Bearclaw Valley pack and forth

"as well as i can be," merrick grunted, longing for the touch of anyone, anything at the moment. "been a long week." an endless span of days, all splashed with blood. he could not recognize the feeling in his gut, only that he had never experienced anything akin to it. 
in his fitful dreams fraser walked. merrick had not known anyone to plague him once their life had been taken. 
he focused again upon ico, blinking tiredly. "come with me to the river?" he urged gently, treasuring the pale boy's company as if it were a golden idol he must guard.