The Western Kingdom A Choose Your Path Story: Lost in a FairyTale

By Tara Vasser

YOU choose the path!

When your father goes missing, you and your brothers will do anything to find him – including following a mysterious woman down a well found in the woods. On the other side, you find yourself in a fairytale world, and your father cursed by The Winter Queen. To lift the curse, you and your brothers must scatter to the far reaches of Trueveat Isle to gather three magical leaves. Time is of the essence, and you have seven days to return with the leaf to the well in The Seasonal Forest before your father's cursed state becomes permanent. In this choose your path story, your choices lead Maksim through the trials of a picturesque autumn landscape to retrieve one magical leaf from The Western Kingdom. Be sure to watch your step, danger lurks around every corner!

And when a deadly fate befalls you, because it most assuredly will, you merely need to choose a different path to continue your adventure!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tara Vasser
• Release date: Mar 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781947882423

Tara Vasser

Tara lives is the frozen north in Minnesota with her wonderful husband and two rambunctious little dudes. She is an engineer during the day, a crazy mom in the afternoon and a wicked writer at night. She enjoys spending her time playing in the dirt when her gardens aren’t covered in snow and listening to a wide variety of music that inspires her writing – sometimes doing both at the same time.    

Book preview

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Look, kid. I’m going to be straight with you here. There’s nothing I can do. There are no signs of forced entry or a struggle. There is no evidence to suggest your dad didn’t just up and leave on his own. Sometimes that happens to people... they just can’t handle things anymore and have to get away for a while.

The detective’s words to your brother Salvatore loop through your head again and again. But you know the detective is wrong, there’s no way your dad would leave you and your two brothers for this long without some kind of warning.

Your dad regularly went away on business every couple of weeks, and stayed gone for a week, two at the most. Until you and your brothers hit age eighteen, it was never more than a week. Tomorrow hits the four week mark since his disappearance, well outside the normal range. Your brother tried to explain that to the detective assigned to the case, but it was clear from the huge stacks of files on his desk that your dad’s case wasn’t going to be a priority for him. So, Salvatore, Kalem, and yourself decided to do some digging of your own. Which has turned up absolutely nothing.

You let out a deep sigh as you step off the bus. The bus thunders away behind you and you take in a deep breath to push your discouragement away and grasp ahold of the thin threads of optimism you have left. Although your shift at the medical device assembly plant is done, your day isn’t. You promised your brothers you would ask around the bus station to see if anyone has seen Dad. The crisp Minnesotan spring air fills your lungs, and it smells like more rain is on the way. At least things are dry for you now.

Excuse me? you ask a woman standing in the shelter waiting for a bus, Have you seen this man?

The woman shakes her head and mumbles a quiet, No, sorry.

You head on to the next patron you see, asking the same question and getting the same answer. Taking the stack of fliers around with you, you start taping them up on every surface you pass. You’re going old school with this one, putting up posters like Dad’s a freaking lost dog.

Bright red in the otherwise dreary day catches the corner of your eye and you look up to find a woman in a red cloak staring at you from the other side of the street.

You narrow your eyes to get a closer look, but all you see is a blur of red as a bus pulls to a stop in front of the shelter and obscures your view. Continuing to put up posters, you keep glancing back to where the woman in the cloak stood, but the space is empty.

The entire way home, you think about the red cloak, and something about it makes you uneasy. Even as you lie awake on the couch while Salvatore is still at work and Kalem snores from your shared bedroom, that ominous feeling stays with you.

***

Find anything? Salvatore asks you when he emerges from Dad’s bedroom in the early hours of the afternoon, startling your attention from the map you’re studying.

Nada, you answer, shaking your head. I checked the bus station like we talked about yesterday, but they didn’t recognize him. Doesn’t surprise me though. It’s been a month, I doubt they’d remember him.

Salvatore nods his head.

You get it, your dad is a pretty average-looking guy who never really stood out in a crowd, it make sense that no one at the bus station or any of the stops he might take would remember him.

Kalem shuffles into the kitchen from the bathroom, stretching as he lets out a yawn, accompanied by a sort of growl. Man, I’m exhausted, he groans.

Yeah, maybe you should get that sleep apnea thing checked out, Salvatore tells him, sharing a knowing look with you.

I had to sleep on the couch again, you say, not bothering to stifle a yawn of your own.

My bad, Kalem acknowledges with a frown. At least the thing is comfortable.

All three of you nod in confirmation. Each one of you have spent a goodly amount of time sleeping on the sleeper sofa.

