Bearclaw Valley silkrobe doorsill

Her eyes widened as she peered up at Merrick. She swallowed, clearly unsettled by his implication that the previous medic had been eaten by one of these bears. 

But then he spoke to the beast, and it seemed at ease with their presence. Her heart slowed a little in her chest, and she watched with hesitant wonder. Her gaze shifted between the leader and the bear a few times. She didn't want to be eaten by one of these creatures; it didn't seem like a fast or painless process. Arielle feared that he wouldn't want to heart those words from her, and so she kept the fear locked tight in her chest. It seemed she would have no say in the matter anyway.

With wide, firelight eyes still glued to the bear, she finally repeated:Respect. She could manage that. How could one not respect such a formidable creature?