Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf

Once upon a time, there lived a king named Berendey, and he had three sons, the youngest of whom was named Ivan. The king had a magnificent garden, and in that garden grew an apple tree with golden apples.

Someone began to visit the king's garden and steal the golden apples. The king was heartbroken over his garden. He sent guards to watch over it, but no matter how many guards he sent, they could not catch the thief. The king became so distressed that he stopped eating and drinking, consumed by sorrow.

His sons comforted him:
"Dear father, do not grieve. We will guard the garden ourselves."

The eldest son said:
"Tonight is my turn. I will go and protect the garden from the thief."

The eldest son went. No matter how much he walked around in the evening, he saw no one. Eventually, he lay down on the soft grass and fell asleep. In the morning, the king asked him:
"Well, have you any good news for me? Did you see the thief?"
"No, dear father, I did not sleep all night, I did not close my eyes, but I saw no one."

The next night, the middle son went to guard the garden and also slept through the night. In the morning, he said he had not seen the thief.

Then it was the youngest son's turn to guard the garden. Ivan Tsarevich went to protect his father's garden and was even afraid to sit down, let alone lie down. When sleep began to overcome him, he washed his face with dew from the grass, and the sleep left his eyes.
Half the night passed, and he thought he saw a light in the garden. It grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the entire garden. He saw the Firebird perched on the apple tree, pecking at the golden apples.

Ivan Tsarevich quietly crept up to the tree and caught the bird by its tail. The Firebird fluttered and flew away, leaving him with only one feather from its tail.

In the morning, Ivan Tsarevich came to his father.
"Well, my dear Ivan, did you see the thief?"
"Dear father, I did not catch the thief, but I found out who is ruining our garden. Here is a memento from the thief. This, father, is the Firebird."

The king took the feather, and from that moment on, he began to eat, drink, and forget his sorrow. But one fine day, he began to think again about the Firebird.

He called his sons and said to them:
"My dear children, saddle your good horses and travel the world, explore new places, and perhaps you will find the Firebird."

The sons bowed to their father, saddled their good horses, and set off on their journey: the eldest in one direction, the middle son in another, and Ivan Tsarevich in a third direction.

Ivan Tsarevich rode for a long time or a short time—it was a summer day. He grew tired, dismounted, tethered his horse, and fell asleep.

After some time, Ivan Tsarevich woke up and saw that his horse was gone. He went to look for it, searching and searching, and found only the gnawed bones of his horse. Ivan Tsarevich was heartbroken: how could he go such a distance without a horse?

"Well," he thought, "I have no choice but to continue." And he set off on foot. He walked and walked, growing terribly tired. He sat down on the soft grass and sighed, sitting there. Out of nowhere, a gray wolf came running to him:

"Why, Ivan Tsarevich, are you sitting here so sad, hanging your head?"
"How can I not be sad, gray wolf? I have lost my good horse."
"It was I, Ivan Tsarevich, who ate your horse... I feel sorry for you! Tell me, why have you come so far, where are you headed?"
"My father sent me to travel the world and find the Firebird."
"Ha, you wouldn't reach the Firebird in three years on your good horse. I alone know where it lives. Since I ate your horse, I will serve you faithfully. Climb onto my back and hold on tight."

Ivan Tsarevich mounted the wolf, and the gray wolf raced off—blue forests flashed past his eyes, lakes were swept aside by its tail. After a long or short time, they reached a high fortress. The gray wolf said:
"Listen to me, Ivan Tsarevich, and remember: climb over the wall, do not be afraid—the hour is favorable, all the guards are asleep. You will see a window in the tower, and on the window stands a golden cage with the Firebird inside. Take the bird, put it in your bosom, but be careful not to touch the cage!"

Ivan Tsarevich climbed over the wall and saw the tower—on the window stood a golden cage with the Firebird inside. He took the bird, put it in his bosom, but then he caught sight of the cage. His heart burned with desire: "Ah, what a beautiful, precious thing! How can I leave it behind?" And he forgot the wolf's warning. As soon as he touched the cage, a sound echoed through the fortress: trumpets blared, drums beat, the guards woke up, seized Ivan Tsarevich, and brought him to King Afron.

