Moonsong Glacier Take away everything I am

the bear. the mountain. blood caught in the wind's teeth. 
a bear maddened, sickened; vesta was mangled and pleading.
merrick grit out his breath, staggering to aventus' side with a figure that wished to lunge forward.
he met her eyes with his remaining one and wept aloud at the eternal power and might and cruelty of the bear;
"vesta," and his voice shook horribly, and he was at last unable to call this a blessing.