Bearclaw Valley and fire coming out of the monkey's head

how merciful for ursus that merrick had managed to spawn again whilst being fully uncomprehending of how it all worked. even now he refused the very pertinent nuance of being connected. and he was further deterred from analysis by how his raven stirred and warned him.
merrick was hurt! he pulled away from her, and would have gone on, had not her tongue swept out at the last moment to kiss him. "you are in so much misery!" he exclaimed, curling close as she would let him, preening the bulb of one jet-faded ear. "it is unfair. thank you," he added breathlessly, thinking of how greatly she sacrificed the cunning litheness of her being for them, twice now, and how without her, ursus would be nothing.