"We will camp here tonight,"Hawk announced. They were almost to the edge of the forest. So far things had gone quite well, which was very surprising for the Disenchanted forest. Hawk heard talks of a man who hunted in these woods. The Huntsman they called him. His bow was enchanted so no arrow from it would stop until it hit the beating heart of a living creature. But he was dead, or so rumor had it. He had been killed by his own bow.

There were times when Hawk thought his bow was enchanted. He never failed to bring home food for the gypsies. What will happen to them now that I'm gone? He wondered. He knew they would be fine. They survived before him, and they could survive after him.

"I'm hungry!" Tori whined.

Now that girl was a pain. She seemed to instantly hate Hawk, and he didn't know why. She didn't want to be in the Nine Kingdoms, that was obvious, but why? Yes the Kingdoms weren't the best place to be these days, but Hawk had heard of the mythical Tenth Kingdom and that place seemed more frightening. Hawk would never understand that girl. Nor did he care to try.

"I'm starving!" Tori complained again.

"We brought food with us, just eat it." Alex noted.

Tori looked shocked. "You expect me to eat that? I require real food, not the dried stuff we brought. I need meat."

"Tori, we are camping. You have to eat what we have."

"I'm a city girl, Alex, you know that. I need Hard Rock Café or Daniel. I refuse to eat anything but fresh meat," Tori looked up at Hawk, "You go hunt some food."

"Tori Danielle Rockwood! You will not order Hawk like that!"

"That's okay; I was in the mood for fox. I'll be back. Don't leave this area. I loath to tell you what might happen if you do." With that Hawk set out. Yes, he thought, that Tori will be trouble.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

"You are dreadful." Alex whispered. She wasn't sure why she was whispering. Maybe it was because it seemed the woods could hear.

"I don't like him. I wanted to get him out of the way. Let's leave now, before he gets back. Then maybe he won't kill us."

"Did he seem to want to kill us? No, he's nice."

"No he's not. Look at him; he looks like he eats children for fun."

"As apposed to eating children out of necessity? You're making up stories Tori." Alex knew Tori was part right. Hawk certainly looked frightening. But Alex had talked to him and he seemed nice, if not sad. Alex would stay, maybe she could help him.

There was a rustle in the bushes and a moan. Alex jumped and grabbed the dagger Reyne had given her. "Who's there?"

There was more commotion and a huge bear stumbled out into the clearing. Tori screamed and ran into the woods. Alex put herself between the bear and the horses. The bear did not make a move to strike, but laid on the ground and cried.

What's going on here? Alex wondered. Slowly she approached the bear. "Why do you cry bear?"

The bear looked up, "You are not afraid of me?'

Alex jumped back slightly. She had not expected the bear to actually answer. But then, this was a different world. "Tell me what is wrong."

The bear got a most mournful look. "Once upon a time I was a great prince. My name is Gregory, by the way. I was a prince, the great-great grandson of fair Snow White and Breylen."

"Wait," Alex interrupted, "I thought William was the great-great grandson of Snow White."

"There were two. Once was named for the white snow, and the other for the snow white roses that grew outside the cottage she shared with her mother and sister, Rose Red. Snow White and Rose Red lived wonderfully; they were very kind, poor but happy. One winter a bear came to their door to seek refuge from the winter storm. Snow White and Red Rose allowed him in and he stayed the night, and every winter night after. In the summer he left for good to guard his treasure from the Dwarf."

"I don't mean to be rude, but I know this tale. In the end it was the Dwarf who enchanted the bear. He was a prince before. When he killed the Dwarf he turned back into a prince and married Snow White. Red Rose married his brother, but what does this have to do with you?"

"I seem to be suffering from the same fate as my great-great grandfather. My bride-to-be also suffers. Geilla has been turned into a raven and is trapped on a Glass Mountain."

"I know that story as well. But she was rescued. Maybe Geilla will be too."

The bear moaned again, "No, No there will be no rescue. All the descendants have suffered the fate of their ancestors. Oh, if only the fair Virginia were here, none of this would have happened."

Alex rolled her eyes, "What is with you people and the 'fair Virginia'? She wasn't all she was cracked up to be."

"Nonsense, Virginia was as great as the Queens of old. Like I said…" There was a commotion in the bush. Hawk stepped out into the clearing. When he saw the bear he brought up his cross-bow. Gregory jumped between Alex and Hawk. "You are the huntsman! You will not harm this maiden! I will protect her with every ounce of strength in the bear body."

Wait!" Alex moved between Gregory and Hawk. "Gregory, this man is my friend and guide. Hawk, this bear is an enchanted prince. His fiancé was turned into a raven. They are reliving the curses of their great-great grandparents."

Hawk thought of this, "Yes, I have heard of such things. That's partly how the witch gained control. This is getting worse then I thought. We best get moving on." Hawk looked around, "Where's Tori?"

Alex looked around. She remembered Tori running into the forest when the bear came. "She ran into the woods, that way." Alex pointed deep into the woods.

"Oh no. She didn't." Hawk didn't look to well.

"What's wrong?" Alex was worried. There was a great commotion from where Alex saw Tori enter the woods. Something was tearing through the thicket. "Hawk, what's in the woods?"

Hawk was watching the place where the commotion was coming from. "Very bad things dwell in the forest." He brought his bow up once more. Out of the thicket came tearing a huge…….squirrel? "What the hell?"

The squirrel was being chased by a jaguar. Hawk shot a bolt and hit the jaguar. The squirrel ran up Alex's leg chattering all the way. "Get off of me you stupid creature!" Alex swatted at it. The stupid squirrel would not leave her alone. It was tugging at her color. Now Alex was normally very good with animals, she liked them, but this squirrel was getting annoying. "What is wrong with you?"

"Hold it Alex; I'm not sure if that squirrel is a squirrel." Hawk said.

"What do you mean?"

The squirrel jumped off of Alex and leaped up to Luna's back. The really weird thing was Luna didn't rear. Luna usually reared when strangers got on her. "Hawk, what dangers are in the Disenchanted forest?"

Hawk understood what Alex meant, "People have been known to be changed into creatures of the forest."

"Great, so that squirrel might be Tori?" The squirrel jumped off the horse and made scratches in the dirt. I am Tori. "Great," Alex threw up her arms. "Leave it to Tori to do something stupid. How could you do this Tori? How dumb are you?"

"Do not yell at her, fair maiden. It was not her fault. Believe me, I know. It is not easy being turned into a creature of the wood." Gregory lamented.

Alex felt sorry for Gregory, but Tori was her own fault. Oh well. There must be some way to reverse the spell. There always was in the stories. "Well, we best be on our way. Maybe someone at the Castle can change her back."

Hawk didn't look happy, "Are you sure we should continue? The Queen is evil. She will want to kill you."

"We need to get home. We can figure out a way to change Tori back, no problem. I just have this feeling we must get to the Castle."