Silvertip Mountain I don’t see how he can ever finish, if he doesn’t begin

Aventus was doing a lot better since the raid, but the journey was still taxing. Long hours of walking in the cold lit his side aflame, leading him to believe the bone was not healing as well this time as it had when he was a cub. His luck had run out.

Despite that, they made good time to the mountain, likely because he refused to breathe a word to his mate about being in pain. It was a dull ache most of the time. Easily ignored. This entire trip was about initiating Val into the ranks of Ursus proper after his bravery coming on the raid, and Aves was loathe to take any of the attention away from the dark seawolf. Concerns were allayed with vaguery. He tried to convey a friendly and upbeat attitude about the whole thing.

They stood now in front of the cave. Inside lay the sacred bear whose spirit had twined with Merrick's so long ago. Aventus was privately glad this ceremony was not for him; he was the blood of Ursus, but even he did not like the idea of entering a bear's den. He was not as far gone as his father down that road. He knew Val would find this trial excruciatingly difficult, and turned his silver gaze to the man now.

The bear has touched you, he reminded Val. I have full faith in you.