Chapter 28: Winter-tide Warmth.

Over the next few weeks, winter tightened its grip around Green Arbor, transforming the village into a serene wonderland. Snow draped itself over rooftops, blanketed the fields, and muffled the sounds of daily life, giving the village a quiet, timeless feel. Ava, who had settled into a lighter Sentinel duty schedule—Miko's suggestion, as winter typically slowed threats—spent her days close to home. Most mornings, she and Talon were out front, training in the snow, their breath clouding in the cold air as they sparred. By night, their cabin was often filled with warmth, laughter, and the quiet camaraderie of friends.

Eli and Ava had found a rhythm again. They shared quiet moments on the porch, sipping hot drinks while watching snowflakes tumble from the sky, or took slow walks through the woods, the crunch of snow under their boots the only sound around them. It was peaceful, a time for both to heal in each other’s company.

Sarah, whose assignment with the injured ADF soldiers had extended unexpectedly due to the heavy snowfalls, found herself spending more and more time with Talon. It was new for him, grounding even, and while he tried to hide it, Ava could see how much Sarah’s presence was beginning to mean to him.

One evening, as the orange glow of the setting sun lit the sky and reflected off the snowy landscape, Talon was out back, working on a new set of knives. His hands moved with the precision of someone who had spent a lifetime crafting, the blade glinting in the fading light. Ava leaned against the porch railing, watching him with an amused smile. There was something calming about the sound of the blade being sharpened, the steady scrape of metal on stone.

“So, who are you making those for?” Ava called out, her tone teasing. “And don’t say baby Talon; Jess would kill you.”

Talon chuckled without looking up, his focus still on the blade. “No, he’s already got a set. You know how Jess feels about starting them young,” he joked, giving the blade one last pass over the stone. “These are for Sarah. Figured she could use them. Medics need to protect themselves too.”

Ava’s eyebrows rose in amusement. “Oh? For Sarah, huh?” She sauntered over, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “I see. You like her, don’t you?”

Talon glanced up, rolling his eyes and tossing a piece of cloth at her. “Shut up.”

Ava caught the cloth midair, still grinning. “You do, don’t you? Talon’s gone soft,” she teased, her voice sing-song. "I mean, look at you, making knives for someone other than yourself? That's a sure sign of affection."

Talon shook his head with a grin, returning to his polishing. “She’s nice. But you know how it is… If orders come down, she’s gone. She was only here with the ADF to help with the wounded. Now winter’s hit, she’s just waiting it out. It’s nothing serious.”

“Uh-huh,” Ava replied, clearly not buying it. “Lucky for you, though. It’s about time you got a little more... grounded. Seeing you not racing off every chance you get is a good look for you.”

Talon shot her a sidelong glance. “Wow, advice from the person I had to drag out of bed a few weeks ago? Is this where I remind you how you nearly bit my hand off for trying to help?”

Ava laughed, tossing the cloth back at him. “I *could* have been naked, you know.”

Talon burst out laughing. “Please, we shared a barracks for three years. Nothing I haven’t seen before.”

With a playful grin, Ava lunged at him, playfully slapping his arm. “You’re insufferable, you know that?” she said between laughs, pretending to square up for a fight.

Talon held up his hands, surrendering with a chuckle. “Hey, at least you’re back to your usual self. It’s good to see you smiling and playing again, Blondie.”

Ava dropped her mock fighting stance, her expression softening. “Thank you,” she said sincerely. “A big part of that is because of you, Talon. You helped me get back on my feet.”

“Yeah, well,” Talon replied, suddenly feeling awkward under the weight of her gratitude, “someone’s gotta keep you in check. Can’t have you going soft on us.”

They stood there for a moment, a comfortable silence settling between them as the sky continued to darken.

Talon broke the quiet with a grin. “So, we’ve got everyone coming for dinner tonight. I brought some furs in for Jess earlier, and I figured, why not make a night of it?”

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Ava raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk on her lips. “Let me guess, Jess is in love with your cooking. You think you’re winning her over with food?”

“Hey,” Talon said with mock offense, “everyone loves my cooking. I might have missed my calling.”

Ava laughed as they headed back inside, the warmth of the cabin instantly wrapping them in comfort. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were trying to be domestic.”

Talon shrugged, his eyes twinkling. “Maybe I’m just full of surprises.”

As they settled inside, the crackling fire and the smell of Talon’s ’s cooking filled the room. Ava couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. These moments of peace, of warmth and laughter, reminded her of everything they had fought for. And here, surrounded by the people she loved, Ava finally felt at home.

