Chapter 24: Homecoming and Heart-to-Heart.

It had been over a month since Ava had set foot in Green Arbor. Following her brush with death and the weeks spent in recovery, she had stayed away, isolating herself in the cabin. But after her intense and cathartic moment with Talon earlier that morning, she finally felt the weight lift—just enough to take a tentative step forward.

As she walked through the gates of Green Arbor, the crisp winter air hit her face, filling her lungs with a sharpness she hadn’t felt in weeks. The town was alive with activity, the usual hustle of early winter preparations mixing with the festive energy of the upcoming seasonal festival. People bustled about, stringing up decorations and preparing for the colder days ahead.

For a moment, Ava felt out of place, like she didn’t belong in this lively, moving world anymore. But then, a familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Ava! It’s good to see you!” A shopkeeper called out, his smile warm and welcoming.

Ava managed a smile, nodding at him. “Thank you. It’s good to be back.”

As she continued down the main street, more familiar faces greeted her. Neighbors and traders stopped to ask how she was doing, their faces lighting up at seeing her back on her feet. “We missed you at the market, Ava,” one woman said, “It hasn’t been the same without our favorite Ronin around.” Ava chuckled softly, trying to hide how awkward and surreal it all felt. “I’ve missed you all too,” she replied, though the words felt distant, like she was saying them from behind a glass wall.

She caught a glimpse of Eli across the square. He paused in his step, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. The unspoken tension between them hung in the air, heavy and unresolved. Eli’s gaze softened, but instead of approaching, he turned and walked away, the weight of their distance lingering between them. Ava swallowed the ache in her chest and pushed forward.

Before she knew it, she had arrived at Jess and Miko’s house, her feet guiding her to a place that felt safe, familiar. She stood at the door for a long moment, her hand hovering over the knocker, that old instinct to turn and run pulling at her. But she didn’t. Instead, she knocked, and the door opened almost immediately.

Jess’s face lit up the moment she saw Ava. “Ava! You’re here!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine warmth. She quickly ushered her inside, her eyes searching Ava’s face. “I’m so glad you came.”

Inside, the warmth of the fire and the soft crackle of logs burning in the hearth greeted her, instantly melting away some of the chill that had settled deep in Ava’s bones. Jess guided her to the couch, where they both sat down with cups of hot tea. For a few minutes, they sat in silence, the quiet hum of the fire filling the room.

Finally, Jess broke the silence, her voice gentle but firm. “This is a good first step, Ava. Coming into town, sitting here with me—it’s a start. Talon told me about this morning.”

Ava let out a slow breath, her fingers tightening around the mug. “It doesn’t feel like a start, Jess. It feels like... I don’t know. Like I’m just going through the motions.”

Jess nodded, understanding. “That’s okay. The important thing is that you’re here, and you’re trying. No one’s expecting you to be fully back to normal overnight. This... everything that happened—it takes time. It’s not something you can just shake off.”

Ava looked down, her voice trembling as she spoke. “I’m scared, Jess. Scared that I won’t ever be who I was again. That I’m too far gone.”

Jess leaned in, taking Ava’s hand in hers, squeezing gently. “Ava, you went through something unimaginable. You literally came back from the edge of death. But you’re still here. You’re still you. And maybe, just maybe, you’re even stronger than before.”

Ava’s eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back. “I don’t feel strong. I feel... lost.”

Jess smiled softly. “You’ve been through hell, Ava. It’s okay to feel lost. But you came back today. You came here, to me. That’s a step. And you talked to Talon this morning—that’s another step. You’re not as lost as you think.”

Ava’s lips quirked into a small, sad smile. “You sound like Talon.”

Jess laughed lightly. “Well, I guess you’re stuck with both of us telling you the same thing.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, the crackling fire filling the space between them. Finally, Jess spoke again, her tone playful but filled with warmth. “You know what I think would help?”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Ava raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. “What?”

“A dress. For tonight’s festival.”

Ava let out a soft snort, shaking her head. “Jess, come on. Not again, i don't do dresses ?”

Jess grinned mischievously. “Exactly! No one would expect it. Ava, the Sentinel Ronin, in a dress? It’ll be the talk of the town. And maybe... it’ll remind you that you’re still here, still alive. That there’s more to life than just the battlefields.”

Ava hesitated, the idea feeling both absurd and oddly fitting. “I don’t know, Jess...”

Jess nudged her playfully. “Come on! It’ll be fun. And maybe it’ll show Eli that you’re still the woman he fell in love with. That you’re not just the warrior—you’re Ava.”

The mention of Eli made Ava’s chest tighten, but she couldn’t deny the small spark of hope the idea ignited. “Alright, fine. Let’s find a dress.”

Jess grinned triumphantly, already heading upstairs to rummage through her wardrobe. “You’re going to knock everyone’s socks off, I promise.”

