"Gather 'round children as I tell you about the savage monsters that destroyed our village years ago." A group of young villagers had gone to visit the old witch despite their parents' warnings. "You see, the beautiful village that you now call home was not always so peaceful and calm."

While The King was a kind and gentle soul, many feared he couldn't protect the villagers from danger. Some say that his sister was the one who actually deserved to be the ruler of the people. The so-called King did not want to use his title or his power as he considered himself one of the people. A major character weakness in my opinion.

On a quiet Sunday morning while the villagers still slept, a band of brooding beasts attacked the village. Everyone ran for safety as the beasts tore down their homes and did battle with the townsfolk. In the end, the beasts were defeated but the damage had been done. The village had been turned to rubble and The King was nowhere to be found.

The villagers were left with nothing. Their homes had been destroyed and their crops had been eaten. Everybody was very sad and afraid.  They needed a leader to get them through this difficult time. That is when The Queen took her rightful place on the throne.

The King never lived in his castle. He wanted to be with the people. He never asked them for money and made everyone feel as though they were all one big family. That is not how a royal is supposed to act. The Queen quickly ordered the villagers or "peasants" as she called them to start working for her. They needed a tough leader that would get results and not looking for friends.

The villagers were lucky to finally have someone who was powerful and brave to look after them. Soon The Queen demanded that the villagers pay taxes for the land that she allowed them to rebuild them homes and farms on. They didn't like it at first but she kept them safe. She decreed a "Ban on all Beasts" and to this day, not a single beast dare set foot in her kingdom.

"What do you think about that story the old witch told us Maggie?" Ewan asked his sister. "I don't really believe in monsters. I think it is a fake fable she told to scare us." "Either way, we can't let Ma and Pa know that we spoke to the old witch. It is forbidden." "Gee, Goatley seems to be afraid of something. What's wrong girl? Guess we should head home. It'll be suppertime soon."

Upset by the old witch's terrifying tale, Ewan had problems sleeping.  After tossing and turning for a couple of hours he felt his eyelids getting heavy. That slumber was short lived as he was awoken by a chilling howl that made the hair on his neck stand up. He heard some growling that didn't sound like it was coming from any of the farm animals. "Oh no!" he shouted. "Goatley!"

When he got outside Ewan found Goatley trembling with fear. "My dear sweet girl. You look so afraid. What was it that frightened you so? You will sleep in my room tonight." Ewan opened the door and let his pet goat inside before he set out to find the source of the disturbance.

Ewan lit a candle and slowly crept around his house. He heard the usual sounds that come with the symphony of the night: crickets chirping and owls hooting but nothing unusual. Off in the distance he heard a couple of cats having a tussle but nothing more. He then heard a rustling not that far from where he stood. Slowly, he approached...............

Ewan had located the source of the noises. They were something rustling about in the bushes. He slowly peered inside only to be startled to a pair of glowing eyes. "Ahhhh!!!! Wait a second! It's just a bunny rabbit." His eyes were glowing from the flicker of the candle's flame. "Silly rabbit. Don't frighten me so." "Ewan? Where are you?" his mother called out. "I'll be right there Ma!"

Ewan still believed that there was a monster in their midst. He set out a tempting feast of meat and eggs hoping to lure the beast from the shadows.  Ewan hid behind a tree as the hours passed by with no sign of the monster. Growing bored and weary, Ewan thought about going home before a couple of cats hopped onto the table.  "Shoo!"

After the cats had run off Ewan heard that eerie noise from the previous evening. He thought the cats had to returned so he started to scold them, "Listen you crazy cats, I'm trying to set a trap for the.......monster." There he was, staring him dead in the eyes, one of the dreaded beasts that had attacked the village. Ewan tried to run away but was frozen by fear. The monster scooped him with his sharp claws and powerful jaws.

My screams woke up the entire village. My Dad and some of his townspeople came running to my rescue armed with clubs and swords. But their primitive weapons were no match for the speed and strength of the mighty beast. "Ewan! Ewan!" his father helplessly screamed as he watched his son disappear into the dark, cold night locked in the grasp of the snarling beast.