I'm Not Freaking Out (Merida)

[FLYNN EUGENE RIDER]

Wandering through the forest was one of Flynn's favorite things to do. He actually had quite the memory and rarely struggled with his location when he was there. Normally he could manage without a map, but tended to carry one with him on the off chance that he did get lost. He felt fairly confident that within the next week he'd be able to start exploring the Dark Forest. Sure, he'd been warned that it was dangerous and he shouldn't go there, but where was the excitement in that?! Flynn wasn't one to sit around in the security of his own cottage. Not when he could be off having daring and exciting adventures. 

However, today something was a little different. The moment Flynn entered the forest, he noticed it, though he didn't know what it was exactly. He decided to wander a while, hoping to discover whatever it was. At least it made his day more interesting than normal. As he wandered through the trees, Flynn paid close attention to where he was stepping and to everything around him. Nothing, so far. 

Then, he heard a sharp "twang" sound. What in the world? He carefully and quietly made his way through the brush, towards the sound. All he saw was something red. Was someone here? What were they doing in the forest all on their own? After a moment, he stepped out of the bush. "Sorry to interrupt you," he started, pausing when he saw the young woman in front of him with a bow.

MERIDA LIAN DUNBAR

[MERIDA LIAN DUNBAR]

Merida was so glad there was a forest nearby. She would have lost her mind if she only had the town and the beach to visit. The forest just felt much more homie to her, along with any other area that was lush and green. The forest, however, was special because she found amazing wood to make a bow and arrows with - after some building instructions from the blacksmith. She was careful to not harm any tree too badly when making her weaponry, but, alas, wood had to come from somewhere. She made sure to thank the trees profusely.

So, here she was practicing her aim. She wasn't sure what drew her to archery, but Henry had introduced her to it and she had taken an immediate shine to it. She was good at it, and she liked the feeling. She was just here shooting random things, targets she had made and falling leaves when she heard someone. She spun around and a man stepped out of a bush, her arrow pointed right at him. She narrowed her eyes, "do yeh always follow people around like that?" her accent was heavy, as usual.

FLYNN EUGENE RIDER

[FLYNN EUGENE RIDER]

Flynn held his hands up instantly, a gesture that he wasn't trying to attack or anything, when he saw an arrow pointed directly at him. He offered an easygoing smile, trying to put the young woman at ease. "Hey, calm down there," he answered calmly. "I wasn't following you. I explore these parts to make maps and heard something different so I came to see what it was. Never thought I'd run into a girl with an arrow." He lowered his hands, assuming she'd relax now that he'd explained himself a bit. "What brings you all the way out here? Are you practicing or hunting ...?" He trailed off a bit, curious to see what the young girl would say. He glanced around the area, not really noticing anything noteworthy or anyone else there. Huh, so she was out here on her own. Brave of her. Most people from the village wouldn't dare step in the forest unless they had someone with them. At least, that's what he always thought. Maybe some of them were braver than he expected.

MERIDA LIAN DUNBAR

[MERIDA LIAN DUNBAR]

Merida kept her arrow and boy up as he gestured in surrender. He smiled, and her eyes narrowed even more. He told her to 'calm down', which of course made her lips purse harder in judgement against him. He said he wasn't following her, but that he was there to make maps. Well... she did like maps. She preferred to explore without them, of course, but they were always handy. He said he didn't expect to run into a girl with an arrow, lowering his hands. Oh, he was comfortable now? She raised an eyebrow again, challenging his confidence. He asked what brought her out there and she took a step back, but kept her arrow pointed at him. What? It was fun.

"Practicin' shooting in general," she answered, "show me one of yer maps then. To prove you ain't a liar," she challenged, nodding toward him to signify that he should find said map now.

FLYNN EUGENE RIDER

[FLYNN EUGENE RIDER]

Well, this girl was definitely the defensive type. Either that or she just didn't like other people being in her space or surprising her. Flynn could understand that, but the fact that after all his explanations she still had her bow and arrow pointed at him meant that she was definitely the suspicious type. Even his smile wasn't helping! What was this? Ugh, this was why little girls should stay in school instead of wandering around in his forest. She didn't say anything for the longest while and Flynn waited. In all honesty, there wasn't much else he could do, unless he wanted to let the jumpy girl shoot him with her arrow. That was not on his list of things to do today. 

She said she was practicing shooting and he smiled. "What were you shooting ... before I came and surprised you?" he asked curiously. Had she already shot an arrow somewhere? He glanced around, but couldn't see any. "No worries," he answered when she asked to see a map. "Here you go," he pulled one out of the satchel at his waist, holding it out for her to take if she wanted to. This was a map of how to get to Whitebridge from some places deep in the forest. She probably hadn't been that far in. "Do you want me to show you where we are now?" he asked, hoping that offering to help her read it would help her calm down a little.

MERIDA LIAN DUNBAR