Bearclaw Valley on the nature of daylight

He was expecting a tale about how a horrid beast had leaped out of the bushes and tried to take Merrick's pelt, knocking him down in the process. He was expecting the boy to spin an imaginative yarn that would free him from feeling silly for tripping himself, as was evidently the case. Lucas was even prepared to accept such a story with all the appropriate exclamations and faith, but instead, Merrick just claimed that he fell. The boy's voice was so sad that even Lucas, who was normally so cheery and easygoing, felt his ears wilt back.

"Hey, thas okay," he crooned down to his cousin's dark head when Merrick leaned against his leg. He didn't know much about younger pups, being only four months old himself and lacking exposure, but he found in himself the instinct to lean down and swipe his tongue across the boy's head, hoping to comfort him. "I still fall lots too. Do you wanna know how I feel better?" There was a twinkle to his eye as he said it.