CHAPTER FOUR
(chapter title – Into the Woods)

Collins and Philippe were doing fine on their journey, until they got lost. Collins pulled out a map and studied it.

"We should be there by now." Collins muttered to himself. "Maybe we missed a turn. I guess I should have taken a … wait a minute." Collins put his lantern to a sign. It showed him how to get to Anaheim and Valencia. "Let's go this way." He guided Philippe to a path that had a soft glow to it. Philippe pulled the reins to the other tunnel – a dark one. Philippe started to go to the dimly lit path, but Collins pulled him the other direction. Philippe threw up his head in protest. "Come on, Philippe, it's a short cut. We'll be there in no time!"

Philippe trusted his rider and walked through the forest. Owls and other noises made Philippe spook more than once, but Collins managed to calm him down.

Collins looked at the map, not really paying attention to where they were going. "This can't be right! Where have you taken us, Philippe? We better turn around … and whoa …. Whoa… whoa boy, whoa Philippe! Oh, oh! Look out!" Collins shouted as they backed into a tree. A swarm of bats flew in front of Philippe's face, making the poor horse more afraid. He whinnied and galloped away from the bats and almost went over a cliff.

"Back up! Back up! Back up! Good boy, good boy." Collins praised as they backed away from the cliff. "That's good, that's – back up. Steady. Steady! Hey now steady!" Philippe got so scared that he threw Collins and took off down the dark tunnel. The lantern broke and there was a small fire. Collins rolled on his side and got to his feet. "Philippe?" Collins called.

Thunder rumbled in the distance as did a noise Collins was all-to familiar with – wolves. Five grey wolves appeared out of nowhere, growling and showing their razor-sharp teeth.

Collins ran as fast as he could, hoping to outrun the wolves. He stumbled down a hill and came to a magnificent castle. Thunder boomed, lightening flashed and rain stung Collins' eyes as he hoped that the gate would open. It did and Collins ran through it. He was knocked to his feet by a wolf, which had Collins' foot in its mouth. Collins kicked the wolf and looked up at the castle, hoping that a kind person lived there.

"Help me, please!" Collins pleaded as the door opened.