Bearclaw Valley dancing with the devil

Merrick was right on a few things - a suburban upbringing, two parent household, yes, but it had not been good. Walking on eggshells during every conversation, trapped in a little bubble, and listen, don't take any food your mother offers you, Evien. There were reasons for the Kastner to be cautious as he was. 

          Born here with all the bear scent. It lingered on Merrick's fur in a way that was unsettling, but Evien was getting used to the smell. The other boy was quick to turn the conversation back to him, but Evien didn't mind. "I could never go back where I came from," he said calmly, offering just a little glimpse into his feelings of where he might've once called home. 

         "Plants are very interesting. There are ones that heal and ones that poison. I've learned the difference." The hard way went unspoken. But he did find, as he turned to face the young leader, that he was interesting in the same way as those toxic plants might be. Oftentimes, they were wrapped up in pretty packages as well. "You interest me, too," the boy responded truthfully. Merrick was like a puzzle, and Evien wanted to put all the pieces together. "I wanted to get to speak with you face-to-face before I asked to join your group."