Leshy

The Leshy ("he from the forest") is a tutelary deity of the forests in Slavic mythology. The plural form in Russian is лешие, leshiye (retaining the stress on the first syllable). Another name of the god is Boruta or Borewit from Slavic word bor, pine tree forest. According to the folklore, the god dwells in this kind of tree. As the lord of woods and hunting he is equated with the god Porewit, of which he probably represents a local version. He was portrayed as an imposing figure, with horns over the head, surrounded by packs of wolves and bears.
Leshy are masculine and humanoid in shape, are able to assume any likeness and can change in size and height. In some accounts, Leshy is described as having a wife (Leshachikha, Leszachka, Lesovikha) and children (leshonki, leszonky). Because of his propensity to lead travelers astray and abduct children, which he shares with Chort, the "Black One", Leshy is believed by some to be evil. Others view him as more of a temperamental being like a fairy