Firebird
Legendary Slavic magical bird - Zhar-Ptitsa (Russian: жар-птица, 'fire-bird'). PAN-Slavic: Ukrainian 'zhar-ptytsia,' Czech 'Pták Ohnivák,' Polish 'Żar-ptak,' Slovenian 'Rajska/zlata-ptica.' Etymology: 'zhar' = fire/glow. Feathers Shine Continuously even when plucked - like embers, like the sun. Symbol of Hope and unattainable beauty. Associated with golden apples granting Eternal Youth. In tales: tries to steal apples from royal orchards before dawn. Prophetic - feather can predict the future. Capturing triggers the quest. In 'Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf': quest to capture Firebird's tail