Bearclaw Valley why the little frenchman wears his hand in a sling

"you haven't been by yet." mildly irritated, the tone rolled out of merrick's throat as he stepped from the clutch of ancient pinewood, smoothly adjusting his gait to match her own.
"he is your brother. that is important." he would never tolerate nunataq's weakness to be reborn in any blood of his. ursus had grown tightly knit through moving in unison toward threats, and offering the reward of trust to one another. he and the raven formed its heartcore, and inside that trove were avicus and aventus.
he let them move in silence now; if they continued or paused, merrick turned his single eye upon her with the silent inquiry: why?