Bearclaw Valley my sad soul forgot its pride

merrick smirked and turned away. "come on, then." 
he would wait for her to climb the last feet from stillrift. and he would not help her. indra would struggle; it was her lot in life to do so.
but once she had emerged into the snowy air once more, merrick grunted, lurching off for the pool east of them.
he did not speak.