Nature and the Wilderness

The natural landscape—mountains, forests, dales, and rivers—is richly described and serves as both a setting and a character, representing beauty, danger, mystery, and a realm where characters encounter supernatural elements (wood-wights) and undergo profound change.

The valley's geography, the river, tarn, woods, and cliffs are described in detail, showing the people's deep connection to their natural surroundings.

The wood is portrayed as both a source of longing and a place of danger, with Stone-face recounting its supernatural and mortal threats.

The detailed descriptions of the woodland, its creatures, and the changing terrain emphasize the wild setting.

The setting is a remote mountain dwelling; the characters are hunters living off the land, and the wilderness is a constant presence.