Bearclaw Valley Meet me inside

"one of the first women to enter the valley bit off a toe to give them," merrick conversated. "just right there. we made an altar for such things. it's still there, too, even if she isn't," came his revelation, glancing between galena and orson with a titillating grin.
"that's not necessary for entry, but the bears come and go, and no one has been attacked." you had to respect the more powerful in your world, he believed, accept your own limitations, humble yourself. the result was the dark beauty of complete freedom.