Bearclaw Valley pack and forth

He felt like he must've paced a thousand miles before he finally looked up, and there emerged a silhouette that remained a silhouette even in sharp relief. Merrick. After all that had occurred and been so distantly perceived by Ico, he felt a little differently about the one-eyed bear-wolf now. But those new feelings refused to clarify themselves, for they felt... forbidden, somehow. Ico was one of Ursus' founding members, after all. A loyalist.

Wasn't he?

Gosh, are you... are you okay? he asked, wide-eyed, genuinely concerned as he regarded Merrick, who looked like he really had paced a thousand miles. And through brambles and deserts, at that. Ico immediately stifled a wince at his own words, fearful of how undiplomatic his question may have sounded.