Silvertip Mountain aspersion

beside him, the obsidian feathers whispered. merrick felt her warm and unseen against his shoulder. his peripherals were scorched by the intensity of her indigo gaze. if the corvid chose now to show herself, he would understand. the moment was powerful, made moreso by his quick notation of how arielle looked at aventus.
bruin-heart, she said, voice strong and resolute against the chagrin of her counterpart.
merrick's ragged mouth quirked with a quick smile. "bruin-heart."
the two chose their talismans and he nodded with approval at each choice. merrick did not know to whom the pelvis belonged, only that it had been sacred to the ursus figurehead.
he ached for her now, even as her ghost wrapped its sable warmth around him.
you will lead us,
merrick stood to his paws. he lifted the skull of astara.
shortly he would lead them and val from the mountain. their steps would turn sharply east, but it would not be until the sunspire's end loomed that merrick would realize where the corvid queen meant to take ursus.