Haunted Wood Finding beauty in the dissonance

feel free to skip me if i take this long again! <3

rage rose chokingly in merrick as he whirled to face the hulking creature that suddenly towered over himself and astara. he was not fearful — merrick feared only one thing — but his form too was tense as he brushed his shoulder against that of the shadow in solidarity and faced the new arrival.
"we are not afraid of death," merrick cooed, the words somewhat rusted at their edges. since departing the cave, he had lapsed into the usual comforting silence shared by himself and astara. curiosity glinted in his eyes; the challenge of something new.