Species/Type

Dog

First Appearance

Volume: 1

Part: 1

Chapter: 1

TL;DR

Small but fearless, Fin is the emotional heart of the Sanctuary, whose mutation and mechanical rebirth forged him into something resilient and brave.

Fin — Original

Small, gentle, and endlessly brave, Fin was never meant to be a hero. He hovered close to danger not because he was fearless, but because he cared too much to stay away.

Fin — The Night Gremlin

When the Atomic Heart Engine detonated, Fin was caught in its pull—lifted, altered, and broken in the same instant. For a brief moment, he gained wings, only to lose them just as quickly, leaving scars that would define everything that came next.

Backstory

Fin had always wanted to do better. Born the runt of a Chihuahua litter, he entered the world small, quiet, and often overlooked. Eventually he was adopted by a loving family that already had another Chihuahua named Chewie. Fin was never mistreated; there were warm laps, gentle voices, and a home that cared for him. But it was clear, even in the subtle ways animals understand, that Chewie held a slightly larger place in their hearts. Chewie had been there first, and something about his personality naturally drew more attention. When visitors arrived, Chewie greeted them first. When toys were tossed across the room, Chewie leapt for them. Fin never grew bitter about it. Instead, he simply tried harder, quietly looking for ways to matter.

Life in the home changed suddenly when the husband in the family fell ill with cancer and eventually passed away. The loss was devastating, and the burden of caring for everything alone became too heavy for the widow to manage. With deep sadness, a decision was made that she believed was best for Fin. He would be sent to Sunrise Sanctuary, a place where there would be open land, attentive staff, and animals roaming freely. She hoped that there he would receive the care and attention she could no longer provide.

For many animals the vast openness of Sunrise Sanctuary could feel overwhelming, but Fin embraced it almost immediately. The wide Wyoming sky, the open fields, and the freedom to roam stirred something inside him. Though he remained one of the smallest animals at the sanctuary, he never seemed intimidated by the larger creatures around him. Instead, Fin carried himself with a quiet determination, as if he believed his size mattered far less than his heart.

It did not take long before Fin found Kagen. From the very beginning he sensed something in the man that others may have overlooked. Animals have a way of reading emotions that humans often hide, and Fin could feel the weight that Kagen carried. It wasn’t anger so much as frustration and disappointment — a deep sadness that lingered beneath the surface. Fin decided almost instantly that he could help. Not out of pity or obligation, but out of a genuine instinct to offer support.

From that moment forward Fin became Kagen’s constant shadow. Wherever Kagen went throughout the sanctuary, Fin followed closely behind. If Kagen worked on repairing a fence or building part of the sanctuary grounds, Fin watched with intense focus. Sometimes he would push himself to help in ways far beyond his small physical strength. He would attempt to drag loose nails across the ground, tug at wooden boards, or pull at Kagen’s tool belt as if proudly delivering supplies. The efforts were clumsy and often impossible for such a tiny dog, but Fin never stopped trying. For him, the attempt itself mattered.

At night, after the long day of work had ended and the sanctuary grew quiet beneath the Wyoming stars, Fin’s favorite part of the day would begin. Kagen would finally settle down to rest, and Fin would immediately climb beside him, curling tightly against his side. This was their quiet time together — the moment Fin cherished most. The world outside could still carry its hardships, and Kagen’s frustrations might still linger, but in those calm moments there was peace. Fin believed with all the stubborn loyalty in his tiny body that love, patience, and simply being there could slowly change a heavy heart. And if that meant following Kagen every day, pushing himself beyond his limits, and ending every night curled beside him, Fin was more than happy to do it.