Bearclaw Valley born in a ditch

avicus, gone.  gone again. and not returned. auriel, too. and bishop.
ursus dwindled.
to the arrogant eye, it might have seemed as though they were weak. surely without the numbers to stand up to their enemies. and yet merrick's faith in them had not abated.
a howl, young. masculine.
when merrick arrived, it was to brush his shoulder along that of vesta. she was a true loyalist to them, and her work had not gone unnoticed.
he flicked his tail sidelong and set single eye upon the golden boy who seemed to fill with the early sunlight.
"what can ursus do for you?" 
we are legion.