Lost Creek Hollow all my life, i've been afraid of things

@Gannet, can bring it to present if you want!

the night held a greater appeal for merrick than the time of sunlight. the beams themselves were cold, only aspiring to a bit of warmth in the early part of the day. darkness was more honest, the boy felt, and when it was not snowing, which was rare as of late, he fixed his eyes on the stars.
merrick woke after sundown and stole from his sleeping place to a clearer spot on the borders. a large, flat rock jutted up here; the coywolf leapt atop it easily and settled himself in the cold glow of silver. here, the moon rose high; here, what he could see of the stars held his intrigue, and silently merrick began to count each one in the handful of constellations he had come to recognize.