Where are we at today? Kalem asks, leaning over the map of Minneapolis you have spread over the table.

Checked the bus station, you fill in. Nothing there.

Salvatore slumps into a chair opposite you. I’m out of ideas, he admits, locking eyes with you, then Kalem, then his coffee.

Kalem sighs and moves to stand in front of the window, staring out at the springtime scene. Me, too. Without looking back, he sips from his coffee. Hey, there she is again, he whispers.

Who? Salvatore asks, standing beside Kalem at the window.

This is going to sound weird, but I saw this girl in a red cloak yesterday when I was walking home from work, Kalem says, setting his coffee on the table and leaning closer to the windowpane. And I think she’s out there again now. Maybe she’s following me.

I saw someone in a red cloak, too, Salvatore tells you both hesitantly, looking to Kalem before they both stare at you with wide, expectant eyes.

I saw her, too! you tell them, your gaze darts between your brothers, a knot forming in your stomach with the same ominous feeling you got yesterday. When I got off the bus after work. Do you think she knows something about Dad?

You know just as well as your brothers that the appearance of the girl has to be more than coincidence. It’s strange enough to see someone walking around Minneapolis in a red cloak, but for all three of you to have seen her within the same twenty-four hour window is enough to convince you that this girl is linked to your father’s disappearance.

We have to talk to her, Salvatore says, his tone leaving no room for argument as he heads for the door.

She’s still there, let’s go, Kalem announces as the three of you rush into bedrooms to pull on clothing.

It takes less than five minutes before Salvatore is ushering you out the door and running down the block to where the girl in the red cloak is standing. The smell of wet earth and newly blossoming trees fill your lungs as you jog down the sidewalk, eager to talk to the girl before she disappears again. As soon as she catches sight of the three of you, she takes off running.

Hey, wait! Kalem calls out, running faster.

Salvatore starts to run, too, nearly matching pace with Kalem, which is impressive considering your brother’s record on the track team. You, however, are the least athletic of the trio and trail your brothers by quite a ways. Up ahead, the girl ducks into the nearby park, your brothers following close behind.

Your breaths ring heavy in your ears as you catch up to everyone, only to let out a groan when you see the way they all sprint between the trees and jump over logs. You do not possess that level of grace. With a huff, you continue after, trying your best to keep up.

Wait, Kalem calls out, clearly out of breath. That makes you feel a little less out of shape.

The girl suddenly stops and turns to face your brothers, the three of you skidding to a stop when she holds up her hand to halt you. Your chest heaves as you suck in air, a stich in your side forming as you finally come even with your brothers.

My name is Scarlett, she announces, glancing at each of you in turn.

Do you know when our dad is? you blurt out, perching your hands on your knees to catch your breath. Now you feel like you might pass out from lack of oxygen.

Scarlett nods slowly before stepping aside and revealing a well.

You and your brothers pretty much lived in these woods as a kid, and that well wasn’t there before, you are absolutely positive of that.

He is on Trueveat Isle. Scarlett gestures to the well.

Wary expressions pass between you and your brothers. They look just as confused as you feel.

He’s in the well? Salvatore asks hesitantly.

"He is in the land beyond the well. The well is the gate," Scarlett explains.

You can tell your brothers are thinking the same thing you are, it’s that triplet intuition. Crazy. This girl is crazy. The idea your dad is down a well is crazy. And yet, somehow it feels right in your gut.

Your father needs your help, Scarlett insists. You must come with me. I need you to help me save him.

You want us to go down a well? Kalem asks.

Exasperation bleeds into Scarlett’s tone. Her lips form a thin line when she presses them together, answering with a simple, Yes.

Yeah, no, you scoff, shaking your head.

You first, Salvatore offers, gesturing to the well, the stone ring looking like something more at home in a storybook than the middle of the Minnesotan woods.

With a sigh, Scarlett climbs onto the edge of the well and pushes herself forward, disappearing from sight.

No way, you gasp, running to the well and looking down.

Salvatore and Kalem rush to your side.

Scarlett? Salvatore calls down the well, but there’s no answer. You exchange worried looks with your brothers. Do you think we need to call someone?

What if... what if she’s right? you ask them, biting your lip, knowing that if they don’t feel what you feel, you’re liable to end up locked in a padded room somewhere.

Kalem shrugs. I can’t explain it, but I believe her.

You let out a sigh of relief that at least one of your brothers is just as nuts as you are.

