Chapter 3: Old Friends and New Adventures.
Later that evening, Ava, Talon, Lucas, Jess, and Miko gathered at Ava and Talon’s cabin. The Phoenix Squad, reunited once more, filled the room with laughter and the comforting sound of shared memories. The smell of Talon’s cooking filled the air as everyone dug into the food.
Jess, leaning back in her chair, took another bite of Talon’s dish, sighing in delight. “Sorry, Miko, but I’m leaving you for Talon. His cooking’s just too good.”
Talon chuckled, wiping his hands on a towel. “I’ll take that as a compliment! Guess you’re stuck with Ava now, Miko.”
Miko shot back, “As long as I don’t have to feed her, I’ll take my chances.”
Ava, mid-bite, faked offense. “Excuse me! I’m not some stray cat you can just pass around!”
Without missing a beat, the entire group chimed in unison, “Yes, you are!”
Laughter erupted, filling the cabin, and even Ava couldn’t help but laugh along with them.
As the meal went on, Talon glanced briefly at the drawing Jess had made of him and Sarah, a quiet reflection passing over his face. Jess noticed, leaned over, and gently squeezed his hand. “You’re doing amazing, Talon,” she whispered with a soft smile.
Talon nodded appreciatively, before launching into a new story. “You want to hear amazing? Lucas, did you hear about Ava trying to pry my chicken recipe out of me in the middle of a firefight?”
Lucas nearly spat out his drink, laughing. “No! That sounds exactly like her.”
“It is,” Talon confirmed, leaning back with a smirk. “Grenades going off, bullets flying—Blondie over here is shouting, ‘What’s in the marinade, Talon?!’”
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Ava, completely unbothered, shrugged. “I needed to know. You take that recipe to the grave, and we’re all doomed.”
Lucas shook his head, grinning. “This is why you two are banned from teaching cadets.”
“We know,” Ava grinned back. “Jess had to put a gag order on our stories. Apparently, they’re ‘not suitable for young minds.’”
Miko piped in, “That’s because Little Ava tried to build a bear trap after hearing your cave story and nearly took my leg off.”
Jess laughed and shook her head. “Trust you two to make bear traps sound like a good idea.”
As the conversation flowed, Ava turned to Lucas, her curiosity piqued. “So, what’s this mission you’ve got me roped into? And don’t say teaching cadets.”
Lucas leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly for effect. “You’ll be heading through some old city ruins not far from here. It’s a place I’d rather avoid, to be honest. Gives me the creeps. Feels like we’re being watched the whole time.”
Ava shivered dramatically, playing along. “Wow, the mighty Ronin teacher scared of ghosts and shadows?”
“I’ll have you know, I’ve read enough to know when to avoid trouble. Maybe I’ll lend you ‘Dracula’ next time we’re swapping stories,” Lucas replied with a grin.
Ava rolled her eyes, smirking. “Deal. But you’re coming with me, right?”
“Of course,” Lucas nodded. “It’ll only be a day or two. With the jeeps, we can be in and out before you have time to freak out about the ghosts.”
Talon, who had been quietly enjoying his food, finally chimed in with his usual dry wit, “I give it 20 minutes before Blondie gets bored and starts asking the ghosts about the chicken recipe.”
Ava shot him a playful glare. “You know what, Talon? One day, I’m going to figure out that recipe, and when I do, I’m not sharing it with any of you,” laughing to herself.
“Good luck with that,” Talon laughed. “I’d like to see you try.”
Lucas, still grinning, leaned back in his chair. “You two are something else. How do you even function on the battlefield?”
“They don’t,” Miko chimed in. “they just wing it.”
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As the evening drew on, the laughter settled into a comfortable rhythm, and the warmth of the fire seemed to pull the group closer. Ava leaned back, glancing between her old friends, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. She wasn’t just a soldier, a fighter, or a Ronin—she was part of something bigger, something worth protecting.
And as Talon passed her another drink, she realized that moments like these, surrounded by family—however unconventional—were what made all the battles, all the risks, and all the scars worth it.