alastair macleod 
Beauty and The Prince 
a modern folktale

‘At first the forest was green and light with wide clearings between the trees. She saw many little birds and deer, who told her the way. The forest started to get darker with bigger, older trees. Not so much sunlight reached the forest floor. Then she met a bear. She was not frightened and spoke to the bear in its own language. “I seek the forgotten castle.” said the girl“The forgotten castle? queried the bear. “That is secret, we bears do not speak of it. It is quiet here now in these woods. We do not encourage humans. What if you find him? Will it be as before, with the hunting of bears? Many of my ancestors were hunted and killed. The bear said this with such feeling and looked sad. Then he turned and moved off. The girl carried on then she met a group of wolves. Again she spoke to them in their own language, “Do you know of the lost castle oh fleet of foot?