Silvertip Mountain aspersion

Arielle watched the prince closely when he arrived. She saw the tension in his face when his gaze found his mother's skull. She saw knot of emotion move down his throat. 

Merrick's voice pulled her attention from Aves, only to have her gaze slamming back on him when the bear king told her that he thought she deserved a spot equal to them. She was touched. She had never had even the slightest suspicion of his thoughts on the matter. To know the prince thought that highly of her made her heart feel like it might explode. 

To add to that, Merrick agreed. She turned to the bear king, as he continued to speak. She was so surprised by it all, and nothing she thought to say felt like enough. She could feel the bear more than she ever had before; it filled her with peace and reverence. 

She was honored but the word wasn't right. Arielle stood. Bruin-heart, she finally said, clear and confident. That she knew beyond any doubt. The title had immediately sprung up in her mind, as if the thought weren't her own. 

Merrick wanted to them to leave the mountain, and she knew Aves had expressed a similar idea to her recently. But the bear king didn't say where they were going. He instructed them each to carry one of the relics, as he had called them. The healer's eyes moved over each piece of remains.

Her choice was obvious to her, and she suspected Merrick would carry Astara with them. Silently she moved towards the skull of the former healer. She swore she could feel a rhythmic hum move out from the skull, across the ground, and up her legs. The feeling remained until she grasped the skull between her teeth. She looked first to Merrick and then to Aves. She had chosen and she was ready.