Merala's family were farmers, and they moved to Bree when she was just a baby.  She was an only child.  They had a farm just outside the city.  A few years ago, her mother died from an illness, and just a short while ago, her father, and a hobbit that was taking her for walks died together in an accident.

While she has many relations in the Shire, none are close enough to insist that she move in with them, besides, they think to themselves, she is old enough to take care of herself.

The past season, since her father died, has found Merala wandering a bit, staying with different relatives for a short time before moving on.  She recently sold her part of the farm in Bree (with all the debts owed, she was lucky to break even).  So now she is essentially homeless.

While taking one of her walks in the Shire, something happened that changed her life...

Now she jumps at every shadow.  She has dreams of being a chicken, running away from wolves.