when no sign of katya arrives, sasha decides to go after her despite not knowing her location. on the guidance of some witches, sasha travels to the forest where baba yaga resides because she has something he needs. sasha pretends to be a deaf-mute and becomes baba yaga’s temporary servant. baba yaga sets him up with the task of cleaning her stables where he meets sergi, the humpbacked horse and frees him along with baba yaga’s steed, a wise (intelligent) goat, and her tracker, a wise wolf.