Chapter 15: A Night at the Cabin.

Talon moved around the kitchen with ease, a natural in his element. Pots bubbled and steamed while the scent of roasted vegetables and sizzling meat filled the cabin. He had taken on the role of the group's chef, a position he embraced wholeheartedly, and it showed in every dish he prepared.

Callie stood nearby, watching him with admiration. She’d never seen anyone cook like Talon, and the casual way he worked made it look effortless. "Is there anything I can help with?" she asked, feeling the need to contribute.

Talon looked up from the pan he was seasoning, a warm smile on his face. "Nah, you’re good. Just take a seat and relax. Cooking's my therapy."

Callie hesitated for a moment before sitting down at the small table, feeling a bit out of place. But there was something comforting about the cabin—its warmth, the coziness, the sounds of family and friends. As she settled in, she decided to ask something that had been on her mind for a while.

"Talon... can I ask you something?"

"Sure, kiddo," he replied, tossing some herbs into the pot with a flourish. "Ask away."

"How did Ava get so good at... everything? I mean, everyone talks about her at the base. She’s kind of a legend."

Talon chuckled softly, stirring the pot with a wooden spoon. "A legend, huh? Don’t let her hear you say that. She’s not too fond of the titles."

Callie blinked in surprise. "Really? She seems so fearless, like nothing bothers her."

Talon’s expression softened as he glanced toward the door, where Ava was drying her hair after a quick wash. "It’s not that she’s fearless," he said quietly. "She’s just learned how to push through the fear. If she fails, if she loses... people get hurt. That’s the fear she carries. It’s why she fights that much harder."

Callie thought about that for a moment, her admiration for Ava deepening. "Has she ever... lost?"

Talon’s smile faded slightly. "Yeah, we’ve lost a few battles. Had to run for our lives more than once. But that’s how you learn. Winning’s great, but the lessons are in the losses."

The room grew quiet for a moment, the weight of Talon’s words sinking in. Callie admired how open he was about their struggles, and how it didn’t seem to diminish them at all. If anything, it made them seem stronger.

"I’m really grateful for the chance to be here with you guys," Callie said, her voice soft. "I’ll try not to let you down."

Talon looked over at her, his eyes warm with understanding. "You’re not letting anyone down. Just do your best. That’s all anyone can ask."

Suddenly, Talon raised his voice, calling toward the door. "Oi, Blondie! Food’s almost done!"

"I’m coming!" Ava’s voice rang out, followed by the sound of footsteps as she approached the kitchen. Her damp hair was tousled, and she was toweling off her hands as she walked in.

But before Ava could reach the table, the door burst open with a loud thud, and a small blonde whirlwind came rushing in. "Auntie Ava!" Little Ava squealed, almost bowling Talon over as she raced through the door.

Ava laughed, catching the little girl in her arms. "Hey, you! What’s all this excitement about?"

Little Ava launched into a rapid-fire explanation about Echo, her eyes wide with wonder as she told Ava about the stories she’d been hearing at school. "And then he told us about the old world! There were these big cities and cars everywhere! He knows everything, Auntie Ava!"

Jess, Miko, baby Talon, and Lucas followed the little girl inside, all of them smiling as they greeted each other. The room filled with warmth as they exchanged hugs and greetings, the atmosphere bright and full of life.

Jess spotted Callie and beamed, walking over to introduce herself. "So you’re Callie! It’s lovely to finally meet you. Miko and Lucas have told me a lot about you."

Callie smiled shyly, returning the hug Jess offered. "It’s nice to meet you too, Jess. Thank you for letting me stay with you."

"Of course!" Jess replied with a warm laugh. "It’ll be nice to have someone else around the house. You know, someone who doesn’t turn the place upside down like these two do," she said, nodding toward Ava and Talon.

Ava feigned offense. "Hey! We’re not that bad."

Talon grinned as he laid out the food on the table. "Yeah, apparently we’re the twins of chaos now."

Ava smirked, placing a hand on her hip. "Twins? You wish. You’ve got the looks, but I’ve got the brains."

Talon raised his hands in surrender, laughing. "Alright, alright. But let’s not forget who’s the better cook."

Ava rolled her eyes, but there was a playful smile on her face. "Okay, I’ll give you that one. But that’s all you’re getting."

The banter continued, light and easy, as everyone gathered around the table. Talon dished out food, and the room was soon filled with the sounds of clinking cutlery and cheerful conversation.

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As they ate, Ava leaned over to Callie, who was sitting beside her. "Feeling better?"

Callie nodded, her smile soft. "Yeah. It’s nice to be here... with everyone. It feels like home."

Ava gave her a knowing look. "That’s because it is home. And you’re part of it now."

Talon chimed in from across the table, his voice warm and sincere. "And if you ever need anything, just ask. We’re all in this together, Callie."

Callie’s heart swelled with gratitude. "Thank you. Really, I mean it."

Ava raised her glass, offering a small toast. "To family. The one we’re born into, and the one we choose."

The others followed suit, raising their glasses with smiles all around.

"Now, let’s eat!" Talon declared, his voice filled with joy as he passed around the food. The laughter and conversation carried on into the evening, filling the cabin with a sense of belonging and hope.

As the night wore on, Callie found herself feeling more at ease, surrounded by people who believed in her. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she truly belonged.

As the warm glow of the fire flickered in the hearth, the lively chatter around the dinner table only grew more energetic. Talon's culinary masterpiece was at the center of attention, with everyone savoring the meal and trading lighthearted stories. The sound of clinking cutlery and laughter filled the cabin, giving the room a comfortable, homey atmosphere.

