Bearclaw Valley This is where I reside

vesta was a crafty soul, was she not, allowing merrick to wax poetic for the pleasure of his own ears. 
she could not speak, so he would do enough speaking for the both of them. "back when the world was not so cold, i saw a bear die. wounded. he breathed his last and his spirit came into me."
"i was born in this valley of bears. i was called back to build ursus. i have shed a thousand drops of blood, for blood is the backbone and pleasure of ursus. it was the bear who has led me these years. it will lead you too."