Bearclaw Valley i can’t help being a gorgeous fiend

"porcupine cove it is," merrick whistled cheerily, falling into step alongside her. all cloaked beneath normalcy now, as if none of the birth-stuff had ever transpired. perhaps he had forgotten it. perhaps he had never remembered it.
nothing of those hours mattered to the boy now, or so he told himself. "oh? i hear there's a new one settled up that way," he groused, indicating the distant legion. far off, but not far enough. "you going to try your hand at spying?" he jested, turning a grin upon orson.