Chapter 14: Training at the Cabin.

The air around Ava and Talon's cabin was crisp and cool, with the early evening sun casting long shadows across the yard. Callie arrived to find Ava and Talon already sparring in front of the cabin. The sound of their movements, quick and sharp, carried through the air as they exchanged punches, kicks, and counters with an almost effortless grace. The fluidity of their motions was like a dance, each one anticipating the other's next move.

Callie stood back for a moment, wide-eyed, watching them go at it. Despite the intensity of their sparring, there was an undeniable lightness between them—playful banter punctuated their movements.

"You missed!" Ava teased as Talon's fist brushed just past her side.

"I wasn’t aiming for you, Blondie. I was aiming for your ego," Talon shot back with a grin.

Ava ducked under his next punch and countered with a quick jab, landing a tap on his ribs. "Well, good luck with that. My ego’s indestructible."

Talon groaned, shaking his head. "You're impossible."

With a final exchange of moves, they broke apart, both of them grinning, slightly winded but clearly having fun. They turned to see Callie standing there, watching them with wide eyes.

"Hey, Callie!" Ava called, waving her over. "You ready for this?"

Callie nodded, though her nerves were evident in the way she held her shoulders. "Yeah, I think so."

Talon walked over, grabbing a bottle of water and tossing one to Ava. He gave Callie a playful nudge with his elbow. "Don't worry, we won't break you on your first day. Not too badly, anyway," he said with a wink.

Ava took a swig of water and smiled at Callie. "We're going to show you a few things today. Don’t worry about getting it right the first time."

Callie smiled nervously, still a bit overwhelmed by their camaraderie and ease. But there was a warmth in their teasing that made her feel like part of something bigger.

"So," Ava began, setting her bottle down. "Talon here is stronger than me—by a lot." She glanced at Talon, who flexed dramatically. "But I have speed on my side. It’s all about using what you've got."

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Talon threw a slow-motion punch toward Ava, who ducked under it and spun gracefully to the side. "You see, he's all brawn," she said, "but sometimes, that makes him predictable."

Talon gave an exaggerated eye roll. "Predictable? I'll show you predictable," he muttered, lunging at her playfully. Ava laughed as she dodged and lightly tapped him on the back.

"See? Too slow, big lad," she teased.

Callie couldn't help but giggle at their antics, feeling her nerves ease.

"But what if someone grabs you or pins you down?" Callie asked, genuinely curious.

Talon groaned dramatically, throwing his head back. "Oh, no. This is the part where I get tossed around like a rag-doll, isn’t it?"

Ava grinned, cracking her knuckles. "Afraid so. Sorry, brother."

Talon sighed, feigning reluctance, and locked Ava’s arm in a tight grip. Without missing a beat, Ava twisted her body, flipped over his shoulder, and in a swift move, had him pinned to the ground with his arm locked.

"See?" Ava said, looking up at Callie with a smile. "It’s all about leverage."

Talon, his face squished against the ground, mumbled, "Yeah... leverage."

Callie’s eyes were wide with admiration. "Wow... I don’t know if I could ever do that."

Ava released Talon and stood up, brushing off her hands. "Oh, you can. Believe me. The first time I tried it, I ended up falling flat on my back. It’s all about practice."

Talon groaned dramatically as he got to his feet, rubbing his arm. "That’s enough demonstrations for today. I’m starting to think you enjoy tossing me around."

Ava winked at him. "Maybe just a little."

They spent the next hour showing Callie various techniques—how to block, how to move, how to use someone’s strength against them. There were a few bumps and bruises along the way, but with each attempt, Callie’s confidence grew.

At one point, Talon stood in front of Callie, ready to let her try the move Ava had just demonstrated. "Okay, Callie, give it your best shot. But be gentle, okay? I bruise easily," he said with a mock pout.

Callie laughed nervously, but with a determined look, she went for it. She grabbed Talon’s arm and, after a moment of struggle, managed to flip him over and pin him down just like Ava had shown her.

Ava let out a cheer. "Yes! Well done, Callie!"

Talon, lying flat on his back, looked up at Callie with a grin. "Okay, okay. You got me. I surrender."

Callie beamed, a big smile spreading across her face as she helped Talon up. Her confidence, which had been shaky at best, was finally beginning to solidify.

"See?" Ava said, clapping her on the back. "You’ve got it in you."

Talon rubbed his arm with a mock grimace. "Yeah, and apparently, you’re a quick learner."

Ava bumped into Callie playfully as they headed toward the cabin. "You’re stronger than you think, Callie. You can do anything you set your mind to."

Callie smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. "Thanks, Ava. That means a lot."

"Don’t thank me," Ava said, opening the cabin door for her. "You’re doing the hard work. We’re just here to help you along the way."

As they walked into the cabin, Talon called after them. "Alright, you two. I’ll make dinner, but no more flipping me around, okay? My ego can only take so much!"

Ava and Callie shared a laugh as they headed inside, the bond between them growing stronger with each passing moment. Inside the cabin, the warmth of friendship and purpose filled the air, as Callie began to feel more and more like part of the family.