Chapter 4: A Night of Reflections.
The soft glow of lanterns flickered in Miko and Jess's backyard, casting warm light over the gathering. The evening had settled in, bringing with it a calmness that felt at odds with the tension hanging in the air after Ava’s return to Green Arbor. Despite the heaviness of the past few days, tonight was a brief pause—a chance for friends to reconnect and take comfort in each other’s company.
Ava sat at the edge of the group, quietly absorbing the moment. The sounds of laughter and the sizzle of food on the grill filled the space, offering a temporary refuge from the looming conflict.
The gate creaked open, and the group turned as Lucas walked in, Talon right behind him. Talon’s familiar grin stretched across his face as he spread his arms wide. “Hope there’s still food left for us!” he announced.
Ava’s face broke into a grin as she stood up, walking over to hug him. “Talon! How’d you manage to get out?” she asked, her voice a mix of relief and amusement.
Laughing, Talon hugged her tightly. “You, Blondie! I think Commander Sterling got scared after your little showdown. Couldn’t risk losing his best scout.”
Ava chuckled, shaking her head. “More like Sterling finally realized he needs all hands on deck.”
Lucas followed with his usual calm, giving Ava a small nod. “It took some convincing,” he added, a hint of a grin playing on his lips. “But we’re here now.”
With everyone gathered, the evening settled into a familiar rhythm, filled with quiet moments and shared stories. The fire crackled as Jess served more food, and Miko leaned back, observing the scene with a contented smile.
“So, Blondie,” Miko began, breaking the calm with a grin, “You and Lucas had quite the adventure out there. Care to share?”
Ava raised an eyebrow, glancing at Lucas, who was already shaking his head with a knowing smile. “Oh, it was nothing,” Ava started, her tone light but with a glint in her eye. “Just another day of Lucas teaching kids while I fought off wastelanders.”
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Talon's expression shifted to one of curiosity. “Wait, hold on—what?”
Ava smirked, looking around at her friends. “So there I am, outside this little outpost, dealing with some wastelanders who decided they didn’t like Sentinels. Meanwhile, Lucas is inside, calmly teaching the kids.”
Lucas sighed, rubbing his temples. “Here we go…”
Jess leaned forward, intrigued. “What do you mean, teaching?”
Ava laughed, leaning back in her chair. “While I’m outside taking down these guys, Lucas is inside, using it as a *teachable moment*—explaining Sentinel combat tactics to the kids like it’s a damn classroom!”
The group erupted in laughter, and even Eli couldn’t help but grin, though he shook his head in disbelief. “You’re serious?”
“Oh, dead serious,” Ava replied, still laughing. “I’m out there fighting for my life, and I hear him through the window talking about ‘combat maneuvering’ and ‘flanking techniques.’”
Lucas shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Well, they needed to learn, didn’t they? And to be fair, Ava, you handled it like a pro. Textbook moves.”
Talon wiped his eyes, trying to catch his breath. “Leave it to Lucas to turn a fight into a history lesson.”
Miko clapped his hands, leaning into the story. “I can just see it now—Lucas with a pointer, narrating Ava’s moves like it’s a training video.”
Ava shook her head, grinning. “I swear, next time, you can go outside, and I’ll give the lecture.”
Lucas chuckled. “Deal. But we both know you wouldn’t last five minutes explaining Sentinel history without getting distracted by the fighting.”
The laughter that followed was the kind that felt rare in these times—genuine, carefree, and full of camaraderie. For a moment, the weight of the world outside Green Arbor’s walls disappeared, replaced by the shared bond of friendship.
As the laughter subsided, Eli leaned over to Miko, his voice quieter but still carrying the seriousness of their situation. “I’ll take Jess and the kids to my family’s farm tomorrow,” he said. “It’ll be safer there.”
Miko nodded, his gratitude clear. “Thank you, Eli. That means a lot.”
The night continued, the conversation shifting between light-hearted stories and the more sobering reality of their lives as Sentinels. But for now, they were together, finding comfort in each other’s company, even as the challenges ahead loomed on the horizon.
As the fire died down, Ava found herself looking around at her friends, feeling the rare peace of the moment. Tomorrow would bring new battles, new challenges—but for tonight, they had each other. And for now, that was enough.