I love that whole series. You're right about the teamwork.

>> (And yes, this was one of the parts that made me cry. I've never gotten to have a book that describes this kind of desolation.) <<

I've seen something similar in series that are largely about bonding, like the Dragonriders of Pern or Valdemar with the Companions. Even though they have more than one body, the loss of a such a partner leaves the survivor mentally bereft, and some stories deal with that.

I've seen a few other stories that deal with going from multiple to solitary mind states, but it's rare, because most writers don't write multiples in the first place. I agree that it's great to see that loss respected as a loss.