Bearclaw Valley Hey, Johnnie Cope, are ye waukin' yet?

for either @Skoll Almir or @Toad or both!

The only way to permeate the sanctity of Bearclaw Valley was to enter it from the meadow. He prowled along the entrance now, gazing to the outside world. It seemed wide and wild and empty; he had found purpose here, with Merrick. He had no desire to leave, and he had lost hope of seeing his old masters again.

How far had he traveled? How had he traveled so far? It was as if someone had been in control of his body, pushing, pushing him further until he was a man-child lost in the wilderness. Old enough to be a sire (if he could) but with the mind of a boy. He'd never had to grow up.

Fraser was growing up, and growing up wild.

He patrolled the entrance to the valley, watching for strangers like the young man from. . .Easthollow. He kept the name close in his mind, remembering. The enemy. That much was clear. And Merrick's enemy was his enemy, and any sight of them would be met with teeth.