Quest for the Magic Stones

    “What did the sorcerer do to you?” she inquired.

    He squeezed her hand. “Every month at the full moon, I turn into a ferocious beast for a night. When I wake in the morning, I don’t remember a thing.”

    Leslie swallowed nervously. She looked up and noticed the moon peek out from behind a fluffy white cloud. “Is it full tonight?”

    Peter shrugged his shoulders and waited anxiously. “I hope not. I don’t want our evening spoiled.”

    They sat on the bench and watched the moon move slowly into full view.

     “Please, no,” he murmured.

    Leslie prayed silently to herself. She didn’t want a perfectly romantic evening ruined either.

    When the moon was completely revealed, they both let out a cry of distress.

    “Is there anything I can do to help?”

    His eyes enlarged and he clutched his chest. Peter fell to the ground in agony. “There is only one thing you can do,” he gasped.

    “What’s that?” Leslie got up and slowly backed away.

     “Enter the Spirited Forest…that is where the Tridiamond is hiding. It’s a diamond-shaped object made of wood. The magical stones are missing…” The sweat trickled down his brow.

     “How do I find the stones?”

     Peter rolled around in agony. He clutched at his throat and made high-pitched sounds like a wolf. He managed to meet her gaze one last time. “There are three quests you must complete…” He panted. “If you can successfully finish the challenges, then a gemstone will appear in the Tridiamond. When you have possession of all three, you will be strong enough to take on the sorcerer. If you can defeat him…” He clawed viciously at the ground. He let out a loud howl and his body slowly turned into a hairy black beast.

     “What happens?” she cried.

    His voice deepened. “The spell will be broken and I’ll return to normal.”

    Leslie watched in shock as his hands transformed into sharp claws. “How am I supposed to win the challenges? I don’t have any fighting skills or magical powers!”

    “She will help you.” Peter glanced up and revealed a set of pointed fangs. His eyes turned a hideous yellow and his body changed into a wild animal. A large bushy tail swished briskly back and forth.

    “Who will help me?”

     “Run away!” he warned. “I’m not human anymore!” He let out a low growl.

    Leslie Burrows, a young woman impoverished and living in a small cottage with her mother, is delighted when she attends her first royal ball and meets Prince Peter, the man of her dreams. But the prince has a nasty secret and desperately needs her help. Leslie must complete a quest and defeat a wicked sorcerer to break the spell bestowed upon her beloved. She decides to risk her life and face the dangers that linger in the Spirited Forest. Can love conquer all, or will evil prevail?