Bearclaw Valley [TW] My summer tan has begun to fade

the valley was silent. too silent.
merrick felt a great sense of anticipation.
the children were growing into servants of the bear, and the bruinwitch made quiet plans to induct them. they would be scraped from laurel's bloodline so far as he was concerned, and she from theirs. 
they belonged to ursus;
he sought his mother's young clone with a snort of his muzzle, meandering paws taking him to stillrift. she had given blood as a sacrifice. he heard the mismatched sound of her footsteps.
merrick chuffed to indra, bidding her climb the narrow footpath up to the light and himself.