Heron Lake Plateau Lost some pieces I can't replace

If there was one thing Colt Blackthorn knew a surprising amount about, it was falling apart and having to pick up the pieces.  After Hawkin he'd hit a dark period that lasted longer than it should have, and he'd pushed away relationships (Finley included) and broken some that had taken a long while to mend.  He'd lost years.  This second loss, he'd gone the opposite route, allowing it to bring him here to finally mend things instead.  This was the better path.

When he'd come to check on Niamh before, he'd seen notes of fraying, but this was close to rock bottom.  So instead of talking or pulling away, or cracking a damn joke, Colt did what he thought was best (and for once he might damn well be right, because direct experience was surprisingly helpful).... he just stayed.  Sitting down, he put up a foreleg, resting it over her shoulder and lowering his head in a sort of embrace.  He'd stay like that until she was ready to say something or decided to leave, whichever came first.  He had nothing more important than bein here, after all, giving her at least support to fall apart against.  Something he'd needed and hadn't had, way back when.