The air was cold along the water. Merida pulled her cloak around her more tightly and squinted around at the pebbly beach.

"I know I saw it come this way..." she muttered to herself.

She began to wonder if she shouldn't give it up and head home for a nice hot cup of posset to chase away this runny nose she was developing. But then, it was odd to see a will o' the wisp near the beach. They usually favored boggy areas and forests. She couldn't resist her own curiosity. Why was it all the way down here?

"Ah!" She broke out into a run as she saw a flash of blue up ahead near some rocks. Of course, by the time she reached the rocks the wisp was gone. Letting out a long 'auch' of annoyance, she turned, intending to go have her posset. She stopped when she heard a dull splash from nearby. She cautiously stepped closer, peeking around the rocks.

"Zounds!" Merida exclaimed, jumping back in surprise. After a moment she leaned around the rock again for another look. There, lying in the shallow water, was a young woman with blue hair and a fish's tail in place of legs. The creature sighed.

"Look, I know it's shocking and all that, but are you going to stare all day, or can you help me?"

"It speaks!"

The mermaid rolled her eyes. "Yes, it speaks. Can you?"

"I- I, uh..." Merida stammered. "You say you need help?"

"Yes. In case you hadn't noticed, these rocks are in my way. I can't manuever well enough to get past them and back out into the open sea."

"Well, how'd you get there then?"

"There was a storm last night and I was thrown here by the waves."

"Oh, aye! I remember, it was a real howler."

"Yes, so can you help me?"

Merida took a moment to take in the situation. The mermaid was in a shallow pool nearly surrounded by large rocks. The few spaces between them were rather small. Merida might be able to squeeze through them, but only standing and this creature obviously could not stand.

"Well, it looks like I'd have to lift you. I'm not sure I can. You're bigger than I am. Won't the high tide get you out?"

"I can't just sit around here all day! I have things to do!"

Merida scoffed in mild offense. "Well, alright. There's no sense getting excited. Look, this rock's a bit flatter than the others. Maybe I can drag you out."

"Worth a try I suppose."

Merida hesitated a moment, then set her bow and quiver on the beach alongside her cloak to keep them out of the way. She shivered in the breeze, then steeled herself and began climbing around to the flat rock on the far side of the mermaid. When she'd gotten her footing on the flattest of the rocks, she reached down toward the mermaid.

"Right, give me your hands."

Holding tight, Merida pulled back with all her strength. The mermaid cried out as she was dragged across the pebbles, but her grip didn't waver. Merida managed to pull the mermaid to the base of the rock before they both let go with a big sigh of expended effort.

After a moment of panting, Merida asked. "Alright, mermaid, can you reach the edge of the rock here to pull yourself out?"

The mermaid glared. "My name is Felicia." she squirmed forward a bit and reached past Merida toward the edge of the stone. "And no, I can't reach."

"Alright, then we go again, yeah?"

They linked hands again and Merida pulled with all her might. This time, she was able to drag Felicia part of the way onto the rock. Now, Felicia could reach and she eagerly pulled herself up and over the stone. Merida jumped out of her way with a little squeak.

"Oy! You might have asked me to move first!"

"Sorry," Felicia said as she squirmed toward deeper water like a seal. "I got excited." She paused and smiled over her shoulder at the princess, who was wringing out the now-soaked hem of her skirt. "Thank you. You may have saved my life. I won't forget it! What is your name?"

"Merida."

"Do you do a lot of sailing, Merida?"

"Um, some I suppose."

"Well, any time you're out at sea, wear this." Felicia removed a broach from her top and tossed it to the red head. "My people will recognize it, and if anything should happen, they'll help you."

"Oh!" Merida looked the gift over with awe. "Thank you! I'll remember. Take care now, aye?"

Felicia smiled, gave a nod, and hurried into the sea. Merida pinned the broach to her dress for safe-keeping, then went ashore to collect her belongings. She gladly wrapped herself in the cloak once more and hurried home to have a nice cup of posset by the fire.