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

if he did not understand, merrick felt nothing upon the subject. his failings were legion; he did not fit into any earthly pattern of fatherhood known to a living creature. but there was a kinship with he and the blood-child, and merrick knew he must tread there.
he stood and trotted off, glancing back with heft of gaze that suggested heavily avicus should come along. and outward, outward merrick went, soon leaving the borders of ursus behind and bringing her out into the meadowed extension of their hunting lands. 
he began to run, and this time the bearwolf did not look back, his pace not yet building as he waited for avicus to catch onto their game. it went on for some time, until light lapsed and energies faded, and only then did the bearwolf return her to the place of sleep before melting into the night.