Bearclaw Valley on the nature of daylight

merrick dragged a piece of deerhide between his front legs, stumbling on its edges but holding his chin importantly high all the same. as the youngest, he had learned many ways to comport himself. one such was capitalizing on the fact that both his mother and his aunt were ranked leaders, and merrick had become a bit of a brat in that regard.
the fat prince missed another step, and down he went, this time tumbling an embarassing distance, the deerhide fluttering behind him. haunches bruised, pride suffering a mortal wound, the boy's eyes watered and he began a high-pitched yipping howl for anyone with a modicum of sympathy to attend him.