Chapter 31: Safety.

The drive had been long and arduous, the forested terrain stretching on endlessly, but finally, the dim outline of a Sentinel outpost appeared on the horizon. Relief washed over Lucas as he nudged Ava’s shoulder gently. “We’re here, Blondie. We made it,” he said, his voice tinged with both exhaustion and relief.

Ava opened her eyes weakly, her gaze unfocused as she looked out the window. The faint outline of Sentinel uniforms moving past them brought a flicker of hope to her eyes, but she was pale, her hand drenched in blood as it clutched the wound in her side. Lucas pulled the vehicle to a stop next to the gate, where a Sentinel guard peered inside, taking in the sight of Ava slumped against the door, blood smeared across her clothing.

Lucas handed over a pass, urgency in his voice. “We need medical attention, now.”

The guard nodded, his expression darkening as he took in the severity of the situation. He immediately reached for his radio, calling for medics to come to the gate. Within moments, they arrived, medics rushing forward to open the vehicle’s door. As they eased the door open, Ava let out a low, painful moan, her body slumping forward. One of the medics reached out, catching her before she could fall.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got you,” the medic said, his voice calm yet firm.

Lucas climbed out and hurried to Ava’s side, his eyes widening as he took in the blood pooling on the passenger seat. He hadn’t realized just how much she’d been holding back. “Jesus, Blondie… why didn’t you tell me it was this bad?”

The medic, working quickly to assess her injuries, shook his head. “This isn’t all her blood,” he muttered as he gently checked her side. He looked up at Lucas, curiosity mixed with respect. “What happened out there?”

“They had to fight their way out of Dust Haven,” Lucas replied, still trying to process the full extent of her condition.

The medic raised his eyebrows, impressed. “That’s no small feat.” He wrapped a bandage tightly around Ava’s torso to stem the bleeding. “You’re one tough one, aren’t you?” he said, a slight smile breaking through as he looked at Ava, noticing her strained expression as she tried to get up again.

Ava, ever defiant, gripped the side of the vehicle, attempting to lift herself up. But her legs buckled, and she fell back against the seat, frustration flashing in her eyes.

“Alright, alright,” Lucas said, sighing as he stepped closer. “Stop being a bloody hero and let them do their job. Stubborn as always, aren’t you, Blondie?”

The medic chuckled, glancing at Lucas. “Let me guess—she’s not a fan of medics?”

Lucas rolled his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips despite his concern. “You could say that. Just stubborn as hell, that’s all.”

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The medics moved in, gently but firmly easing Ava out of the vehicle and onto a stretcher. Ava’s hand slipped from Lucas’s grip, and she winced, breathing heavily as she lay back, visibly worn down. The medics carefully carried her toward the medical unit, one of them murmuring assurances as they moved.

“Don’t worry, you’re safe here,” one of them said, their voices blending into the background as Lucas watched, his face tight with worry. The reality of how close she had come to not making it hit him with full force as he took in the blood-streaked path left behind on the seat.

“Stubborn, yes,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head. “But damn if she isn’t the toughest person I know.”

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Meanwhile, the boat rocked gently on the waves as Talon stood at the bow, looking out over the dark expanse of ocean, his thoughts drifting to Ava. Despite his calm exterior, worry gnawed at him. Ava was more than a friend; she was family, his anchor. He knew she’d been through worse, but this time felt different—closer, sharper. He fought to keep that worry buried, not wanting to let it show.

Behind him, a quiet voice interrupted his thoughts. “Do you think Ava will be alright?”

Talon turned to find Callie standing nearby, her face etched with concern. He offered her a reassuring smile, his tone warm. “She’ll make it, don’t worry. Ava’s gotten out of worse places than this. She’s not the type to let anyone keep her down.”

Callie’s brow furrowed. “Worse than Dust Haven?”

Talon chuckled, leaning back against the railing. “Oh, believe me, this one time she was outnumbered and trapped in some backwater town.” He paused, his eyes lighting up with the memory. “They had her cornered, tied up, thought they had her all figured out. Next thing they know, she’d slipped free, left half of them unconscious, and walked out without a scratch. By the time we found her, she was halfway back to camp, muttering about how ‘idiots like that make her job too easy.’”

Callie’s mouth dropped open in disbelief, a small smile breaking through despite her worry. “She sounds like some sort of legend,” she said softly.

Talon laughed, his eyes reflecting a deep affection for his friend. “A legend? Yeah, that’s one way to put it. But to me, she’s just Ava.” He glanced back at the horizon, his smile fading slightly. “She’s strong, Callie. Stronger than most of us, even on her worst days.”

Callie nodded, but her gaze remained fixed on the water, a quiet worry still lingering. “It’s hard to believe she’s… well, just human like the rest of us. I guess I always saw her as… unstoppable.”

Talon’s smile softened. “She might seem that way, but Ava’s human too. She just hides it better than most.” He hesitated, a flicker of vulnerability slipping through. “But yeah, even though I’m telling you not to worry, I’m… thinking of her too.”

They stood in silence for a moment, letting the quiet settle around them. Callie glanced back at him, sensing his own worry despite the reassurance he offered. “How are you feeling about… finding your mother? It must feel like a lot.”

Talon’s gaze drifted back toward the sea, a quiet thoughtfulness settling over him. “If I’m honest,” he began slowly, “I don’t really know. Hope was… nice. And for a long time, I held onto it. But even daring to believe I’d see her again…” He trailed off, then met Callie’s eyes. “I didn’t think we’d actually find her. The reality is… I’m not sure what to feel.”

Callie smiled, her eyes warm with understanding. “I can’t imagine how that must feel. But I’m glad you found her.”

Talon offered a faint smile in return. “Thanks, Callie.”

They both turned back toward the horizon, Callie finding comfort in Talon’s steadiness. And as the boat moved forward, she could feel a quiet sense of faith, knowing that if Talon could keep going, so could she. The hope for Ava’s safety remained unspoken but present, shared between them as they sailed toward their next destination, carrying their hopes and worries with them.