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

she knew what immorality was, the definitions of it, and so the warlock's death did not shake the scholar's convictions. she did not doubt the bruin-witch would live on in soul as a great acolyte to his primal god, and in name as a mighty wolf and priest of the bear on this flesh-bound world.

that, however, didn't mean his passing hadn't complicated earthly matters.

bernadette seated herself a bit away from the crowd, as was in her nature. she was to observe and learn - and with intent to learn she offered the voice her firstborn, which she was sure now formed in her womb. 

it was a trade, and it seemed as natural to spend a child for greater purpose as it was to conceive it. besides, to have one of her own offered to a spirit such as the one merrick seemed to believe in without doubt or question (bernadette envied him for that; she considered her own indecisiveness her greatest failing) was certain to move her closer to that which she truly desired to reach.

and so when the cult decided that their captors were to die, bernadette merely observed, dejected, scientific, and at the forefront of her mind was a calculation; how much spilt blood of a newborn is required to truly understand the divine?