Bearclaw Valley however dangerous this may be

Merrick seemed... happy. It made Toad happy in turn. Merrick was not the most comedic guy out there, but his smiles were frequent, and yet only rarely did they meet his burning eye. So the energy of joy that hummed through the gathering met Toad's heart equally, and he puffed his chest almost proudly as the bear-king uttered his parting words. With a final nod to Merrick, as well as a polite glance to Ulysses and Astara, the coffee cream boy slipped away to continue familiarizing himself with the valley.