Life changed quickly for Hansel, Gretel, and Katrina. Upon returning to his shop, Hansel found it bustling once again. Whenever he'd hear the murmurs of the once praised Katrina, he'd smile to himself. More than his baking, his orchestration of her downfall was his most outstanding achievement, and Hansel basked in it every chance he got. When people asked about the ordeal, he'd embellish the story by making her townsfolk fear her and twisting her beautiful appearance to one of horrible disfiguration. Before long, a hunched old woman with a crooked nose and pallid complexing that gave off a greenish sheen replaced the image of young Katrina.

Katrina herself couldn't dissuade the rumors. Soon her town suffered for being the village that harbored a witch. Katrina couldn't watch her beloved neighbors and friends suffer because of her notoriety, so she left. Knowing no town would prosper with her presence, she traveled deep into the woods and lived in a small hut isolated from the world that had once cherished her so much. The only thing Hansel couldn't take from her were her recipes. Day after day, Katrina would bake her treats and share them with the forest animals that ventured to her area.

Perhaps the worst fate of all was given upon Ewan and his small family. Ewan was determined to make his new life with Gretel work, but she was less than pleased when the well-to-do man she met in a pub turned out to be nothing more than a simple woodcutter. Ewan had been in town to visit the bank, hoping that his meager belongings would afford him a loan to aid in his children's costs. But, his small earning was not enough. He had been drowning his guilt in presents for his children and drink for his mind when Gretel found him and grossly misinterpreted his means.

When Ewan brought Gretal home to his small house on the edge of the woods, anger flared from deep within her. With nowhere else for the fury to land, Gretal focused it on the children. With each meal and each new piece of needed clothing, Gretel's resentment grew. The children were taking all the rewards of her new husband's hard work, and he seemed to enjoy spoiling them. Like her brother, she knew she needed a plan.

As she lay in their lumpy bed one night, she put her plan into motion.

"My love, now that you're married and have more stability, perhaps you should return to the bank and request a loan again," she cooed from beside him.

"No, they'll just see it as one more mouth to feed," Hansel murmured before kissing the top of her head. "We have a family filled with love. We'll need to be careful, but we can make do. I'm just so grateful that my children have a mother once again."

Gretel swallowed back her annoyance at her husband's optimism. "My family name holds weight. My brother is a noted baker. You should try. Think of how happy the children will be if you don't have to work as hard. They'd have their father back."

Ewan thought for a moment. "Perhaps you're right. I'll think about it."

"No, the summer sun is growing short. It'd be best if you go now before the chill of the winter sets in," Gretel urged.

Ewan inspected the urgency in her face. With unfailing optimism, he whispered, "you're sweet to care for the children so fiercely. I'll leave tomorrow."

"Thank you, my love. We'll miss you." Gretel didn't bother to stifle her satisfied smile. Instead, she rolled away from her husband to shield her delight.

Ewan set off early the following day, hoping to travel ahead of the height of the sun. Maggie and Jacob saw him off, pleading with him not to leave them alone with Gretal.

"Now, children, your mother loves you. She'll take good care of you in my absence," Ewan soothed as he cupped Maggie's pleading face.

Maggie and Jacob knew that arguing would be futile. Optimism blinded Ewan concerning Gretel, and the children didn't want to shatter their beloved father's happiness.

"Yes, father," Jacob murmured, unable to muster much optimism for himself.

As Ewan set off on his journey, the children hurried around the kitchen preparing breakfast for Gretal, hoping the forethought would put her in a better mood.

"Children, have you just been lounging around all morning?" Gretal chided when she entered the kitchen, her voice still raspy from sleep.

"No, ma'am, we've made you breakfast," Jacob offered her a plate of small pancakes and a cup of tea.

"Plain pancakes! Why I never; where's the jam?" Gretal exclaimed as a bubbling erupted from within her as her plan unfolded.

"Sorry, mother, we've no jam," Maggie mournfully noted.

"No jam. Are we not in a forest? Today we shall go find berries so you can make jam for tomorrow's breakfast."

"Yes, ma'am," Jacob and Maggie said in unison.

The children grew suspicious when Gretel insisted on joining them in their foraging. Gretel was not one for chores. It wasn't long before they arrive at the nearby berry bushes that Jacob and Maggie knew well.

"No, no, no; these berries are too sour. We must look for other berries to ensure the jam is sweet," Gretal directed.

They traveled deeper and deeper into the forest until they found another cluster of bushes.

"Ah, these berries are much sweeter," Gretal announced. "Now get to picking while I look if there are any others nearby."

The children picked the berries as Gretal traveled back into the woods. Hours later, all the berries had been picked, but Gretal still hadn't returned.

"Jacob, it's getting dark; do you think Gretal has forgotten us?" Maggie's eyes were wide with fear.

"No, sister; she must just be lost like us. We traveled so deep into the woods."

"Should we go searching for her?"

"No," Jacob settled into the soft moss that carpeted the forest floor. "Father always says, 'if we get lost in the woods, stay put, and he'll find us.'"

Maggie nodded in agreement and settled into the moss beside her brother. As the sunset around them, they huddled together for warmth, soon falling asleep.