Chapter 3: Little Ava, Unwavering Faith.

Five days had now passed since the devastating news of Ava and Talon’s presumed deaths reached Green Arbor. The lively energy that had once filled the town seemed to have vanished, replaced with an all-consuming grief. The bustling marketplace was quiet now, the sound of laughter and chatter replaced with whispers of sorrow and disbelief.

Inside Jess and Miko’s modest home, the air was thick with an unspeakable sadness. Jess, fighting her own heartache, knew that it was time to talk to little Ava about what had happened. The conversation weighed heavily on her mind, the very idea of having to explain such a loss to her daughter felt unbearable. Miko stood by the doorway, offering silent support, though his eyes too were darkened with grief.

Little Ava, ever the light in their lives, bounded into the room with her usual bright energy. "Mommy, look! Look what I can do!" she exclaimed, her face beaming with pride. She hopped up onto the sofa and stuck out her foot, proudly showing off her shoes. "I tied my laces all by myself! Aren’t you proud?"

Jess blinked back tears as she looked at her daughter, her heart clenching at the innocence of the moment. She forced a smile, trying to match little Ava’s enthusiasm. "Oh, sweetheart, that’s wonderful!" Jess said, her voice soft but warm.

"Wait until Auntie Ava sees!" little Ava continued excitedly, oblivious to the sorrow that clouded her parents' faces. "She’s going to be so proud of me! And Uncle Talon—he’ll want me to show him how fast I can do it!"

Jess felt her throat tighten at her daughter’s words. She knelt down beside little Ava, her hand resting gently on her leg. "Sweetheart," she began, her voice trembling, "we need to talk about Auntie Ava and Uncle Talon."

Little Ava looked up, her bright eyes filled with curiosity. "Are they coming to visit soon? I want to show Auntie Ava how good I am at tying my shoes now!" she asked, her smile unwavering.

Jess’s heart broke at the question, and she struggled to find the words. She glanced at Miko, who stepped forward and sat beside them, his presence steadying her.

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"No, sweetheart," Jess said softly, brushing a stray hair from her daughter’s face. "Auntie Ava and Uncle Talon... they went on a very important mission. And it’s a dangerous one."

Little Ava frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Dangerous? But... but they’re the best, right? They’ll be okay," she said, her voice filled with the certainty only a child could muster.

Miko’s voice cracked slightly as he spoke up. "Yes, kiddo, they’re the best. But sometimes, even the best can get hurt."

"But they promised to come back," little Ava said, her voice trembling now as she looked between her parents, searching for reassurance. "Auntie Ava said she would teach me how to throw a knife, and Uncle Talon said he’d show me how to hit the bullseye, remember?"

Jess’s tears fell freely now as she took her daughter’s small hands in her own. "I remember, baby. I remember." Her voice was thick with emotion, and she struggled to keep her composure. "But... sometimes people can’t always keep their promises. Not because they don’t want to, but because something happens that they can’t control."

Little Ava’s eyes filled with tears, and her lip quivered as the weight of Jess’s words began to sink in. "But... they promised," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Miko gently pulled little Ava into his lap, wrapping his arms around her small frame. "I know, love," he said softly. "And they’ll do everything they can to come back to you. But right now, we have to be strong for them, just like they’ve always been strong for us."

Little Ava buried her face in Miko’s chest, her small shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Jess reached out and placed her hand on her daughter’s back, tears streaming down her own face as she whispered words of comfort.

After a few moments, little Ava pulled back slightly, wiping her tears with her sleeve. "I’ll be strong," she said, her voice quiet but filled with determination. "And when Auntie Ava comes back, I’ll show her how good I’ve gotten at tying my shoes. And I’ll be ready for when she teaches me how to throw a knife."

Jess smiled through her tears, her heart swelling with pride at her daughter’s resilience. "That’s right, sweetheart. And I know Auntie Ava will be so proud of you."

The conversation left an ache in Jess and Miko’s hearts, but little Ava’s words brought a small spark of hope. Her unwavering belief in her heroes reminded them both that, even in the darkest times, there was still light to be found.

As the family sat together in the quiet of their home, the sound of little Ava’s sniffles slowly faded, replaced by the warmth of their shared embrace. They knew the road ahead would be difficult, but in that moment, little Ava’s unshakable faith gave them the strength they needed to keep going.