The Firebird, The Horse of Power and the Princess Vasilissa

In this story we have an archer, who, although it's never stated, is highly skilled in his art.  No doubt he has seen a few battles and survived, apparently unscathed.  He is young, handsome and strong.  This type of young man would feel that he had little to fear from the ordinary world.  He is desiring advancement and success, like so many 20-somethings.  It's no wonder that a mere golden feather, even though it is from the breast of the Firebird, would not cause him trepidation.

His Horse of Power warns him - 'don't pick up the feather; if you do, trouble will come to you and you will come to know the meaning of the word FEAR'.

His battle experience, training, youth and strength all assure him that there is no trouble he cannot withstand, and no fear he cannot face.  Surely the Tsar will reward the man who brings him a gift no one else has or has even seen.  The Firebird is well known, but, as the stories say, never been seen, never captured.  This is a great opportunity and against his Horse's advice, the archer takes it.

It's said that we are sent only as much tribulation as we can handle and yet, the trials that cause us to grow and bloom are often the ones that knock us off of our feet.  We almost never see the trouble coming and once we're in it we almost never see the way through.