Jess, ever the connector, turned her focus to Callie, who had been quietly enjoying her meal, content to listen to the banter. "So, Callie," Jess began with a warm, welcoming smile, "tell us a little more about yourself. What brought you to join the Sentinels?"

All eyes turned to Callie, who blinked in surprise at suddenly being the center of attention. She swallowed her bite of food and gathered her thoughts, feeling a mix of nerves and a strange sense of belonging that encouraged her to speak up.

"Well," Callie began, her voice soft but growing in confidence, "I grew up in a small settlement not far from here. My parents were farmers. We had a quiet life—simple, but it was home."

"Did you have any siblings?" Miko asked, his curiosity genuine as he leaned forward.

"No, it was just me, my mom, and my dad," Callie answered. "They taught me everything about farming, how to grow crops, and take care of the land. But I always felt like I wanted to do something... more. Something beyond the fields. That’s when I started thinking about the Sentinels."

Ava, who had been listening intently, nodded with understanding. "That desire to protect others, to make a difference... It’s what brought a lot of us here."

Callie smiled, gaining a bit of confidence from Ava’s words. "Exactly. My parents were always so protective of me, and I wanted to do the same for others. Joining the Sentinels felt like a way to honor them, to protect people the way they always tried to protect me."

Talon, who had been casually leaning back in his chair, smiled approvingly. "That’s no small decision, Callie. Leaving home, stepping into the unknown to become a Sentinel—it takes guts."

Callie blushed slightly, ducking her head. "Thanks, Talon. It hasn’t been easy, but I’m determined to see it through."

Lucas, always keen to understand what motivated others, chimed in next. "What’s been the hardest part so far?"

Callie paused for a moment, her brow furrowed as she considered the question. "Honestly? The physical training. I’m not as strong or as fast as the others, and sometimes... sometimes it feels like I’ll never catch up. But I’m trying. Ava and Talon have been a huge help."

Jess, always nurturing, leaned in with a reassuring smile. "You’re doing great, Callie. Don’t forget, strength isn’t just about muscle. It’s about heart and determination too. And from what I’ve seen, you’ve got plenty of both."

"She’s right," Ava agreed with a wink. "You’ve got what it takes, Callie. You just need to keep pushing."

Encouraged by their support, Callie decided to share something deeper, something that had been weighing on her. "Before I joined the Sentinels, there was an attack on my settlement. Raiders came through, and I was terrified... but I managed to help some of my neighbors get to safety. That moment... that was when I knew I wanted to be more, to do more. I wanted to protect people."

The table grew quiet as Callie’s words hung in the air. Her voice trembled slightly as she continued. "My parents... they didn’t make it. My dad tried to protect us, went after the raiders, but he never came back. And my mom... she was a healer. She tried to keep things together after the attack, but she got sick—an infection. There wasn’t anything we could do. She passed when I was fifteen, just before I left for Sentinel training."

Jess reached over, gently placing her hand on Callie’s. "I’m so sorry, Callie. I can’t imagine how hard that must’ve been."

Callie nodded, her eyes glistening as she tried to hold back tears. "It’s been tough. Especially with Darren... one of the cadets. He’s been bullying me, saying no one wants me around, that I’m just a burden."

Ava’s expression darkened as she leaned forward. "That ends now, i think talon has already sorted out that problem for you. You’re not a burden, Callie. Not here, not anywhere. You’ve earned your place, and no one has the right to make you feel otherwise."

Jess squeezed Callie’s hand tighter. "You’re not alone, Callie. We’ve all had our struggles, and we’re here for you."

Feeling the warmth of their words, Callie smiled, though tears slipped down her cheeks. "Thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this... accepted before."

Ava gave her a soft smile. "You’re part of this family now. We’ve got your back."

Just then, little Ava, full of energy, broke the emotional moment with a bright giggle. "Uncle Talon! Tell the story about the time Auntie Ava tried to cook!"

The table erupted in laughter, the tension dissolving as Talon grinned mischievously. "Oh, that one, huh? Are you sure you want to hear it, Callie? It might scare you off."

Ava rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile. "Go on, then. But remember, I’ve got plenty of dirt on you, Talon."

Talon leaned back, crossing his arms dramatically. "Alright, here it is. Picture this: Blondie here decides she’s going to cook us all a feast. But instead of following a recipe, she just... wings it."

Ava groaned. "In my defense, how hard could it be to roast a chicken?"

Talon grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Hard, apparently. The cabin was full of smoke, we had to evacuate the cabin, and the chicken... well, let’s just say it was more charcoal than meat."

"Ava handed out marshmallows," Jess started to tell Callie, "she told us all to roast them on the fireplace "

The table burst into laughter, and even Callie couldn’t help but giggle. Ava playfully swatted Talon’s arm. "You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Never," Talon replied with a wink. "It’s too good of a story."

As the laughter died down, Callie realized she was part of something bigger than herself. This group, this family, had taken her in without hesitation. And for the first time in a long while, she felt like she truly belonged.

Ava caught Callie’s eye and gave her a gentle smile. "See? Told you it’d be fun."

Callie nodded, her heart lighter than it had been in months. "Yeah, you were right."

The conversation continued, filled with more stories, laughter, and the warmth of companionship. Callie sat back in her chair, feeling the weight of her past slowly lift from her shoulders. She was no longer just a cadet trying to prove herself—she was part of a family, and that made all the difference.