King Afron was furious and asked:
"Who are you, and where are you from?"
"I am the son of King Berendey, Ivan Tsarevich."
"Ah, what a disgrace! A king's son, and you go thieving."
"And what about when your bird flew and ruined our garden?"
"You should have come to me and asked honestly. Out of respect for your father, King Berendey, I would have given it to you. But now I will spread bad rumors about you throughout the land... Well, never mind, if you do me a service, I will forgive you. In a certain kingdom, King Kusman has a golden-maned horse. Bring it to me, and I will give you the Firebird and its cage."

Ivan Tsarevich was heartbroken and went to the gray wolf. The wolf said:
"I told you not to touch the cage! Why didn't you listen to me?"
"Forgive me, gray wolf, forgive me."
"Very well, forgive... Alright, climb onto my back. You've started this, so don't say you can't finish it."

Once again, the gray wolf raced off with Ivan Tsarevich. After a long or short time, they reached the fortress where the golden-maned horse stood.
"Climb over the wall, Ivan Tsarevich, the guards are asleep. Go to the stable, take the horse, but be careful not to touch the bridle!"

Ivan Tsarevich climbed into the fortress, where all the guards were asleep. He entered the stable, caught the golden-maned horse, but then he coveted the bridle—it was adorned with gold and precious stones; it was fit only for the golden-maned horse to parade in.

As soon as Ivan Tsarevich touched the bridle, a sound echoed through the fortress: trumpets blared, drums beat, the guards woke up, seized Ivan Tsarevich, and brought him to King Kusman.
— Whose are you, and where are you from?
— I am Ivan Tsarevich.
— Well, what foolishness have you gotten yourself into—stealing a horse! Even a simple peasant wouldn’t agree to such a thing. But alright, I’ll forgive you, Ivan Tsarevich, if you do me a service. King Dalmat has a daughter, Helen the Beautiful. Kidnap her, bring her to me, and I’ll gift you the golden-maned horse with its bridle.

Ivan Tsarevich grew even more despondent and went to the gray wolf.
— I told you, Ivan Tsarevich, not to touch the bridle! You didn’t heed my warning.
— Forgive me, please forgive me, gray wolf.
— That’s what forgiveness is for... Alright, climb onto my back.

Once again, the gray wolf raced off with Ivan Tsarevich. They reached King Dalmat’s kingdom. In his fortress garden, Helen the Beautiful was strolling with her nursemaids and nannies. The gray wolf said:
— This time I won’t let you go. I’ll go myself. You head back the way we came, and I’ll catch up with you soon.

Ivan Tsarevich started back, while the gray wolf leaped over the wall into the garden. He hid behind a bush and watched: Helen the Beautiful came out with her nursemaids and nannies. She walked and walked, and when she lagged behind them, the gray wolf seized her, threw her over his back, and ran off.

Ivan Tsarevich was walking back when suddenly the gray wolf caught up to him, with Helen the Beautiful on his back. Ivan Tsarevich rejoiced, but the gray wolf said:
— Climb onto me quickly, before they start chasing us!

The gray wolf raced off with Ivan Tsarevich and Helen the Beautiful, speeding past blue forests and sweeping rivers and lakes with his tail. Soon enough, they reached King Kusman’s kingdom.

The gray wolf asked:
— Why so quiet, Ivan Tsarevich? Why so gloomy?
— How can I not be sad, gray wolf? How can I part with such beauty? How can I trade Helen the Beautiful for a horse?
The gray wolf replied:
— I won’t separate you from such beauty. We’ll hide her somewhere, and I’ll transform into Helen the Beautiful. You’ll take me to the king.

