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She listened silently as Merrick told them more of the bears—how they allowed the pack to live here as long as they honored them and remembered their name; as long as they were holy. But she wondered how they made sure they were holy. The question bubbled up in her throat and she was about to ask it, but then the bear was staring directly at her. She didn't see any discontent in the creature's expression. Arielle was careful not to look away as she forced her muscles to relax. Her fight or flight instinct was trying to break through her outward calm and tell her she should run far away from this place; she ignored it. Merrick wasn't afraid, and so she would not be either. 

The tip of her tail wagged as she continued to hold the bear's gaze, and she dipped her head some, hoping to show her respect. She hoped it was the right thing to do. If not—she dashed the thought away; it was too scary to imagine and it would shatter the calm she worked so hard to portray to the creature and to her leader and packmate.