Merida POV

I drew the string of the bow back, the notch of the arrow resting against my pale cheek, spattered with small, red freckles. I shut an eye and took a deep breath, preparing to loose an arrow when a bright head of short, curly red hair popped up in front of the target. Frightened, I shot the arrow into the sky, and it soared above my head, into the vast forest that lay just beyond the property.

"Hamish, you wee devil!" I said, frustrated. "I thought I told you not to stand in front of the targets when I'm practicing my archery."

The young boy giggled and disappeared again, hiding behind one of the many trees that dotted our large property. I was the oldest of four children. I had three younger brothers, triplets actually, and the four of us never stopped getting into trouble. To complete my family, there was my mum and dad.

My dad encourages my wild and free spirit, us being very similar in temperament and ideals. My mother, I felt was the complete opposite. She would much rather that I grow up and become a proper lady than a world-class archer. I love her, but she tries too hard to try and make me into something I'm not, and it often caused intense quarrels between us.

"Harris, Hubert. I know you're hiding in the bush." I called. Two identical heads popped up from behind the target, giggling.

I rolled my eyes and placed my bow on the ground. I needed to go find that arrow I had shot into the forest. I only had a dozen with real arrowheads, and I didn't want to lose any. Not that I couldn't buy more, but these were sentimental. They were the first set of real arrows my father had ever given me.

I set foot towards the forest, the damp March air cooling me off as I continued searching for the missing arrow. I wrapped my light blue jacket around my shoulders tighter, trying to block out the brisk wind that had picked up suddenly.

I traveled a little further into the woods, searching the ground for a glint of shining metal. I went only a few paces forwards before I found it, it's polished shaft shining in the rare ray of light that had managed to break past the dense foliage of the trees.

I picked it up gently and began making my way back to our property, which backed onto the vast forest. I knew that if I took any longer, the boys would take it upon themselves to try and shoot my bow. I had promised them lessons this afternoon, and they would be holding me to my word.

Grasping the arrow tightly, I trekked through the trees, easily finding my way out of the forest. I broke out of the dense treeline and back into the yard, where, true to my suspicions, the boys were trying to notch an arrow on my precious bow.

"Oi!" I called, startling the three of them. "What do you think you're doing?"

The boys froze and dropped the bow and arrow, hiding their hands behind their backs. They grinned innocently, but I knew better than to trust the mischievous glint in their eyes.

I sighed. "I told you I'd teach you this afternoon."

I bent and scooped up my bow, checking to make sure no damage was done to it's fragile frame. I nearly dropped it when an eruption sounded off in the distance.

The boys all jumped, as did I, at the sudden sound. It was very loud, and resonated through the courtyard, echoing through the vast fields that surrounded us. The blast scared the boys, and they came running to my side, hiding in the folds of my clothes.

"Come on boys." I told them bravely, trying not to sound worried for their sake. "Time to go inside."

I turned and they followed, not bothering to pack up the targets strewn about our yard. I didn't search for the source of the sound, I only knew we needed to get inside, and quickly. We had only walked a few steps before I felt a tug on my jacket, pulling my attention down to a startled Hamish.

"What is it, Hamish?" I asked, a little impatient for us to get inside.

With wide eyes and a shaking hand, he pointed to the sky above our house. Harris and Hubert squealed when they saw what lay ahead.

A translucent wave of purple energy was making it's way towards us, crackling, and looming over us menacingly. I couldn't find any words to say, I could only gape at the monstrosity that advanced towards us. I froze for a moment, before my instincts kicked in and I reacted.

I grabbed the tiny hands of my brothers, and ran towards the forest, hopefully seeking shelter in the trees. For their credit, the boys remained relatively calm. I myself, tried to hold back my own fear, and remain steady and collected for both their sake and my own.

I looked behind us, and knew that the wave was already fast approaching, and that we wouldn't make it to the forest in time. With wide eyes, I crouched down and calmed my brothers, who looked to me, desperate for reassurance.

"Don't worry." I told them. "We'll be fine."

They huddled in closer to me, and I wrapped my arms around them quickly, desperately hoping for a way to get out of this situation. Seeing none, my head whipped over my shoulder, only to see the wave of purple sweeping over our house, tossing loose bricks and rubble into the air. It came closer to our location, and I turned back to my brothers, who had their eyes clenched shut with their faces buried into my arms.

"It'll be alright." I told them quickly. "We'll be fine."

It was the last thing I said to them as the wave of crackling purple washed over us. The world turned a blinding white, and I couldn't see anything. My brothers disappeared from sight, as did everything else around us. I felt a quick shock of pain and for a moment, I felt panicked, until I became incredibly weak. My arms and legs wouldn't move, and then my body. Soon, the world began to fade into black, and I began to lose my senses one by one.

I could hear my brothers, each of them saying my name in halting tones, as they shook my shoulders. I wished I could have answered, but could only lay there, with my eyes shut, and fall into a dark pit of deep sleep.