The warm breeze blew gently through the forest, whilst the rays on sun melted into the ground. Maleficent walked slowly through the forest relishing the calm weather, it was so much different to the stormy cloud ridden skies of her mother's fortress. Maleficent watched as the wind passed through the blossom trees creating a small wind of pink confetti. Maleficent jumped up to catch the blossom, her delicate wings allowing her to catch some of the petals effortlessly, Maleficent gazed at the petals in her hand,
"Help!" Maleficent's head snapped up in the direction of a sudden scream, dropping the petals she ran from the forest towards the sounds of strangled cries and pleas.
"Hello?" she called anxiously as she wandered into an empty meadow. Maleficent's wings stood on end and she quickly murmured the spells she knew, although many were just illusions and of no actual use to her.
"Hello? Is someone up there?" the voice called again, Maleficent looked down noticing what appeared to be an old well, and the wooden panels were broken. Maleficent carefully looked down and spotted a red headed girl who sat with one leg stretched out, she was covered in cuts and was extremely muddy and wet,
"yes" Maleficent whispered quite taken by the girl, she had never seen humans so close to her mother's fortress before. The girl slowly looked up, she smiled weakly as she met Maleficent's gaze.
"Please could you help me, I think I may have broken my ankle and I can't get out" she whispered, Maleficent nodded and quickly conjured a rope from the little magic she knew,
"Will this be ok?" she asked, the girl nodded knowing anything would be better than dying in a well. Maleficent lowered the rope and as soon as she felt the girl grab hold she began to pull backwards will all her strength, she smiled as she felt the girl begin to rise, Maleficent came closer as the girl grabbed onto the ledge and she held out her hand,
"Come on grab my hand" she shouted, the girl quickly grabbed her hand and Maleficent helped her to safety,
"Thank you" the girl whispered as she found her breath coming back to her, meanwhile Maleficent studied her ankle.
"Yes this definitely broken" Maleficent said ghosting her fingertips over the protruding bone, luckily it hadn't broken through the skin. The girl sighed,
"Where do you live I could take you back" Maleficent asked softly sitting close to the girl.
"I don't have a home, I live in the forest" The girl sighed, "Except now I can't even walk, yet live alone in this dangerous place" she gestured to her surroundings. Maleficent bit her lip as she considered her options
"Perhaps you could live with me?" she whispered, the girl looked up and smiled,
"But you've already been so kind" she said. Maleficent shrugged.
"I really don't mind, but what can I call you?" Maleficent began to help the girl up.
"Merla, call me Merla and thank you so much your too kind" The girl said. Maleficent nodded.
"That means Blackbird doesn't it?" she said with a smile, Merla grinned.
"Its something I remember my mother calling me". Maleficent nodded.
"Well I like it"