That evening, the cabin buzzed with warmth and the sounds of laughter as friends and family filled the space. The soft glow from the fire cast long shadows across the wooden walls, making the place feel like a haven against the biting cold outside. Jess, Miko, Eli, Sarah, and the kids filled the room with cheerful conversation, their voices blending with the crackle of the fire and the clink of cups and cutlery.

Talon, ever the host, handed Jess a bundle of freshly cured furs from his recent hunting trips. "Here you go, Jess. Should keep you warm through this winter. Maybe make a pair of those fancy mittens you’re always talking about," he said with a grin.

Jess's eyes lit up as she felt the softness of the furs. "Thank you, Talon! These are perfect. I’ve already got some ideas for mittens—and maybe even a new coat for little Ava." She gave the furs an appreciative stroke, her mind already working on the winter garments she would craft.

Meanwhile, Sarah, standing by the hearth, looked on with curiosity. "Jess, I’ve heard a bit about your medical skills during the Siege of Green Arbor," she started, her tone casual but intrigued. "You trained as a Sentinel medic, right?"

Jess nodded. "I did, but I wouldn’t say I’m an expert. Just enough to patch up the messes these two get into." She gestured playfully at Ava and Talon.

Sarah smiled warmly. "That’s more than enough for what we need. I’m helping to set up a new medical center here, and we could really use someone like you. If you’re up for it, that is."

Jess looked pleasantly surprised, her eyes meeting Sarah’s with interest. "I’d love to help," she said. "I’m no doctor, but I’ll do whatever I can."

Little Ava, clutching her aunt's hand, chimed in with her own excited news. "Auntie Ava, guess what! I’m learning how to sneak up on Mommy, just like you taught me!" she exclaimed proudly, puffing out her chest.

Ava laughed, ruffling her niece’s hair. "That’s my girl! But remember, sneaking is a responsibility. Only for special missions, okay?"

"Okay!" the little girl said with a grin, clearly thrilled to be taking after her auntie.

Across the room, Eli and Miko were deeply engrossed in a conversation about ADF strategies for the upcoming winter months, but Jess, ever the playful disruptor, stepped in. "Hey! No work talk tonight. This is a gathering, not a council meeting!"

Eli and Miko both raised their hands in mock surrender, laughing as Jess returned to her seat.

As the night deepened, Talon stood up from his place by the stove, turning to the group with a dramatic flair. "Alright, everyone! Dinner’s ready! And I’m warning you, this might just be my best work yet."

The rich smell of roasted meats and hearty vegetables filled the cabin, and everyone moved to the table, their stomachs grumbling in anticipation. Ava gently pulled Eli by the hand, guiding him to sit beside her, their fingers naturally intertwining.

As they ate, the table was filled with the sounds of clinking cutlery and bursts of laughter. At one point, Talon launched into one of his infamous stories, this time recounting the time Ava had supposedly started a scuffle at a Sentinel outpost. "So there we were, surrounded, and what does Ava do? She grabs the nearest mug and throws it at the biggest guy in the room!"

Ava quickly shot back, eyes twinkling, "That was you, Talon! I was trying to calm things down, and you went full rogue!"

The table erupted into laughter, with Sarah leaning in to say, "I have a feeling there’s more truth to Ava’s version of events."

Talon waved his hand dismissively, "Ah, details, details."

As the plates began to clear, Talon stood up with a glass of wine in hand, his expression unusually serious for a moment. "It’s been a tough year for all of us," he began, his voice carrying a note of sincerity. "But it’s good to be here, together, to see it through. Old friends, new friends..." His gaze lingered on Sarah, who smiled back warmly. "We’ve made it this far, and we’ll make it further. So, here’s to us—our little family."

Everyone raised their glasses, echoing Talon’s words. "To old friends and new."

After dinner, while Jess was entertaining little Ava with stories, Talon grabbed Sarah by the hand, pulling her outside into the crisp winter night. "Come on, time for your knife lesson."

Sarah’s eyes widened in mock alarm. "Oh, no, you’re really serious about this?"

Talon laughed as he led her outside, where a set of targets had been set up. "Of course I am. How else are you going to defend yourself when things get ugly?"

Ava and Jess watched from the window, their breath fogging up the cold glass as they saw Sarah hesitantly taking the first knife from Talon’s hand. "You’ve got to admit, they’re kind of cute together," Jess whispered, nudging Ava with a knowing smile.

Ava nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, I guess they are. And it’s good for him. He’s more... grounded these days."

Jess chuckled softly. "You’re both in a good place. That’s all I ever wanted for the two of you."

They stood in comfortable silence, watching as Talon demonstrated the proper throwing technique while Sarah watched with a mix of amusement and interest. Despite the chill outside, the warmth of their bonds filled the cabin, reminding them that they were never truly alone. The night was theirs, filled with laughter, quiet moments, and the promise of more to come.