Chapter 15: The Aftermath.

The morning in Green Arbor unfolded under a blanket of uneasy silence. Where the marketplace once bustled with laughter and trade, now only whispers lingered, smothered by the acrid scent of smoke from the charred skeleton of the tavern. Ava stood at the heart of the square, her arms crossed, her gaze unwavering as it traced the blackened timbers, a faint frown tugging at her brow.

Miko appeared at her side, his usually vibrant energy muted. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, his voice barely above a whisper. "Quite the mess, huh?"

Ava nodded slowly, her eyes still fixed on the destruction. “Something about this doesn’t sit right with me,” she murmured, almost as if speaking to herself. There was a heaviness in her voice, as if the smoke had settled deep into her lungs, refusing to let go.

Miko glanced at her, concern flickering in his eyes. "You think someone did this?"

Before she could answer, the mayor approached, his forced cheerfulness like nails on a chalkboard. “Terrible shame about the accident,” he said, feigning sympathy while his eyes barely skimmed the ruins.

Ava’s head snapped toward him, the skepticism in her voice sharp. "We don’t know it was an accident yet." Her tone was cold, cutting through the mayor’s casual indifference.

The mayor chuckled, a sound far too light for the moment. “Mark will just have to move on. Nothing left to salvage here,” he remarked, gesturing dismissively toward the rubble. The finality in his tone grated on Ava's nerves, as if he wanted the incident swept away like yesterday's ash.

Miko’s frown deepened, and he took a small step forward, his posture subtly defensive. “The community would rally to help him rebuild,” he asserted, his eyes narrowing as he watched the mayor’s reaction. “Mark’s been a cornerstone here for years. Everyone would pitch in to help.”

The mayor shrugged as if it didn’t matter. "Sometimes, it’s better to start fresh with something new,” he said, the words floating out with an eerie finality before he turned and blended into a group of townspeople.

Ava’s jaw tightened, her hand unconsciously drifting to one of the knives strapped to her thigh. She watched the mayor retreat into the crowd, her instincts screaming that something was off. Beside her, Miko leaned in closer, his voice low. “That was odd, wasn’t it?”

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Ava nodded, her thoughts darkening as she struggled to shake the feeling of unease. She inhaled sharply, trying to shift her focus. "Have you seen Talon this morning?" she asked abruptly, the concern slipping into her voice before she could stop it.

Miko shook his head, worry creasing his brow. "No, he wasn’t at home when I woke up." He hesitated, sensing the shift in Ava’s mood. “You think he’s alright?”

Ava’s lips pressed into a thin line. "I'll check on him." She gave Miko a reassuring pat on the shoulder before turning and making her way toward the old cabin on the outskirts of Green Arbor—the gift from Miko and Jess that was supposed to be a fresh start for her and Talon.

When she arrived, she found Talon there, his broad frame casting shadows over the remnants of their future home. He was stacking wood, his movements deliberate, but lacking their usual grace. There was something mechanical, detached in the way he worked, as though the act of building was merely a distraction.

“Making plans already?” Ava called out, her voice light but laced with concern. She studied him carefully, searching his expression for any hint of what weighed on his mind.

Talon didn’t pause, his voice distant, almost hollow. “Yeah. Just keeping busy.” He didn’t meet her eyes, didn’t stop his work.

Ava stepped closer, watching him for a moment in silence before trying again. "You know, the new Arbor defense force could use some of your training drills." She injected a playful tone into her words, hoping to draw him out of whatever darkness was clouding him. “They’ve gotten lazy without you."

Talon froze, his back still to her. He stood there for a long moment, considering her words before speaking. "Maybe not today," he said quietly, the weight in his voice unmistakable. "But soon. They need to be prepared."

Ava heard the layers of meaning beneath his simple words. It wasn’t just about drills or training; there was something deeper gnawing at him. She stepped forward, her presence calm but strong. “Talon?” she prompted gently, her voice soft but insistent.

He turned slowly, his face drawn with tension. The usual spark in his eyes was dulled, replaced by a storm that Ava hadn’t seen in him before. “I just need to figure some things out,” he admitted, his voice barely more than a whisper. There was a tremor there, something raw and vulnerable that he was trying desperately to hold back.

Ava's chest tightened, but she nodded, knowing that pushing him now would only make him retreat further. "I’m here," she said, her voice steady. "Whenever you’re ready to talk." She reached out, gently squeezing his arm before turning to leave, giving him the space he needed.

As Ava walked back toward the heart of Green Arbor, her mind was heavy with worry. Talon’s detachment, the way he had thrown himself into working on the cabin, felt less like preparation and more like an escape. She knew the signs—she had seen them in herself. His mind wasn’t just on the fire or the aftermath; it was tangled in something darker, something that ran deeper than even their last mission.

The wind shifted, carrying the distant murmur of the townspeople behind her. But all Ava could hear was the silence between her and Talon, a silence filled with shadows she wasn’t sure how to chase away.