Merida was taking Angus out for a ride, following her usual path to the King's Thumb. It was soon going to be sunset and she wanted to drink from the Fire Falls as it had become quite the tradition for her and Angus to perform this ritual every day.
Her breath came out in small puffs as the cold, winter air settled around her. She pulls Angus to a stop at the cliff and dismounts. Her fur boots making indentations in the fresh snow. She begins to walk towards the large, stone structure when she gets hit by a cold, wet snowball. She quickly nocks an arrow and spins around, knowing exactly who she was looking for.
"Jack! Get ye'r wee arse out here bef'r I stick an arrow in ye'" She says angrily into the growing darkness. Laughter emerges from a tree above her and the pale boy flips out of the branch and lands in a cat-like position.
"Aw, cheer up Mer. Just a bit of fun." Jack stands up and leans on his staff. His blue eyes staring into hers.
" 'Scuse me if I don't want a cold back!" Merida snaps back, though her eyes twinkle with laughter as both teens lose it and begin cracking up. Wiping tears out of thier eyes a silence falls over them. Jack coughs awkwardly and Merida turns away from him and grips the rock. She begins to climb when she feels the back of her dress move and a cold slush is suddenly in contact with her skin.
"That' it! Come here Guardia'!" She unlatches herself from the rock face and drops to the ground. She charges toward Jack who dances backwards from the angry archer. Merida was just getting close when a man on a horse pulls up.
"Princess Merida! An urgent message from the Kingdom of Berk!" The messenger says urgentley. Merida and Jack exchange a worried look as Merida approaches the rider.
"Give it 'er then." Merida takes the letter and opens it. Jack watches as she reads the letter, Merida's face slowly pales. She looks at Jack, tears forming in her eyes.
"Hiccup's mum is dyin', he wants us t' come and support 'im. Mind givin' me a lift?" Merida askes shakily. Jack nods silently. They both knew how hard it was for Hiccup when he lost his dad, and losing his mother was going to kill him. Merida handed Angus's reins to the messager with instructions on his feed and watering. She then hiked up the skirt of her dress and climbed onto Jack piggyback style.
"You ready, Princess?" Jack asked, without waiting for an answer he takes a running leap off the cliff. Merida tightens her grip on him as the wind begins to carry them off, toward the Island of Berk.