Silvertip Mountain pine and lavender

merrick grinned. 
"patience is a virtue, and i am fresh out of those."
a switch of his tail. "i will not tame anyone to ursus, save our captive. your choice is your own. to serve the spirits. to serve me. my only true anger is betrayal."
"once there was a great woman of white. she came with a striped man. they spoke of alliance. of peace. she returned alone. my son was not yet a year, and stood against her. she struck him down."
"he suffered. i burned. i am no good or whole beast, o taggerung. but i know the importance of allegiance, once it is pledged. be it through word or blood."
he was still. "promise me nothing you do not intend in your heart. that is your first lesson."