Lost Creek Hollow To protect you

treason's comment was praise enough for merrick: the recognition that he was not another dumb suckling whining for scraps. he was not a boy; he deserved a rank to reflect that. and he relished very much the chance to prove that to her, and to all of the hollow. 
after all, he could not stay where he was and continue along the path he had chosen.
a dip of his crown accompanied a negative, "no, treason," and he read her words as a dismissal. merrick too did not believe in luck, being far too practical for such things. the only luck he felt he needed was for the weather not to turn to snow again. if she did not stop him, merrick bowed again, and turned to trot off in the direction he had come.