We have to go down there, Salvatore agrees, peering into the darkness. I’ll go first.

Always playing the eldest card, you joke, your uneasiness lending a quaver to your voice. Five minutes older and you think you can tell us what to do.

Salvatore climbs onto the stone wall, his legs dangling into the abyss. Without a word, he pushes off.

Salvatore? You call down into the blackness when he disappears.

Dude, what if he’s dead? Kalem asks you, his eyes wide.

Then I guess we better join him, you say with more bravado than you feel. You swallow hard as you climb onto the wall of the well like Salvatore before you. You gut clenches and your legs tingle with the anticipation of falling. See you on the other side, you tell Kalem as you jump into the darkness.

The darkness seems to suck you in, blocking out all sights and sounds.

***

You expect to feel pain as you hit the ground when the sensation of falling stops, but when you open your eyes, you find you’re already on the ground. Tree branches filled with red and orange leaves hover above your head, the midday sun shining through them.

That was terrifying, you say, taking Salvatore’s hand as he helps you to your feet.

You find yourself standing beside another well, identical to the one you’d just jumped into. In fact, you’re pretty sure it’s same one.

Your father is this way, Scarlett announces, taking up a brisk pace away from the well.

It is hard for you to focus as you gawk at everything around you, the trees look just like ones you’d see at home, but they seemed to be in all different states of seasonal growth. Looking around, you realize that they are different in each direction.

What is this place? Salvatore asks Scarlett up ahead of you.

This is The Seasonal Forest, Scarlett calls over her shoulder. It is the convergence point of the four kingdoms.

You say that like we’re supposed to know what that means, you say, unable to take your eyes off the display of trees.

Not much farther up here, Scarlett directs, not bothering to acknowledge your statement. He is here.

Twisting in your guts sends a wave of nausea through you when you take in the sight of your dad lying on the ground, his body crystalline, as if made from glass.

Dad! Kalem calls out, rushing to where your dad lies.

You stand in shock, staring at your father lying there as Salvatore drops to his knees beside the strange form of your father.

What’s wrong with him? Salvatore asks, looking to Scarlett.

He has been petrified by the Winter Queen, Scarlett states, brushing her hand across your father’s forehead.

Standing with your feet rooted to the ground, the whole scene reminds you of something out of a Snow White fairytale. Scarlett’s red cloak is reminiscent of Red Riding Hood. Your gaze snaps to Salvatore’s, then Kalem’s, and you can tell they’re having the same revelations you are.

Where are we? you ask, dropping to your knees beside Salvatore. Is this some kind of fairytale land?

Scarlett’s brows dip down to form a scowl. I do not know what that means.

How do we un-petrify him? Salvatore asks.

You dread the answer.

To undo the spell, we must gather the three oak leaves and bring them here. One from each of the kingdoms of Winter, Autumn, and Summer, Scarlett says.

We’re definitely in a fairytale land, Kalem groans, rubbing his hands down his face.

We have until the next full moon to break the spell before it becomes permanent, Scarlett continues, ignoring Kalem’s commentary.

How long is that? you ask, glancing skyward, as if you could tell anything by looking up there.

One week, Scarlett says, her expression morphing from annoyance to concern.

Seven days, Kalem translates in a whisper.

We’re going to have to split up, Salvatore observes, looking at the forest around.

Scarlett nods her assent. I have supplies for each of us, she announces, pointing to three packs lined up just a few feet from where your father lies.

This is crazy, Salvatore whispers, sharing a concerned expression with each of you.

I know, but it’s real, you acknowledge, your gaze dropping to Dad’s frozen face.

Kalem lets out a deep sigh. We wanted to save Dad, now’s our chance, no matter how insane it sounds.

The three of you nod in agreement.

I’m guessing that way’s north? you ask Scarlett, pointing the direction where the trees are completely bare of leaves.

Yes, Scarlett says with a nod.

Alright, who wants to go which way? Salvatore asks.

You look around at all the trees and the seasons they each represent. Without knowing what lies beyond this forest, you have no idea what kind of obstacles are ahead.

I’ll take Winter, Salvatore announces when no one has chosen.

Rock, paper, scissors for Summer? you say to Kalem with a grimace. It seems to be the only fair way to determine who gets what.

You and Kalem count to three in unison, and you display your fist, representing rock. Kalem holds his hand flat to represent paper.

Autumn, it is, you announce, glancing to the bright reds and oranges on the trees. At least it isn’t winter. You’ve just come out of winter in Minnesota and don’t know how you’d make it through some crazy fairytale journey filled with more snow.

