Kolobok

An old woman baked a bun (kolobok) from the last of her flour. When she put it on the windowsill to cool, it rolled away. The bun sang as it rolled: "I've run away from Grandfather, I've run away from Grandmother, and I'll run away from you!"

It escaped from a hare, a wolf, and a bear, singing its boastful song each time. Finally, it met a fox who pretended not to hear well. The bun came closer and closer until the fox snatched it up and ate it.

The story warns against overconfidence and boasting. Kolobok's pride in escaping others led to its downfall when it underestimated the fox's cunning.

It also teaches that no matter how clever or fast you are, there's always someone more cunning. The tale emphasizes humility and caution in unfamiliar situations.

As one of the most popular Russian folk tales, Kolobok has many regional variations, sometimes ending with the bun escaping again, showing how oral traditions evolve.