They hid Helen the Beautiful in a forest hut. The gray wolf somersaulted and turned into the exact likeness of Helen the Beautiful. Ivan Tsarevich led him to King Kusman. The king was overjoyed and thanked him:
— Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich, for bringing me a bride. Take the golden-maned horse with its bridle.

Ivan Tsarevich mounted the horse and rode off to fetch Helen the Beautiful. He took her, seated her on the horse, and they rode off together.

Meanwhile, King Kusman held a wedding feast and celebrated all day. When it was time to sleep, he led Helen the Beautiful to the bedroom. But as soon as he lay down with her, he saw a wolf’s snout instead of his young wife! The king fell off the bed in fright, and the wolf ran away.

The gray wolf caught up to Ivan Tsarevich and asked:
— What are you thinking about, Ivan Tsarevich?
— How can I not think? It’s hard to part with such a treasure—the golden-maned horse—to trade it for the Firebird.
— Don’t worry, I’ll help you.

They reached King Afron’s kingdom. The wolf said:
— Hide this horse and Helen the Beautiful, and I’ll transform into the golden-maned horse. You’ll lead me to King Afron.

They hid Helen the Beautiful and the golden-maned horse in the forest. The gray wolf somersaulted and turned into the golden-maned horse. Ivan Tsarevich led him to King Afron. The king was delighted and gave him the Firebird in its golden cage.

Ivan Tsarevich returned on foot to the forest, seated Helen the Beautiful on the golden-maned horse, took the golden cage with the Firebird, and set off for home.

Meanwhile, King Afron ordered the gifted horse to be brought to him. But as soon as he tried to mount it, the horse turned back into the gray wolf. The king fell to the ground in terror, and the wolf ran off, soon catching up to Ivan Tsarevich.
— Now, farewell. I can’t go any farther.

Ivan Tsarevich dismounted and bowed deeply three times, thanking the gray wolf with respect. The wolf said:
— Don’t say goodbye forever. I’ll still be of use to you.

Ivan Tsarevich thought, “How could you still be of use? All my wishes have been fulfilled.” He mounted the golden-maned horse, and they rode off again with Helen the Beautiful and the Firebird.

When they reached his homeland, Ivan Tsarevich decided to rest. He had a little bread with him, so they ate, drank from a spring, and lay down to rest.

As soon as Ivan Tsarevich fell asleep, his brothers came upon him. They had traveled to other lands in search of the Firebird and returned empty-handed. When they saw Ivan Tsarevich with all his treasures, they plotted:
— Let’s kill our brother, and all the spoils will be ours.

They decided and killed Ivan Tsarevich. They mounted the golden-maned horse, took the Firebird, seated Helen the Beautiful on the horse, and threatened her:
— Don’t say a word about this at home!

Ivan Tsarevich lay dead, with crows already circling above him. Suddenly, the gray wolf appeared and caught a crow and its fledgling.
— Fly, crow, and fetch me the water of life and death. Bring it to me, and I’ll release your fledgling.

The crow had no choice but to fly off, while the wolf held its fledgling. After a long time, the crow returned with the water of life and death. The gray wolf sprinkled the water of death on Ivan Tsarevich’s wounds, and they healed. He sprinkled the water of life, and Ivan Tsarevich came back to life.
— Oh, I must have slept so soundly!
— You slept soundly indeed, said the gray wolf. If it weren’t for me, you’d never have woken up. Your own brothers killed you and took all your spoils. Climb onto me quickly!

They raced off in pursuit and caught up with the brothers. The gray wolf tore them to pieces and scattered their remains across the field. Ivan Tsarevich bowed to the gray wolf and bid him farewell forever.

Ivan Tsarevich returned home on the golden-maned horse, bringing the Firebird to his father and Helen the Beautiful as his bride.

King Berendey rejoiced and questioned his son. Ivan Tsarevich told him how the gray wolf had helped him obtain the treasures, how his brothers had killed him in his sleep, and how the gray wolf had torn them apart.

King Berendey grieved but soon found solace. Ivan Tsarevich married Helen the Beautiful, and they lived happily ever after.
Fairy girl