Here, Scarlett offers, handing a pack to each of the three of you.

What is in these things? you groan as you shift the weight of the pack on your shoulders.

Food, gold, and other supplies, Scarlett states, handing each of you a piece of a map. Each of the leaves are located in the castles.

You take the piece of parchment she offers and examine the drawing. Rivers, mountains, lakes, and a castle that looks to be ringed by a wall of some kind.

How will we know where the leaves are? Salvatore asks, looking down at his own piece of the map.

Scarlett shakes her head. I do not have that information for each of the kingdoms, I only know the location of the leaf in The Northern Kingdom. But the other guides may have more information.

Guides? you ask, glancing around.

Yes, Scarlett acknowledges with a nod. You will have Agostan to guide you, and Kalem will have Soren to guide him. I will be journeying to The Northern Kingdom with Salvatore. Scarlett gestures to a black cat and a horse who were not there moments before.

A cat? you ask doubtfully.

Yes, a cat, Agostan says, jumping onto your shoulder.

Holy crap! you shout, leaning away from the cat perched very close to your face. A talking cat.

Indeed, the cat says, lying across your shoulders and making himself altogether too comfortable.

Does my horse talk? Kalem asks excitedly.

No, Scarlett says with a smirk, handing Kalem the reins.

Oh, Kalem replies with an annoyed huff.

Wait, so he gets to ride a horse? We have to walk? you whine, glancing down at the map in your hands again and trying to calculate the distance based on the pictures.

He has to cross a desert, Scarlett points out. You do not.

Point taken, you say with a nod. Of all the seasons you could get, autumn was probably your favorite anyway. Summer and a desert? Not your favorite. Winter and snow? Absolutely not your favorite. Autumn was looking like a pretty good deal right about now.

Everyone stares at one another for a moment, the reality of the journey you are all about to embark on settling in. Without a word, you embrace each of your brothers, no words are necessary to express how dire the situation is and what’s at stake if even one of you fails to bring your respective oak leaves back.

Seven days, Scarlett reminds everyone as you each face your respective kingdoms and take the first steps of your journey.

Looks like I have to cross this river, The Western River, you say aloud as you head toward where the sun has just begun to dip in the western sky.

It is the only way to get into the Autumn Kingdom, Agostan, cat on your shoulder acknowledges.

Gah! you shout and jump back when you hear his voice. You had totally forgotten he was there.

The cat merely scoffs and rolls his eyes.

So, do you know which way is the best to go? you ask, craning your neck to peer into the fluffy black face beside yours.

There are two paths, Agostan says, then begins licking at his paw.

Okay... and which one is the better route to go? you ask, stopping in your tracks. It doesn’t make sense to keep walking if you don’t know which direction to head.

That, you must decide for yourself, the cat purrs, continuing his primping.

Do you recommend a path? you ask, gritting your teeth so you don’t lose it on the cat.

North of here along the river will lead you to a bridge to cross. South of here along the river will lead you to a ferry. You must choose the path, Agostan tells you cryptically.

I’m going to guess that you’re under some kind of spell where you can’t give me specific instructions, because if you’re just this difficult on purpose I might drop you into that river when we get to it, you tell the cat with a growl.

Agostan grins at you, but doesn’t answer.

Do you:

Head Southwest to the ferry across The Western River?

Head Northwest to the bridge across The Western River?

=========================

No way, man. That’s full-on extortion. You get someone down here in a vulnerable spot and then make them give you more money to get back up the other side. Nope. I’ll find my own way, you say, snatching the coin from the ferryman’s outstretched hand.

Suit yourself, the ferryman says with a shrug, slipping his foot into the rope’s loop.

Agostan leaps from your shoulder to the ferryman’s as he begins pulling himself up the cliff. You should have just paid the man, the cat calls.

Traitor, you grumble at the cat as you watch the ferryman ascend, coiling the rope over his arm as he goes so you can’t pull yourself up once he reaches the top. What a jerk.

Now you’ve got to find another way to the castle.

You pull the map from your pocket and study it for a moment, looking to see if there’s another way. You could always cross both rivers again and pull yourself up the other side of the canyon and make your way to the bridge to cross. But that would take a lot of time.

Or, you could try to take the raft down The Western River, where it looks like the river branches out into swampland. You figure that would definitely be easier to navigate than sheer cliffs.

Untying the raft from where the ferryman wound the rope around a jutting rock, you hop aboard the questionable vessel, determined to ride the river to a less vertigo-inducing crossing location.

