Bearclaw Valley you are a story

Ico had been squirreling away sundry items in his little den. It was a challenge he'd set himself; to find objects that represented the stories behind each of his new packmates. To represent Merrick, for example, he'd acquired a bear's long claw. For Fields, a mysterious hazel stone that looked like it had been beaten by the river for a hundred years. For Evien, dried lavender.

As the pale sprite surfaced back into the late morning light, he decided to follow the stream, slim muzzle low, in search of extra mementos, more stories, and — if he was lucky — further insights into the souls of Ursus.