In the original story, Hansel and Gretel are sent into the forest by their father and stepmother, who cannot afford to feed them, but they find their way home using a trail of white pebbles that Hansel has left. However, the next time they are sent into the forest, Hansel cannot leave a trail and they become lost, eventually coming upon a house made entirely of confectionery, which belongs to an evil witch who wants to eat the children.