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

not dead.
"it would be too late for you to come if he did."
merrick had put away his natal family; he had done so at the edge of blood. but he rejected the notion of rearing his own brood in that manner, and so expected different responses from each of his children. in this moment, he commanded his own inward thoughts, shaping them into something avicus might better understand.
"he is alive because the bears wished him to live. ursus exists only by their will. if they chose your brother to live, then they choose you to be grateful for it." thankful the shadow still drew breath, not pitted against her sibling in some macabre struggle so early. merrick meant them both for many things, and dissent between them would not allow these events to occur.