“We’re close,” Select revealed.

The fog was becoming denser.

“Thank goodness we have radar,” Max said.

Without warning, the fog completely dissipated to reveal the shore of a beautiful beach, with crystal clear waters, and a forest that looked like something out of a movie.

“Oh my, it’s beautiful,” Kate said excitedly.

Select and Max were speechless.

“We are here, in the Forest of a Thousand Dreams,” Select observed in awe of the beauty of the place.

“Let’s use the boat,” Select said as he untied the ropes of the small boat.

Once on the beach, with sand as white as snow, the trio prepared to venture into the forest.

“If the legends are true, there will be fierce creatures inside,” Select explained.

“You have me,” Kate replied.

And with that, they advanced into the forest.

Due to the enormous trees, the forest was in total shadow.

“Let’s keep advancing,” Select observed the surroundings for any hidden danger.

“Where do you think Excalibur will be?” Max asked.

“I don’t know, honestly,” Select replied. 

Suddenly, something came out of the bushes.

“Careful!” Kate shouted, stepping in front. 

To their surprise, it was just an old woman.

“Excuse the scare,” the woman said.

The three of them looked at each other, astonished.

“What are you doing in a place like this?” Max asked.

“I live here, young man,” the old woman revealed.

“Here?”

“Yes, but you seem lost. Come with me,” the old woman said, grabbing Kate and pulling her.

Select watched her closely, while he and Max stayed a few meters away from Kate.

“Young man? It’s like I’m a child with that,” Max said.

“As far as I know, you’re not, with what you’ve been through you count as an adult man,” Select said smiling.

“Well… I don’t really feel very manly.”

“Don’t worry, being scared is normal.”

“Select, I don’t mean that…”

Select was confused.

“I don’t quite understand you,” Select confessed.

“I feel like a woman, I’m transgender, Select,” Max clarified.

Select stared at him.

“Aaaah! So that’s what you meant… Sorry, I didn’t understand you,” he apologized.

“No, it’s okay.”

“Does your family know?”

“Yes, although they’re not happy about it,” Max revealed. “That’s why… that’s why I don’t know what to do…”

Select approached the young girl.

“Look, Max, no one should tell you what to do. If you think it’s right, don’t let anyone stop you. You are the only one who decides the next great adventure, Max. And if you decide to be female, so be it,” Select smiled.

“But what if my parents don’t want to?”

“They will probably accept it, I’m 90% sure.”

“Here, here!” shouted the old lady pointing to a wooden house.

“Well, let’s see what this lady has to say,” Select said to Max.

Inside, the house was cozy, with a very rural style.

“A beautiful house,” observed Select.

“Come, young man, help me prepare the food,” the old lady said to Max.

Meanwhile, Select opened Carpenter’s journal.

“It looks like Carpenter did indeed discover civilization in this forest,” revealed Select.

“Oh really? Hey, doesn’t this sound familiar to you?” Kate replied.

Select kept flipping through the pages until after reading that, his face showed concern.

“What’s wrong?” Kate asked.

“Oh shit.”

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Max and the old lady were setting the table.

“This place seems a bit lonely,” said Max.

“Not so much,” she replied.

Max looked at the cabin until he noticed something strange about the old lady.

“Ma’am, you have such big eyes, don’t you?”

“It’s to see you better.”

Max noticed another small detail.

“Ma’am, you have such big ears, don’t you?”

“It’s to hear you better.”

Max swallowed hard, as he noticed an object in the room: a torn red hood. His pulse quickened as the old lady turned to him with a smile.

“What big… teeth you have.”

“It’s to eat you better.”

The old lady’s skin tore, revealing a terrifying wolf-like creature.

The Wolf pounced towards Max, until he was knocked down by Kate, transformed into her cat version.

“Max, get out of there!” Select shouted from the door.

Kate and the Wolf wrestled fiercely, until the Wolf threw Kate into the air.

“Select, silver, we need silver!” Max shouted.

They both ran towards the exit, but the Wolf was faster and blocked their path.

“Where are you going? I haven’t started eating yet.”

“You won’t, stupid Wolf.”

Select landed a good punch on the Wolf.

Max noticed a shotgun on the wall.

“Maybe…?”

He ran in that direction, while the enraged Wolf tried to attack Select.

Grabbing the shotgun, Max realized it had no ammunition.

“The book, Max, go for the book!” Select said as he took the shotgun.

Max didn’t understand, but he ran for Carpenter’s diary, followed by the Wolf.

Upon grabbing it, he realized the cover contained silver.

“Carpenter was prepared!” Max was surprised.

The Wolf stood in front of Max.

“I’m going to devour you,” he said.

“I don’t think so.”

Max tore off a piece of silver and threw it to Select, who loaded it into the shotgun. The Wolf looked scared.

“Tell me, who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?”

BANG! The shot hit the Wolf directly, and he fell to the ground.

“Damn it…” Max was trembling. “Why is the Wolf here?”

“Reading Carpenter’s diary, I realized a small detail: all the tales you know are based on real events, because the writers based them on this place, following Carpenter’s route,” Select explained.

“Are you saying we’re not the first ones to come here?” Max asked.

“Exactly,” said Select.