Prince Phillip and the jackalope

Once upon a time, there was a prince named Phillip.
Phillip was a happy boy, always eager to ride his horse around the castle. His father had only one rule when it came to Phillip's riding: never go into the forest.
For behind the castle was a huge forest, where all kinds of not too friendly creatures lived.
Each day while Phillip was out riding, he would pause at the fork in the path that led to the forest.
He would look toward the forest, at the wildflowers that grew at its edge.
Then he would remember his father's rule, and take the left path back toward the castle.
In the middle of March, on a bright, sunny day, Phillip and his father had a fight.
Angry, Phillip stormed out of the castle. He leaped onto his horse and galloped out the gate.
His horse charged down the path, hooves kicking up dirt.
When he came to the fork, Phillip didn't remember his father's rule.
Down the right path his horse went, toward the forest.
The wildflowers at the edge were soon left behind, and the forest grew darker and darker.
Something darted in front of Phillip's horse, and the creature reared.
Phillip fell, and his horse ran.
Alone, Phillip got to his feet and looked around.
The forest didn't look very nice. Not like the wildflowers.
Phillip started walking down the path, though he didn't know if it was toward the castle or deeper into the forest.
After a while, Phillip saw something ahead on the path.
It was a yellow rabbit, with horns on its head.
As Phillip got closer, the rabbit looked up.
"Oh great, a human boy." The rabbit said, a note of disdain in its high voice.
"You can talk!" Phillip couldn't believe it. A talking rabbit!
The rabbit shook its head, eyes narrowing in a glare. "Of course I can. All jackalopes can."
The jackalope turned to hop off the path, and Phillip's heart pounded.
"Wait, don't go!" Phillip cried, and the jackalope paused.
"What?"
"Can you help me get home?" Phillip asked. The jackalope tapped its foot on the ground, and studied Phillip.
"Why should I help you? Helping a human could get me eaten."
"Please?"
The jackalope gave a great sigh. "Fine, silly human. Come on."
With that, the jackalope darted into the trees.
Phillip chased after the jackalope, scrambling to keep it in sight.
On they ran, with the jackalope always on the verge of getting out of Phillip's view.
Finally, the jackalope stopped at the base of a small mound.
Phillip looked around. Nothing looked familiar. He wasn't even sure which way the path was anymore!
"Where are we?" Phillip asked.
The jackalope looked up at him. "The home of Theresa the jackalope, and of her pet: the human boy."
The jackalope gave one thump of its foot, and the ground beneath Phillip opened.
Phillip fell into the burrow below, and the after Theresa the jackalope jumped down, hole snapped closed like a mouth.
And though Phillip's father and all his knights searched the forest, Prince Phillip was never seen again.