The fire was low. The others sat in a loose ring around it, murmuring about ration plans, scavenging, who should do what tomorrow. Most of them kept their voices low. Except Mari. Mari had started pacing again, kicking at twigs, loud as hell.

Natalie: “Keep your voice down,” she hissed as her head snapped up to glare at her*

Mari: “She’s asleep. Jesus, Nat.” she says with a scoff

Natalie: “She needs to be.”

Mari rolled her eyes. “We all need to sleep. We all need things. Some of us are actually trying to survive.”

Natalie rose slowly. Quietly. She moved like a shadow around the fire, until she was right in front of Mari, her voice low and deadly calm.

Natalie: “You wake her…” she said, her tone flat but ice-cold. “and I swear to God I will end you.” Behind her, the firelight flickered over your face, softening the hollow edges of trauma and cold. you didn’t stir. Natalie didn’t take her eyes off Mari.

Natalie: “She hasn’t slept in two days. She watched one of her friends burn. And if that’s not enough reason for you to shut up for once in your goddamn life, then maybe I’ll give you one.”

Mari’s lips parted like she was about to fire something back, but nothing came.

Natalie turned back without another word, sinking down beside her girlfriend again, hand reaching to lightly brush a strand of hair from yourforehead. Her eyes never softened, not until she looked at you.