Bearclaw Valley There is nothing more lonely than an action taken quietly on your own

Any other wolf would have been unsettled by the sight of their father speaking to a disembodied head, but Aventus merely stood by and waited. Still he did not understand the task that had been set before him. Ursus would be weaker without its physician. Or perhaps it would be stronger; perhaps the bears would bless the valley and no sickness or injury would come, rendering Evien's services moot.

Aventus could not pretend to know these things. He lowered his head and shoulders so far into a bow that his chin brushed the snow. Father, he repeated, giving his tail a nervous flick. I have done as you asked, but... It was not my teeth.

Belatedly, he realized he had not stolen one of Evien's teeth. I commanded the bear, he said softly, fervently.