Sun Mote Copse Hidalgo

She had wanted to be alone.

When Peregrine had died, she had gone to Elwood for solace. When Fox had died, she had mourned alongside Raven. With Wildfire, she had held her entire family tightly in her arms day in and day out. 

This time, though. This time, Finley wanted to be alone.

Fin had come into the world, chasing after her brother. She had been at his side in the womb, and she'd remained at his side for many of the happiest days of her life. Even when they had been apart, Fin had been comforted knowing he was somewhere in this world still. Even when they had hated each other, he had still been a living, breathing part of who she was.

But now he was just gone. Gone in a way he never had been before. Separated from her in a way that left her feeling like an empty shell. So many times in their lives, they had danced on the precipice of losing each other. So many times, they had nearly died. They had always laughed about it before. They had laughed about almost having had to face this devastation of going on in a world the other was no longer a part of. No one was laughing now, though. What a terrible, humorless joke this really was. What a bunch of bullshit this was.

She was angry, she was sad. She was nothing. And that's how Finley approached the gathering. There were so few adults with them now. It should've been concerning. But it wasn't. Fin didn't give a fuck. Stupid Colt. Stupid fucking Colt. All of her threats and all of his promises and the asshole died anyway.

Finley settled in somewhere, glancing around at the other faces. They all had a reason to mourn, Niamh most of all. But fuck her. Fuck everyone. Fuck Colt. She felt a lump in her throat rise and swallowed it down, averting her gaze elsewhere. Fuck it all. Everything was so haunted now.