Merida's Wild Ride

It was a soggy, stormy afternoon. Merida sat in the stables reading from

an old book of Highlands tales. She and her horse, Angus, wanted to go for a ride. If only the weather would clear up .

"Look, right there,"

" Merida said. "Magical horses. That

one there is called a kelpie. It's a water horse."

Angus snorted, shaking his head. It was clear that he wanted nothing to do with magic, especially after their last encounter.

The raindrops slowed and the clouds scattered.

"Come, lad," said Merida to Angus. 

"The sun's breaking through.

Let's go for a ride."

They galloped across the bridge and down the hill.

Just as they reached the woods, a flash of gray caught Merida's eye. "What was that?"

But Angus didn't want to follow-whatever it was.

"Don't be a ninny," Merida chided him. "I'm sure it's not a bear

Merida guided Angus to a clearing. In it stood a magnificent gray horse. Its coat shimmered. Its mane was like fine silk.

Breathless with excitement, Merida whispered to Angus, "I know that horse is magical."

The horse lowered its head as Merida approached.

Suddenly, Angus blocked Merida's path.

"Angus," she called, "don't be jealous, lad! This horse must be lost.

We need to help it—make sure it's safe."

Merida talked to the gray horse, and it responded with a soft whinny.

She showed the horse that she was not dangerous, that she was a friend. She was excited to encounter a magical horse.

Merida swung onto its back. She didn't have a bridle, but she knew she could guide the horse with her hands wrapped in its mane. The horse bolted, but Merida wasn't frightened. She had been around horses all her life.

Merida tried to calm the horse. But it ran on. They were headed toward a large loch—a deep, dangerous lake.

Why did it seem as if her hands were stuck in the horse's mane?

Were they entangled in its hair?

The horse brushed against a tree, and trapped rainwater fell down on Merida. Effortlessly, one of her hands came free.

Ahead, a bridle hung from a tree. Merida stretched to reach it as they passed, but it was just beyond her fingertips. "Angus, help! The bridle!" she called.