A long time passed, but the eldest son never returned, and no one heard any news about him. So, the second son decided to go in search of the golden bird.
Just like his brother, he met the fox in the forest. The fox gave him the same advice: “Stay at the simple inn, not the fancy one.”
But when he arrived at the village, he saw his older brother standing at the window of the grand inn, laughing and enjoying himself. His brother called out, “Come inside! The food and music are amazing!”
The second son couldn’t resist. He went in, ate, drank, and soon forgot about the golden bird—and even his home.
More time passed, and now the youngest son also wanted to go search for the golden bird. But his father refused to let him go at first. He loved his youngest son very much and was afraid that something bad would happen to him, just like his brothers.
But the young man didn’t give up. He begged his father again and again, until finally, his father agreed to let him go.
When the youngest son entered the forest, he met the fox. The fox gave him the same advice as before, but this time, the young man listened. Instead of trying to kill the fox like his brothers had, he thanked it for its help.
The fox said, “Sit on my tail, and I will take you there quickly.”
The young man sat down, and the fox ran so fast that the wind whistled past them as they traveled over hills and stones.
When they reached the village, the youngest son did exactly as the fox had told him. Without looking at the fancy inn, he went straight to the simple one and rested there for the night.
In the morning, the fox met him again and said, “Keep walking straight ahead until you reach a castle. Outside, you will see many soldiers sleeping. Don’t wake them. Just walk past them and go inside the castle.
In one of the rooms, you will find the golden bird sitting in a simple wooden cage. Next to it, you will see a beautiful golden cage. No matter what, do not take the bird out of the simple cage and put it into the golden one—or you will regret it.”
Then the fox stretched out its tail again. The young man sat down, and once more, they sped off through the forest, so fast that their hair whistled in the wind.
