Bearclaw Valley a seminar about whether or not deer feel pain or are just sad

Arielle was worried for the bruin-jaw. She remembered when Astara had died, and how he never mentioned anything about it. Even now, he hardly spoke of her. 

Since the day they found Merrick dead, teeth locked in the throat of Laurel and hers in his, he had turned inward. There had been so much rage that day, and now a concerning coldness. She didn't know what to do, and she shied away from anything that might cause him more pain. She hadn't asked him about the former bruin-witch or pushed him to talk at all. She was just there, hoping his grief would lessen with time. 

Her own grief sat painfully in her heart. She knew the bearking had not given much value to his life after his wife's death, but she hadn't expected to lose him now. Some part of her hoped he would be here for a while, that maybe Laurel's children would give him enough purpose to stay. But he was gone, and they were left with the weight of that knowledge. She would never get the scene from her mind. Their bodies locked together, blood everywhere, his dead eyes—they haunted her; she could see it whenever she closed her eyes. 

Everyone gathered, and Arielle walked over to her husband and sat beside him. Aves wasted no time delivering the devastating news, and her eyes closed as she heard the words spoken for the first time. 

She knew he was beyond angry; she was too. So she wasn't surprised to hear him order the death of Indra and Abel. Indra had a lot of potential but Arielle would not deny the bruin-jaw his revenge. If he wanted them gone, then she would make sure that happened. The last few days, she had longed to be able to help him in some way, and this was it. She could make sure the children's lives were snuffed out and then maybe Aves would find some peace. 

She was prepared to take care of things that moment, but she waited to see who might protest the order. Anyone that did would not be considered Ursus any longer.