Great Bear Wilderness a quieter place

Dwin thought that of them all Eljay had the hardest time leaving the caldera. He had loved this place with all his heart and soul and she could hardly imagine, how painful it must be for him to leave now. This time - forever. He had become older and frailer, when she had last seen him, and the realization that he could no longer have any say in the matter, must also have weighed on him hard. Since Dwin had never truly felt the same way about any particular place or even person, she had decided not to talk about this in Eljay's presence, unless he brought it up himself. Instead, she had entertained him with stories of her adventures during the summer and more often walked down the memory lane of all the wonderful and great things they had shared. She may have been wrong, but at his age it seemed as if the past was a happier place to be in than the uncertain future. 

She had had a heartfelt talk with Dee, she had exchanged polite pleasantries with her husband and learned the names of their children, the new generation that had not yet been born, when she had left, and now were about to fly the nest themselves. Dwin saw a lot of the same enthusiasm, wonder and confidence in them as she had had, when she had first set out in the world. Now - while she could not call herself old by age, she felt such spiritually. Sharing some of their excitement for the things they were about to discover and keeping quiet about all the highs and lows that awaited them. She had spent time with Maia too - using every minute of that limited time they had together to tell all that she had seen and experienced, having a good laugh and just enjoying each other's company. 

The most important thing she did, before their paths parted, was to tell each of them, how much she loved them, how she would never forget them, she made a promise to find them, wherever they ended up settling down. And they agreed for a "see you later" instead of a "goodbye". All smiling, but at the same time knowing that this was not promised. That very likely they would not meet each other again. 

Dwin walked with them for a long time and then she watched them leave from atop a small hill. Their forms growing smaller and smaller in the distance, until they blended with the horizon and for the first time in her life Dwin suddenly felt truly alone in the world.