The river quickly takes the raft downstream, the current more than you expected. You quickly drop to your knees as the raft rocks, and end up on your stomach, watching the river rush at you like some terrifying waterslide.

Whoa! you shout as the raft smashes into a large protruding rock. The impact jars you and nearly throws you off the raft, but you manage to keep your grip. Barely.

The raft bumps along the rock, eventually the current pushes you back into the flow of the river and you grit your teeth against the wild ride.

The current picks up speed and now you’re wondering if maybe you misread the map, maybe you missed some kind of waterfall along the way. White caps appear on the water around you as it churns over and around any number of unseen rocks below the river’s surface.

Faster and faster you speed along, the raft is getting tossed about with you on it like it’s just another piece of driftwood. The raft hits one too many jagged rocks and breaks to pieces, sending you hurtling into the rapids.

You struggle against the current, fighting toward the surface of the churning waters. You manage to gulp in a lungful of air before the current pulls you under again. Kick as you might, you can’t get yourself above water to get more air.

You drown.

No! you cry out, your eyes flying open. Confusion fills you as you take in the tree branches above you just budding out with leaves.

Sitting up, you look at the trees around you and the little stone well beside you. You scramble to your feet, patting your body frantically, looking for signs of the death you just experienced.

That’s messed up, you whisper. I’m alive, and I’m home.

You glance down the well, the pitch black swallowing any light that dares touch it.

Pondering for a moment, you wonder if it was all just a dream, but you can’t take that chance. Your brothers are still down there and your dad needs your help.

With a fortifying deep breath, you climb up on the edge of the well and push yourself down into the darkness.

Continue

Go Back

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I don’t have enough money for that, you say, turning back to the innkeeper while shaking your head. Thanks.

Well, the innkeeper says as you reach for the door. You look like a nice strong lad. I need help fixing the well tomorrow. I’ll let you stay the night here, and if you help me fix the well in the morning, I’ll give you your money back.

You bite your lip and weigh the coins in your pocket. There is a chance the innkeeper could stiff you on the money tomorrow if you don’t perform the task to his liking, but at least you would get a room tonight. Either way, if you stay, you’re spending your coin and getting a warm bed to sleep in.

Do you:

Agree to help the innkeeper fix the well in the morning?

Decide you don’t want to stay at the inn after all and continue on your journey?

Go Back

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I’m sorry, you tell the innkeeper with a shake of your head. You can keep the money, I’m not going down the well.

You said you would help fix the well, the innkeeper points out, jabbing a finger angrily toward the well.

"Yeah, I thought you meant like the outside of the well. You didn’t say anything about going inside the well," you tell him, backing away from the gathering crowd.

You are going back on our deal, the innkeeper says, his face growing redder by the moment.

I’m pretty sure you left a few details out, you counter, your gaze darting between the angry faces of the villagers.

In a sudden coordinated surge of movement, the villagers all come rushing toward you. Their faces angry and their shouts promising violence.

Turning on your heel, you run away from the mob of villagers as fast as you can. They chase you for a short distance, but many of them stop when you hit the foothills dotted with thorny shrubs and loose gravel which could send you tumbling down the hills with one misstep.

That didn’t go well, you pant out to Agostan as you glance over your shoulder a few minutes later. I didn’t expect them to turn rabid like that.

"What did you expect? The cat says from your shoulder. You went back on your word."

That innkeeper left out some pretty valuable information, you say, scoffing at the cat’s implication. "If he’d said he needed me to go down the well. I would have said no right away. Besides, it’s not like I stiffed him on the money for staying at the inn. He still got that."

With a frustrated snort, you tromp your way through the foothills, while at the same time trying to be careful that you don’t slip and slide your way to the bottom.

When you finally reach the bottom, you swallow around the dust gathered in your mouth and plunk down onto a nearby boulder, the shade of the trees before you inviting, but a few too many step away for your level of exhaustion.

Where do we go from here? you ask, reaching into your pocket for the map, but finding it empty.

You frown as you pat your pockets, finding them all empty. With a sigh, you drop your backpack to the ground at your feet and begin digging around inside, hoping against all hope that you didn’t lose the map between the village and here.

I just had it, you mumble to yourself as you dig through the contents of the pack.

After several minutes of digging, you must accept that the map is gone and there is no way you’re going trace your steps back to the village to look for it now.

Which way? you ask the cat, glancing around at the trees. "I think there was a