Big Salmon Lake i imagine death so much, it feels more like a memory

his insults this time did not have the intended effect, but they did wreak a change in the man, sporadic, vehement guffawing that spelled an unhinging of the hunter.
unperturbed by the attempted slights to his manhood, merrick watched silently as the posturing began again, answering only with his stoic quietude, the smirk that unfurled ugly and taunting across his slim muzzle.
so much had been unveiled: the heart of his dark opponent’s insecurity, the truth of what had occurred, the need for the older wolf to redeem himself through brutality, a language merrick spoke in other ways. it was infuriating, saddening. a sigh arcing out. 
”but i’m not facing a man,” he replied simply, before spitting into the waters between them and meeting The Hunter’s eyes with a mingled expression of disdain and pity.