Cinderella valued her deeply. She once joked:
– If I ever need to get a secret letter into the king’s paws within an hour – I won’t send a raven. I’ll send Swiftpaw. The letter will arrive sealed with cheese.
The Next Morning…
With the first rays of sun, while the whole regiment was still stretching and sipping cocoa, a loud signal rang out.
Lapka dashed out of headquarters, rustling a paper bag.
– Everyone, to formation! Urgent news from the border! – she squeaked. – Someone has stolen… Masha’s soup pot!
The bear roared:
– That wasn’t just a pot! That was my grandmother’s enamel soup tureen!
Alangazar was already pulling on his boots, the cat was yawning but marching, and even Bulka was screwing the nut on the alarm kettle as she walked.
Cinderella stepped onto the porch, serious and focused.
– Well then, soldiers. Looks like we have a new mission…
Alangazar’s Vacation
Alangazar, the giant from the military regiment, once took a month-long vacation and went home to fetch firewood. He went into the forest, gathered a big bundle of twigs, tied it up, and carried it on his back. The load was heavy, and he walked with his eyes on the ground.
That’s when he found a needle!
Carefully, he stuck it into the bundle so he wouldn’t lose it.
When he got home, he started rummaging through the firewood.
– What are you looking for? – asked his wife, Victoria.
– A needle, – Alangazar replied.
– You stuck it into the firewood?
– Yes.
– You should’ve pinned it to your clothes – then you wouldn’t have lost it, – said Victoria.
– Alright, I’ll do that next time, – he agreed.
The next day, Alangazar went back to the forest. This time, he found a scythe. Not wanting to lose it, he tied it to his clothes.
But the scythe kept slipping and tearing his shirt. By the end, all his clothes were shredded.
– You should’ve tied it to the firewood, – Victoria explained. – Like this, by the handle and to the bundle.
– Alright, I’ll do that next time, – nodded Alangazar.
On the third day, he headed to the woods again. On his way back, he saw a shepherd fast asleep in the grass while wolves were chasing his sheep.
Alangazar didn’t interfere. He ran home to ask for advice.
– Wolves are eating the sheep! And the shepherd’s asleep! – he panted.
– You should’ve shouted: “Wolf, you scoundrel!” – suggested Victoria.