Bearclaw Valley could wrap up the sun, and protect the girls

astara was unmoved, and merrick was filled with the shock of her undying loyalty, even in the face of such surging, shifting sands. the veil of anger fell from his single eye; he whimpered in his throat and went to her at once, butting roughly along face and throat and shoulders, sinking to the fogbound earth and drawing her with him.
merrick buried his face in her swelling flank and moaned a low, anguished sound, sobs cutting through the inhale as his forelegs tightened around the crowbird and tears thickened his throat with some unknowable, nameless thing.