As they searched through Jess’s clothes, the weight on Ava’s shoulders lightened just a little. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make her feel like, maybe, she was starting to find her way back. And as she looked at Jess, her heart swelled with gratitude. She wasn’t alone in this, no matter how lost she felt.

For the first time in weeks, Ava allowed herself to believe that things might actually get better.

As Jess and Ava sifted through the dresses in Jess's bedroom, laughter filled the small space, a rare but welcome sound after all they had been through. Ava eyed the various garments with an uncertain expression, her fingers brushing against the fabrics. "I don’t know, Jess... Aren’t dresses a bit cold for this time of year?"

Jess grinned, already holding up a particularly vibrant, fur-lined wrap. "That’s why I make Talon bring me all those furs from his hunting trips. Plus, you get to show off a little while staying warm. It’s perfect."

Ava caught sight of one dress in particular—a deep green one with a plunging neckline. She raised an eyebrow, giving Jess a doubtful look. "Jess, I’ll spill out of that one. There’s no way I’m wearing it."

Jess chuckled, pushing the dress into Ava’s hands anyway. "Wrap it around your neck, and you’ll be fine. Adds to the mystery. Trust me, you’ll look incredible."

They both laughed, playfully nudging each other as Ava reluctantly stripped down to try on the dress. As she pulled it over her head, Jess's gaze lingered on the fresh scars among the older ones on Ava’s back, a stark reminder of the battles she’d fought—both physically and mentally. Moved by the sight, Jess reached out and placed a gentle hand on Ava’s back.

Ava flinched at the unexpected touch, her muscles tensing under Jess’s hand. "Sorry," Jess whispered softly, stepping back but keeping her eyes on Ava. "I get why you try to keep everything in, but... this? This is too much for anyone to bear alone."

Ava nodded, her breath catching in her throat as she pulled the dress up. Jess helped zip it, stepping back to admire her work with a broad smile. "There, perfect."

Ava looked at herself in the mirror, something unfamiliar twinkling in her eyes. "Thank you. But... what about my boots?"

Jess burst into laughter, shaking her head. "Why change you too much? Keep your boots on. Let’s not mess with who you are, huh?" She winked at Ava, then added, "You’d trip in heels anyway. At least this way you’ll be able to run if you need to."

Ava snorted, pulling on her worn boots. "I can’t walk in those ridiculous shoes, Jess. You know that."

Jess giggled, tossing a fur scarf at her. "Exactly! The boots stay. You’re still Ava, after all." Her laughter was infectious, and soon Ava found herself smiling too, a rare and genuine smile she hadn’t felt in weeks.

As they continued getting ready, Jess paused for a moment, her eyes lighting up mischievously. "Hold on, I’ve got something that’ll make this even better." She rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a bottle of wine. "A little wine before the festival? Just for us."

Ava raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "I don’t know, Jess...."

Jess poured two glasses anyway, pushing one into Ava’s hand with a grin. "Exactly! *its time you live a little more* do this kind of thing. And that’s why tonight we’re going to have fun. Just us. Let your guard down for once."

Ava hesitated for a moment, then took a sip of the wine, feeling its warmth spread through her. Jess beamed, pleased to see her friend loosening up, even if only slightly. They continued trying on dresses, each one more ridiculous than the last, Jess twirling in an overly elaborate gown and making Ava laugh—really laugh—for the first time in what felt like ages.

Jess threw her arm around Ava's shoulder, glass in hand. "You know, seeing you smile like this... I’ve missed it. Talon’s right—you’ve been through hell, but you’re still here. And this, all this," she gestured to the dresses and the laughter, "this is the first step. You’re here with me today, talking, laughing. You even let Talon drag you into some training. It’s a start."

Ava sipped her wine, a faint smile lingering on her lips. "I guess it is. You’ve all been so patient with me."

Jess softened, placing her glass down and meeting Ava’s eyes. "Of course we’ve been patient. We love you, Ava. You don’t have to do this alone. Just take it one step at a time."

They shared a quiet moment, the warmth between them unspoken but palpable. Then Jess clapped her hands together, breaking the solemn mood. "Alright, enough of this serious talk. Let’s get you into that dress and make sure Eli’s jaw hits the floor."

Ava chuckled, slipping into the green dress, feeling strangely lighter. "He won’t know what hit him."

Jess stood back to admire her friend, her eyes gleaming with pride. "You look amazing, Ava. This is the start of something new. Embrace it."

Ava took a deep breath, her fingers brushing the familiar scars beneath the fabric. "Thanks, Jess. For everything."

Jess smiled, wrapping a fur around Ava’s shoulders. "Anytime, Ava. Now, let’s go knock their socks off."

With arms linked and spirits lifted, they made their way out of the house, ready to face the night. The chill in the air and the quiet of winter wrapped around them, but inside, Ava felt a spark of warmth—one that, with time, might just grow into something brighter.