“Isn’t this exhilarating?!” Flair calls to her two partners in crime as they dash through the forest. The satchel containing the lost princess’s tiara sits comfortably across Flair’s shoulders. Now all she has to do is lose these two.

Up ahead, a small cliff blocks their way forward. Flavor can hear the beat of the royal horses behind them, slowly catching up. This is her chance. She turns to her comrades, mustering all the false panic and concern she can.

“We need to get up there! Boost me up, and I’ll pull you guys.”

The two of them glance at each other suspiciously, but the sound of hoofs against dirt is growing louder by the second. There’s just no time.

The taller one sighs, reluctantly helping Flair shimmy her way over the ledge. Once she’s up there, he turns around, his voice low and gruff.

“Now help us up.”

But Flair was already gone, satchel slung across her body as she listens to her partners’ enraged cries slowly fade into the distance. But she wasn’t safe just yet. The tiara is still gone. The royal guard will still be after her. She needs to find someplace to hide.

Flair slows down when she comes to a clearer patch of the woods. She glances around, searching for some refuge when she spots what looks to be a tunnel. Its entrance is covered with vines, making it harder to spot. It’s perfect.

As Flair brushes away the vines and steps through the tunnel, she’s gobsmacked by what she sees.

A tower, tall enough to rival the palace, and seemingly abandoned. The perfect shelter. Flair just needs to find a way in. After walking around the entire perimeter, she determines there’s no door, meaning she’ll have to climb.

The climb is long and arduous, but Flair manages to make it inside the tower. Her legs nearly give out the second they touch the floor, but she manages to hold herself up. She scans the space before her. It’s small, cozy, but Flair isn’t looking for a motel suite right now, so it works.

She takes a step forward to further explore when a clang sounds through the air. A frying pan cracks Flair on the back of the head, knocking her clean out.

              °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Flair wakes up with a splitting headache. She drowsily lifts her head, groaning when the movement sends a fresh wash of pain over her. The events of the past hour rush back to her as she takes in her surroundings. She’s tied to a chair, her wrists and ankles bound with…is that…hair?