Sun Mote Copse Departure to destruction.

She hadn't expected it, the sudden emotion that rushed up upon her. Tears welled in her eyes, unbidden and unwelcome. They embarassed her. She had never liked to be emotional, never liked to be weak. Generally, only Elwood ever saw her this way, and she wasn't too big a fan of that either. She couldn't help herself, though. Everything she had lost in her long life was suddenly right there in front of her, making her remember, making her realize truths. There was no hiding from it.

-"Because,"- Fin said softly, her arms moving weakly as the words came, -"I can't go and find them when they're lost."-

Her head sagged as guilt, heartache and tears overwhelmed her. Finley had been a warrior all of her life. She had been reckless. She had sought danger and laughed in its face. She loved fiercely and always, always had been able to protect what was hers with a ferocious courage that was just downright alarming at times in its utter disregard of her own safety or mortality. To be like this now--weak, crippled, tired. Too old to do something as easy as travel around to neighboring territories was devastating to a wolf like Finley Blackthorn. There was nothing her younger self wouldn't have done to keep her family safe and happy. She had grown stronger recently, but still, here she was.

It wasn't enough. She would never be strong enough again. All she could do was sit around and watch her loved ones disappear one by one until it was her turn to go.