Bearclaw Valley interim

merrick paused only momentarily to marvel after the doctor until he fell into happy following, contentedly entering the medicine den. his single eye roved after evien, and he paced gingerly forward, scanning around the neatly appointed manner of the shelter.
the young doctor indicated a bed. hiding his trepidation and glee, merrick descended and folded his coltish legs next to evien, suddenly suffused with warmth from the healer's body. he smelled like green things, dry brown leaves, peeled twigs. things he did not understand, and perhaps never would.
"thank you," merrick muttered after a moment, lulled by the peace of the moment.