Chapter 25: The Festival.

The festival in Green Arbor buzzed with energy, the night air alive with the sounds of laughter, music, and the clinks of glasses. Lanterns hung from trees and tents, casting a warm golden glow over the gathering as the community came together to celebrate the winter season. Ava, wrapped in her bold yet elegant dress, stood beside Jess, both of them holding steaming cups of mulled wine. Heads turned as they walked through the crowd, whispers of admiration following in their wake.

“You’re definitely turning some heads tonight,” Jess teased, nudging Ava with her elbow.

Ava smirked, rolling her eyes. “I feel ridiculous.”

“No, you look amazing. Own it,” Jess said, giving Ava an encouraging smile.

Before Ava could respond, Talon appeared, his arm linked with Sarah, the medic he had cheekily kissed after the Reclaimer battle. Sarah smiled warmly as they approached, her eyes flickering to Ava. "Hey, Ava. Nice to see you up and about. How’re you holding up?"

"Getting there, thanks to you and everyone else," Ava replied, feeling a little more at ease in the festive atmosphere, though her nerves still simmered beneath the surface.

Talon grinned, looking Ava up and down. "And thanks to Jess's fashion advice, apparently. You look... well, you clean up pretty good, Blondie."

Jess laughed, raising her cup. "To new beginnings and old friends."

They toasted, and as the group clinked glasses, Miko appeared, guiding Eli through the crowd. Eli’s eyes widened when he spotted Ava, his breath catching at the sight of her in the dress. For a moment, he just stood there, staring, before regaining his composure.

“Wow, Ava... you look... incredible,” he stammered, clearly taken aback.

Ava, slightly blushing but trying to play it cool, managed a small smile. "Thanks, Eli. And I... I wanted to say I’m sorry. For pushing you away, for everything. I was a mess, and I didn’t handle things well. You mean a lot to me, and I don’t want to lose you."

Eli's expression softened, relief and affection evident in his eyes. "Ava, I’ve missed you. I’ve missed us. We don’t have to fix everything tonight, but... just tell me we can start again?"

Ava’s voice was steady as she nodded. "Yes, we can start over."

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Jess, sensing the moment, nudged Ava playfully. "Go on, you two. You’ve got a lot of catching up to do."

Eli offered his arm, and Ava hesitated only for a second before taking it. Together, they walked away from the group, weaving through the crowd as soft lantern light bathed the streets of Green Arbor in a warm glow. Jess watched them go, a satisfied smile on her face.

"You’re welcome," she called after them with a laugh.

Back with the group, Sarah gave Talon a mischievous smile and nudged him. "So... you haven’t told your friends about me yet, huh?" she teased, playfully hitting his arm. Talon, momentarily flustered, turned a shade of pink that made everyone, including Miko, burst into laughter.

"Hey, I didn’t want to brag," Talon tried to recover, rubbing the back of his neck. "Besides, some things are better kept private."

Sarah grinned, clearly enjoying his embarrassment. "You? Keeping something private? Now that’s a first."

Talon shot Miko a mock glare as he chuckled. "And you’re not helping."

Miko raised his glass, still laughing. "Sorry, mate, but seeing you squirm is too much fun."

As the laughter subsided, Talon put an arm around Sarah and gave a mock sigh. "Fine, fine. Yes, I might’ve planted a kiss on this one, but only because she saved Ava life. I mean, what else was I supposed to do?"

Sarah laughed, elbowing him gently again. "You’re just lucky I didn’t punch you for it."

Their banter flowed easily, the warmth of the conversation matching the festive energy of the night. Meanwhile, Ava and Eli strolled through the festival, their conversation taking a more serious tone.

“I’ve been dealing with a lot, Eli. I didn’t know how to talk about it, how to let anyone in,” Ava admitted, her voice soft, tinged with vulnerability.

Eli listened, his brow furrowing slightly as he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Ava, it’s okay. We don’t need to figure it all out right now. Just know... I’m here. When you’re ready to talk, I’m here.”

His words touched something deep inside her, a place she’d been keeping locked away for too long. She met his gaze and nodded, feeling a small weight lift from her shoulders. The sound of soft music drifted through the air, and without a word, Eli extended his hand.

Ava hesitated but then took his hand, allowing herself to be led to the dance floor. As they moved together to the slow rhythm of the music, she rested her head on Eli’s shoulder, the tension between them beginning to melt away.

From a short distance, Jess, Talon, Sarah, and Miko watched them, smiles playing on their lips.

"They’re finally finding their way back to each other," Jess said softly, her eyes bright with happiness.

Talon took a sip of his drink and nodded. "Yeah, sometimes people just need a little push in the right direction."

Miko glanced at Talon with a smirk. "You sure you didn’t hit her a little too hard in that training session?" he joked, giving Talon a playful nudge.

Talon laughed, shaking his head. "Nah, that’s all them. They just needed to remember what they’ve always had."

Sarah leaned against Talon, smiling up at him. "It’s a good night," she said quietly, her voice filled with contentment.

Talon wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "Yeah, it really is."

As the night wore on and the festival buzzed with joy and celebration, the group remained close, enjoying the simple pleasures of friendship, laughter, and new beginnings. The weight of the past months seemed to lift, if only for a little while, and for the first time in a long time, Ava allowed herself to be present—fully and completely—with those who mattered most.