As Ava ___ nearby, gathering her courage, Crossword Clue

 The answer to the crossword clue "As Ava ___ nearby, gathering her courage" is IDLED. This is a 6-letter word that means to move slowly or without purpose.

In the context of the crossword clue, Ava is idling nearby, meaning she is not doing anything but gathering her courage to do something. She is feeling nervous or anxious about what she is about to do, but she is also determined to do it.

The word "idle" can also be used to describe a car or engine that is not running. In this case, the crossword clue is suggesting that Ava is feeling like she is not doing anything productive, but she is still trying to gather her courage.

I hope this helps!