Bearclaw Valley I've often seen a cat without a grin

for ref, merrick's two middle toes are like stumps of bone/they fell off D: <3

"doctor." merrick's growl was approving and yet annoyed. "will i have a limp?"
he did not care; he would make it into a gait so pronounced that he could be seen arriving.
he slumped down near arielle, first to his haunches, and then to his belly. "how is our bruin-jaw?"
tone flat, the closest to worry that merrick might seem.