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

"well," her saintly father-in-law began, gritty tone wrapped in a winning smile that promised whatever he was about to say was definitely going to be hilarious —
—to him—
"i can't remember. but i do recall they were sort of hanging. and they itched so badly and had a foul smell. and! they looked green. or perhaps a new shade of brown."
he was teasing her.
but now merrick grew solemn. "i took them off myself and threw them into the bottom of the pond. when they turn to nothing i will be absorbed into the very soil of ursus."
he looked at arielle now, attempting to gauge the bruin-heart. aventus. 
"that's the second time his ribs have been put through hell. i ought to call him bear-breast." he laughed.