Bearclaw Valley could wrap up the sun, and protect the girls

she could never hope to drive out all of them. merrick shifted against astara, nuzzling into the warm curve of her body as his own began to respond. 
but it was not to her feminity that he was drawn;
— he felt his heart curl, charred at the edges —
it was for the knowledge that she would soon change and fade from hard raven to 
merrick drew a shaking breath, nipping toward her belly with a soft growl.