Bearclaw Valley verbena

a feral grin unspooled across merrick's jaws. "i came across one who was dying once," he breathed, a great reverence shimmering in his cyclops stare. "it died. it bled to death. i stood in its blood and felt its spirit come into me." aware of how that sounded, but uncaring, the bearwolf closed his eyes, remembering the sharp jolt of heat that had burned his his chest.
"i came back to where i was born because the bears called me back. i belong here. i never should have left. but now i am home." would that satisfy ico? he did not know, but the spirit whispered, and merrick could only listen.