Bearclaw Valley some kind of metal made up from glue

astara's teeth connected -- what have you done? -- against merrick, raking their way through dark fur and blistering skin. astara reeled back as if struck herself, holding her lover-now-fighter's gaze a moment longer before he spun, his hip careening into her chest.

knocked off balance, astara's long forelimbs splayed out in front of her as she fumbled into the snow, a gurgling snarl held close in her throat.