a way for it. – The wolf agreed and transformed into the golden horse. The king, delighted to have caught the golden-maned horse, let the boy keep the golden bird. That day, the king gathered his hunters, mounted the golden horse the boy had brought, and went hunting. They tethered their horses in a plain and went off to hunt deer. As soon as they left, the wolf transformed back into its original form and devoured all the tethered horses. Then it caught up with the boy and said:

— You can continue on your own now. – They traveled a long way. At one point, the girl said:

— Let’s take a short rest. – While they were sleeping, the boy's two brothers arrived and stumbled upon them.

— Our father will be upset that you two found what we couldn't, and out of jealousy for the girl, they conspired and killed their brother, taking the beautiful girl, the golden bird, and the golden horse with them. One day, the swift wolf, wandering through the forest, sensed the boy's plight and came to him, seeing the crows pecking at his friend's lifeless body. The wolf caught the crow king and said:

 — Bring me the water of immortality, otherwise I won’t let you go. – They brought the water of immortality. The wolf sprinkled the water on the boy. The boy exclaimed:

— I must have fallen asleep, – and jumped up. The wolf said to the boy:

— Get on my back, I will take you home. – When they arrived, the boy found that the girl was about to marry her elder brother. The boy said:

— Send an old woman to ask for permission for me to come in and play my flute. – The old woman delivered the message. The father said:

— Perhaps my youngest son’s tune will play, let him in. – The boy entered and played his flute. At that moment, the girl said:

— This is the boy who took me! These two killed him and brought me here! – The father understood the situation, banished his two sons from the land, and gave his daughter to the youngest son. The two lived happily ever after. As for the old man, he continued to eat the apples from his tree every year, growing younger with each passing year.