Bearclaw Valley what mysteries we are

it was not long before he was attended by a woman wreathed in black, her gold accents drawing his eyes. but she was no astara, and therefore merrick found his initial intrigue fading. he would have pressed on into the valley had not the bear whispered to him
gather her
and so the boy turned back and flashed the newcomer an inviting smile. "i'm merrick," he greeted, no longer bothering to disguise his name. fully protected, now that the spirit burned within. "do you live around here?"