Bearclaw Valley hostage of the pearl

toad is learning to be a guardian. the ranks of ursus were constantly shifting, but these days he found himself towards the top- ironfang- perhaps because he hadn't let his head trauma slow him down. even in the week after the fight with easthollow he'd been eager to return to his duties, and thus he would patrol again now; the meadow and the entrance and all the land that was theirs. 

the howl was a bit out of the ordinary. most creatures that showed at their border came without proper announcement and yet were quickly chased away, but here was a joiner in the midst of it all. toad moved towards the sound, finding there a warm woman with his own eyes in her face, body riddled with scars. he glanced to the newer ursus canine beside him- dog, he thought, and was instantly reminded of merrick's first slave, sacrificing his blood for the ursus young. a couple of sniffs in his direction, and then he looked back over to the woman, eyes tracing her in an animal sort of way before deeming her too scarred for his tastes, but perfect for the likes of ursus. 

still- it was her job to speak up, rather than wait to be interviewed, if she was smart enough to know how things were run. toad's tail flagged upwards and he stared quietly, awaiting her introduction.