Bearclaw Valley Completely Zoned Out

skoll and ico had turned away from the meeting. the latter had not returned, and merrick cursed his weakness, but did not track the boy. he needed stronger wolves than that, if he was to weather the storm that threatened the valley.
already the river had jerked over its banks, spilling in a direct surge of danger toward the young therein. not his, he supposed; they could run and climb. but the others, the ones kept interred in the deepest part of bearclaw by the woman his rook had wounded.
he found skoll upon the borders; silently merrick fell into step, following as he too began to renew the scentmarks. but the boy's desolated pride would not allow him to be silent; in time he turned his wet face toward skoll. "are you leaving us, also?"