Redhawk Caldera then you'd love me, love me.

He had been surprised by her sudden arrival -- it was rare to see her away from home, and he certainly hadn't expected her to track him down. For the last few weeks, they had passed like ships in the night, ghosting through conversations that only skimmed the surface of their relationship. Elwood had attempted once to dig deeper, but Finley had deflected his questions, and he hadn't tried again since.

Now, confronted by her presence and her words, he felt uncomfortable. Normally, he would have gone to her immediately and comforted her, assuring her that she was anything but a terrible mother. But physical affection was something that had been lost long ago, and he found himself at a loss. Could he even disagree with her? He wasn't sure, and that was what scared him.

After a silence that was much too long, he shook his head and took a tentative step towards her, though he didn't reach out to touch her yet. His gaze traced the slope of her muzzle, studying the way she kept her face turned to hide her scars. "What do you mean?" he finally asked.