Lost Creek Hollow only suffering can teach

for @Indra. backdated to the 18th

he had heard laurel's call, and somehow its imperious, demanding nature warned merrick of what was to come. yet he did not know for certain. and still he had not gone to them, to where his mother surely was; the boy had trotted away under the pretense of a patrol, seeking the outermost reaches of the hollow where few went and where he could be alone.
heart thudded in his chest; the boy's ears fell back in the dappled shade, and for a long moment, merrick grappled with a spate of red-hot anger. it had no place no place no place — the young wolf steadied his breathing and pressed on.