The long trek up the mountainside through the dense forest was almost too quiet for Eugene's comfort. What should have been filled with the sound of owls screeching and howling winds was instead vacant except for their breathing and Maximus' hooves. It was growing darker, and he pulled out the small lantern Rapunzel had brought. "We need to stay close to those tracks, Max."

Maximus whinnied a loud DUH! his direction and kept his eyes glued to the sleigh markings. As they rode farther on, he noticed that they began to sway and tilt slightly...

"...Eugene."
Rapunzel glanced back at him, worry on her face. He smiled at her and rubbed her hair. "I know what you're thinking."

"You do?"

"There's no need to worry. We're going to find Princess Anna and Queen Elsa before the kingdom freezes, I promise you."

"Oh, right, I know that, but, Eugene," she pointed down at the snow, "I'm more worried about those."

He followed her finger and spotted tracks beside the sleigh's rushing up the mountainside. "...Are those..."

He soon heard his answer. From ahead of them in the darkness loud howls echoed off the tree branches, shaking loose snow. Maximus slowed to a halt and perked his ears up, listening in all directions. Eugene shone the lamp around, straining to see. "Just what we need, a wolf welcoming committee."

Shuffling became louder in front of them. "Maximus," Rapunzel pat his neck hard, "turn and run, now! We don't have time to deal with wolves!"

Maximus reared his head and ran off to the right past walls of evergreens. It wasn't long before Eugene could look over his shoulder and see a pack of wolves on their heels. "They sure don't look too happy!"

"You don't think they got Anna and her friend, do you?!"

"I doubt it, or they probably wouldn't be trying to eat us!"

Maximus leapt over a log and raced onwards, trying to lose the pack among the trees. "We can lose them," Rapunzel convinced herself, "we can lose-?!"

For a split second she felt herself float, and then hit the ground hard on her side, Eugene beside her. She painfully stood up and glanced back to find Maximus in the snow. "Maximus!"

Eugene stood as Maximus rose on all fours and shook out the snow from his mane. "Of all times you chose now to trip?!"

"Forget it," Rapunzel urged, "we have to leave!"

The wolves were faster. They quickly circled the three of them, creating a barrier. Eugene and Rapunzel pulled out their skillets and held them out front as Maximus gave a low growl. "This is crazy," she whispered to herself.

Eugene did his best to keep an eye on Rapunzel and the wolves near him. He noted the slightly singed fur on the left one. Don't tell me Anna did that? "Rapunzel, when I say run, run."

"What?"

"Get ready!" Eugene ran at the nearest wolf, and in one fateful leap, flew over its head and zipped into the trees, still carrying the lamp. "RUN!"

"But-!" Rapunzel didn't know how to fully react, so she found her feet stumbling over each other as she ran off in the opposite direction, the wolves distracted. She heard their breathing nearby and lunged behind every tree, careful not to let go of her skillet.

Why did I do this?!

Eugene ran faster than he had ever before, but he knew it wouldn't last long. It's time to put my frying pan skills to the test!

He managed to reach a large trunk, and slipped behind it. Just as the nearest wolf was about to turn and bite into him, he whipped his frying pan out, smacking it square in the face. It fell into the snow with a soft thunk!

"Yeah!" He swung his pan around again and heard a satisfying thunk! As the other wolf fell down beside its partner. "Oh, that is what I'm talking about!"

"Eugene!"

"Rapunzel!" He raced back towards the sound of her voice. Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay!

Just as he reached her location he heard a loud swack! Come from around a bend, and hopped over to find a wolf on the ground beside Rapunzel, who was holding a shaky pan and breathing heavily. She grinned and did a small jump of joy. "I did it!"

Another wolf loomed near her, though, and Eugene readied his pan – only to be interrupted by the sound of howling from behind him.

...Maximus!

The wolf stopped and turned back before treading past Eugene towards the sound. The other wolf steadied itself and followed closely. "Come on, Eugene," Rapunzel grabbed his hand and dragged him on, "we have to find Maximus!"

Soon they found Maximus, but he wasn't in as much trouble as they had thought. He and the wolf with the singed fur were circling one another as the rest of the pack watched. "That must be the leader," Eugene pointed out, "so...wait a minute."

"What?"

"Don't tell me..."

The pack leader growled and snapped at the air. Maximus growled in response and dug his hooves into the snow.

"Eugene...what's Maximus doing?"

Eugene held Rapunzel back. "...He's challenged the leader's power in the pack. They're going to fight to see who'll be leader."

"What?!" Rapunzel gawked. "No! We can take them!"

"Even if we hit them down they'll just get back up. We can't escape."

"Maximus!" Rapunzel called to him. "Maximus, stop, please!"

Maximus didn't listen. He kept his focus on the wolf leader, who was baring its teeth.

Just because he's Captain of the Guards doesn't mean he needs to do this!

"Eugene, stop him!"

"I can't."

"Why not!"

Eugene stepped towards the two, but the other wolves blocked their way and barked. "If we interfere, we'll be chew toys for his buddies."

Rapunzel stood and gripped her skillet so hard she felt it imprinting on her gloves.

If we don't hurry we'll never catch up to Anna and her friend...and if Maximus makes one wrong move, we'll all be eaten alive, and the kingdom of Arendelle may be frozen forever!