The Bear and the Nightingale

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

Vasya awakens in a place that is simultaneously a fir grove and a house. Morozko appears and explains that she is in his home. Despite his cold demeanor, Morozko heals her frostbite and other injuries, though the process is excruciating. He tells her that he brought her there for her safety and insists that she must fully recover before returning home. Since they are in a place beyond time, she will be returned to the moment she left.

While Vasya recovers, Morozko goes back to northern Rus’ and retrieves a nightingale, who appears as a young bay stallion when they return to the house. The horse, Solovey, tells Vasya that Morozko brought him to be her companion.

Despite Father Konstantin’s insistence, the villagers are too afraid of wolves and demons to follow Vasya into the woods. Medved confronts the priest, angry that the girl escaped, and reveals his true identity as the Bear, Medved, a malevolent spirit of storms and chaos.

As Medved speaks, Konstantin is forced to confront how his pride led him to be manipulated by a demon. However, Medved offers him a deal: He will save Vasya from

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