Bearclaw Valley one who is already beyond life himself

"there was always something," merrick blurted of fields, voice trailing into nothing. something between he and evien, something pulsing and invisible and raw, something to which the bear had never been privy. but he did not feel cast out, not now.
he gazed into the forest-eyes — how shadeweald and summerlight the doctor's stare was now. but behind that, merrick knew the loyalist held much more. and much unsaid.
"completely," the bear-witch breathed, snapping upright with a vocal quaver of appreciation, "enough to tell you now that i think you should be the third leader here. in ursus. with leila. and me." choppy chop chop; tail waving against the groundcover behind him.