Bearclaw Valley thorn bear

evien. so staunch he had been in leadership. merrick brushed his snowcovered coat against that of the bruin-leaf and was content for a long moment. "ursus is getting smaller," he remarked though it felt garbled in his mouth, melting ice that threatened his lips.
"i thought she would come back by now." his words half-snatched away by the wind. merrick's scar-laden brow furrowed, and for a long moment he was very perturbed and rather unlike himself. by she, he could have meant his daughter or his beloved — and a low despair sounded in his throat.