Echoes of Loss, Sparks of Resolve

That evening, the air inside Janzo's lab felt heavy, each breath thick with grief and leftover smoke. The group gathered there after Tony's burial, slumped on benches and crates, their faces hollow from loss and exhaustion.

A lantern burned low in the corner, its glow throwing restless shadows across the walls. Talon sat on a stool, her arm propped up as Janzo carefully cleaned and wrapped the deep gash along her forearm. She winced occasionally but didn't flinch away, her mind clearly far beyond the pain.

Garrett had left earlier, retreating to his own quarters in silence. Nyrielle leaned against a post nearby, her armor removed, eyes downcast as she absentmindedly turned a dagger in her hand.

Talon's gaze was distant, her free hand tapping against her leg. Finally, she broke the silence, her voice rough and low.

"There's something I've been holding back… something I haven't told anyone." She glanced up, locking eyes with Janzo and Nyrielle. "My kinje… it can summon the Lu-Qiri. It's a creature of the void, bound to my will. If I bring it here, it could fight with us — for us."

Janzo's fingers froze mid-wrap, his mouth falling open. "A… a what? A creature? You mean there's more magic in you than just that mark?" His voice quivered between awe and fear.

Nyrielle pushed off the post, her eyes wide. "You can summon a beast? Why didn't you say so before?"

Talon's jaw tensed. "I wasn't sure if it was strong enough. I didn't know if I could control it in a place like this… around so many people."

Nyrielle stepped closer, her expression shifting from shock to cautious hope. "If it can fight, we need it. We can't keep losing people like Tony."

Talon nodded slowly, her eyes shadowed. "I'll try tomorrow. We'll need every advantage we can get."

Silence settled again. The quiet crackling of the lantern filled the room, each pop echoing in their chests.

Janzo finally finished the bandage on her arm, his hands lingering on her skin. His eyes flicked up to her face, searching, trembling slightly.

"Thank you," Talon whispered, her voice softening.

Janzo swallowed hard, then leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.

She responded instantly, her fingers curling into his shirt, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened, long and desperate, as if they were trying to breathe life into each other through that shared moment. When they finally pulled away, both of them were gasping, their foreheads resting together.

"You're not alone," Janzo murmured, his thumb brushing her cheek. "You'll never be alone."

Outside, the sky had deepened to a velvety black, stars beginning to blink awake overhead. They lay down together on the cot in the corner, Janzo's arms wrapped tight around her, Talon's head nestled against his chest. Despite the cold, they kept each other warm, their bodies tangled as the grief and exhaustion finally pulled them into sleep.

Across the Outpost, Garrett sat alone in his quarters. He hadn't lit a fire; the room lay in heavy shadow. He leaned against the edge of his bed, staring blankly at a half-polished sword lying on the floor.

Tony's laugh echoed in his mind. His stubborn grin. The way he always stood slightly too close, always ready with a reckless comment that somehow softened the sharpest edges of battle.

Garrett pressed a hand to his forehead, his eyes burning. He swallowed hard, the pain twisting so deep it felt like a blade in his chest.

"Idiot," he muttered, voice cracking. "Why did you have to play the hero?"

He knew they would be congratulated by Queen Rosmund in the morning — praised for their stand, for protecting the Outpost against the impossible. But tonight, there was no glory. Only a hollow silence and an empty space where a friend had been.

He closed his eyes and let himself lean fully into the pain, the memories. When sleep finally took him, he still felt Tony's absence pressing against his ribs, heavy and cold.

Back in Janzo's lab, Talon slept in Janzo's arms, her breath slow and steady. Tomorrow would bring new plans, new fights, and perhaps new hope with the Lu-Qiri.

But tonight, they held on to each other, the echo of Tony's spirit curling in the corners of the room like a fading ghost, whispering that they must carry on.