One morning, locals in the Ural Mountains are woken up by the incessant cries of a dog who just gave birth. Seeing how malnourished and exhausted she looks, they decide to provide some food and water, and approach her cautiously. However, when they set eyes on her offspring, they are horrified by their features. The puppies are unusual, striking fear and instigating their superstition. They debate getting rid of them, but soon a member of the community steps up to tell them a story to help them understand where the creatures came from.