Tangled!

The quiet moment by the river was short-lived.

The clanking of armor grew louder as the royal guards moved through the trees, their torches flickering against the darkened sky. Eugene and Rapunzel exchanged a look, their breath still heavy from the ordeal in the water. There was no time to waste.

"We need to move," Eugene whispered, his voice tense but steady.

Rapunzel nodded, pushing herself up from the tree trunk. Her limbs ached, her muscles protested, but adrenaline surged through her veins. They had come too far to be caught now.

Eugene scanned the area, his sharp eyes catching a narrow, overgrown path leading deeper into the woods. "This way," he murmured, taking her hand and guiding her carefully through the dense foliage.

They moved swiftly, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. The sounds of the river faded behind them as the towering trees swallowed them whole. The air was thick with the scent of moss and pine, and the occasional hoot of an owl punctuated the silence.

"Are they still following us?" Rapunzel whispered, glancing back.

Eugene shook his head. "Not yet. The river threw them off, but we can't stay here long. They'll fan out soon."

Rapunzel swallowed hard, gripping his hand tighter as they pressed forward.

Suddenly, a branch snapped behind them.

They froze. Rapunzel's heart hammered in her chest as she strained to listen. Footsteps, soft but deliberate, were approaching from behind. Someone was there.

Eugene tugged her down behind a thicket of ferns, pressing a finger to his lips. The flickering glow of a torch cast eerie shadows through the trees, illuminating a familiar figure.

Mother Gothel.

She moved with purpose, her hooded cloak billowing as she strode through the underbrush, eyes scanning the darkness. The dagger at her side gleamed ominously in the torchlight. Rapunzel sucked in a quiet breath, her mind racing.

Eugene leaned in, his voice barely a whisper. "We need to get out of here. Now."

Rapunzel hesitated, her stomach twisting. Seeing Gothel here, hunting for her, sent a chill down her spine. This was no longer just about running from the guards. Gothel wasn't going to let her go. Not without a fight.

As if sensing their presence, Gothel suddenly paused, her gaze sweeping dangerously close to where they hid. For one agonizing moment, it seemed like she would find them.

Then, a distant whistle echoed through the trees. The sound of guards calling to one another.

Gothel's expression darkened. With one last glance around, she turned and melted into the shadows, moving swiftly toward the voices.

Eugene let out a slow breath. "That was too close."

Rapunzel nodded, her hands trembling. "She's looking for me."

He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Then we make sure she doesn't find you."

Gathering her resolve, Rapunzel exhaled sharply and straightened. "We need to keep moving."

Eugene grinned despite the tension. "That's the spirit."

Together, they slipped deeper into the forest, the night stretching ahead of them like an uncertain road. But no matter what lay ahead, they would face it together.