Nadya was a girl who lived on the edge of the woods near Duva.
Biography[]
Nadya lived with her brother, Havel, her father, Maxim Grushov, and her mother. Her father would often travel and come home with gifts for Nadya and her brother. When a famine came, her mother died, and her father chose to marry Karina Stoyanova against Nadya's will. Havel was drafted into the army, and a dance was held the day before he left. There, Karina warned Nadya to go with Havel, but Nadya refused. A week later, Maxim and Karina were wed.
Karina kept Nadya out of her father's way and told her to check the traps in the woods. Nadya felt lonely, noticing the changes in her father and suspecting Karina to be a khitka behind the disappearances of several young girls. When she was told to check the traps again, she kept walking until stumbling upon Magda's hut. Nadya entered and helped the old woman with chores, living there and watching Magda's magic at night.
When the snow melted, Nadya worked with Magda to create a girl made of gingerbread that resembled herself. She placed a blind crow's eyes on her tongue, allowing her to take the crow's form, and observed as the gingergirl entered her home. There, she saw Maxim find the gingergirl. A moment later, Karina went outside and told Nadya (who still appeared as the crow) to fly away. However, she stayed there and watched as Maxim slowly consumed the gingergirl whole, realizing that he had been the one responsible for the disappearing girls and that Karina had attempted to keep Nadya away from him to save her.
Maxim died the next morning, and Nadya returned to Magda's hut. She continued helping with chores and learned all the old woman's magic.[1]