There was a tree in a field, there was a hollow in the tree, in the hollow there was a nest, in the nest there were three chicks, and with them their mother, the Kuklukhai bird.
One day the wolf khan was running through the field, saw Kuklukhai with her children and growled:
This is my field
My tree is in the field,
There is my hollow in the tree,
What's in the hollow is all mine!
Hey, Kukluhay, Kukluhay,
How many children do you have?
“I only have three,” Kuklukhai answered.
The wolf khan became angry:
- Why three?.. So, one grows without a pair? Give it to me, or I will order you to cut down the tree. Winter is coming, I need firewood.
Kuklukhai began to cry, flapped her wings and threw one chick to the wolf. The wolf swallowed the chick and left.
The next day he came again and again howled under the tree:
This is my field
My tree is in the field,
There is my hollow in the tree,
What's in the hollow is all mine!
Hey, Kukluhay, Kukluhay,
How many children do you have?
“I only have two left,” said Kuklukhai.
- Why do you need two? You live poorly. It will be difficult for you to raise two. Give me one to raise.
- No! - Kuklukhai shouted. “I won’t give it up!”
Then the wolf khan called the woodcutters, and the woodcutters came with sharp axes.
Kuklukhai cried bitterly and gave the wolf another chick.
On the third day the wolf came for the third time and howled louder than before:
This is my field
My tree is in the field,
There is my hollow in the tree,
What's in the hollow is all mine!
Hey, Kukluhay, Kukluhay,
How many children do you have?
“I now have one and only son,” answered Kuklukhai, almost alive with grief and fear.
- Well, I'll spare you the trouble of worrying about him. I take him into my service, and you go for a walk in the woods.
- No, no, I won’t give up my last son! Do what you want,” Kuklukhai cried.
Then the wolf got angry and ordered the woodcutters to cut down the tree. The woodcutters struck with their axes, the tree trembled, and the last chick fell out of the nest. The wolf Khan ate it and left.
Kuklukhai screamed loudly and flew far into the forest, sat down on a dogwood bush and lamented pitifully:
A tree grew in a field,
there was a hollow in the tree,
there was a nest in a hollow,
the children lived in warmth,
and now they are gone,
my poor children.
Out of nowhere, a cunning fox came running, who had long wanted to become a khan instead of a wolf.
“What are you crying about, dear Kuklukhai?” he asked in a sweet voice.
And trusting Kuklukhai told the fox about her grief.
“Don’t cry, dear Kuklukhai,” the fox consoles, “I’m kind.” I will help you take revenge on the evil wolf. And you fly through the forests and tell everyone how evil he is.
And Kuklukhai flew off to tell about the villainy of the Wolf Khan.
And the fox went straight to the wolf's den.
“Where are you in a hurry?” asked the wolf, seeing the fox.
“I’m running to the mill to get some flour.” The miller's wife went to her neighbors to ask for a light, and there was no one at the mill... Do you want us to go together, Wolf Khan?
“Let’s go,” said the wolf.
They came to the mill. The wolf was the first to climb into the stall and eat his fill of flour. And when it was the fox’s turn to climb, he said:
- You, Wolf Khan, stand guard. Just make sure you don't try to run away!
- What are you talking about, fox, I didn’t even intend to! Eat calmly.
- No, Wolf Khan, it’s better, let me tie you up. This won't last long.
- Well, if it’s not for long, tie it up. The fox tied the wolf's tail to the mill wheel and started the mill. The wheel spun, and the wolf spun with it, spun until it broke free and ran away. And he left his tail on the mill wheel.
A few days later, as if by accident, the fox again caught the eye of the Wolf Khan.
“Robber!” the wolf shouted. “What did you do to me?”
“What did I do?” the fox pretended to be surprised. “I’m seeing you for the first time.”
“What, weren’t you the one who lured me to the mill?” Weren't you the one who left me without a tail?
“What are you doing, what are you saying!” the fox cried. “I have absolutely nothing to do with this!” I am an old doctor and only treat wounds!
“Please heal me,” the wolf asked, “it’s a shame to appear in the forest without a tail.” Who will respect the tailless khan!
“No one will,” the fox confirmed, “I’ll cure you.” Just remember: listen to me! The fox led the wolf to a haystack.
“Hide deeper in the stack,” the doctor ordered, “and don’t come out until I call!”
The wolf climbed into the haystack, and the fox set fire to the hay and ran away. The wolf endured until his fur caught fire. He jumped out of the stack, tailless, hairless, all burnt...
“Well,” said the fox to Kuklukhai the bird, “I dealt with the wolf.” Now fly, call all the birds and animals. Let them choose me as khan instead of the wolf. I'm kind!
And Kuklukhai flew from end to end throughout the forest and sang songs about the kindness of the fox everywhere.
And the fox himself also told everyone how good he was and how he punished the evil wolf khan.
“Now,” he said, “we need to choose a new khan, so that he has a fluffy skin and a long tail.”
Everyone agreed to choose the fox as khan. Only the chickens disagreed. But no one listened to them.
And the fox became khan.
Spring came, and Kuklukhai hatched her chicks again.
She sat on the top of a tree and sang this song:
What happiness do I have?
What kind of kids I have!
They grow feathers
Wings grow
Soon the children will fly,
They will walk through the forest...
Before Kuklukhai had time to finish her song, she saw the khan-fox in a rich elegant dress with a silver dagger. The fox stepped out importantly and walked straight to the tree, followed by two woodcutters with sharp axes.
The fox came up to the tree and shouted:
This is my field
My tree is in the field,
There is my hollow in the tree,
What's in the hollow is all mine!
Kukluhay, Kukluhay,
Give me all the children!
“Listen, good fox,” Kuklukhai shouted, “it’s me who lives here with my children, I, Kuklukhai the bird!.. After all, you and I used to be friends until you became khan.”
“You stupid bird,” answered the fox, “you can’t tell where the truth is and where it’s deception.”
And he ordered the woodcutters to cut down the tree at the roots.
The tree was cut down, the fox ate the chicks and left.
This is how Kuklukhai paid for believing the sly fox.
After all, Khan the Fox is no better than Khan the Wolf.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru