Swiftcurrent Creek but anything is preferable to the pain

teeth caught indeed, but aventus was swift, and his own fangs connected sharply with the roundness of his sire's shoulder. a flash of redfire pain then, the scrape of tooth upon flesh.
it enlivened him, the reminder that he was mortal.
this, merrick's true strength: to embrace all the physical that had ever befallen him in service to the bears.
aventus' shoulder struck his own but merrick stood firm, swinging sidelong and meaning to strike the other with his sharp hip.
all of one's body employed in the pursuit of victory.