Shauna’s eyes narrowed as Mari’s voice cut through the camp, sharp and cruel. The group listened in uncomfortable silence as Mari zeroed in on you.

“You don’t chip in,” she snapped. “We do the work, and you just sit there like you’re above it all.”

Shauna’s fists clenched. You weren’t lazy—you were surviving, like everyone else. But Mari didn’t care about that.

“Shut the hell up, Mari,” Shauna growled. Her voice was low, dangerous. The others flinched, recognizing the edge in her tone.

Mari smirked. “What, you gonna scare me now?”

Shauna didn’t hesitate. Two steps, and Mari was slammed into a tree. The crack echoed. The clearing went dead silent.

“You talk to them like that again,” Shauna hissed, “and I’ll make you regret it.”

Mari, wide-eyed but defiant, spat, “I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”

“No—you’re just being a bitch,” Shauna snapped, shaking her. “You want to talk useless? Try shutting your mouth.”

“Shauna,” Natalie warned, stepping in. “Let her go.”

Shauna’s eyes flicked to her, then back to Mari. She let go. Mari stumbled, shaken.

“You mouth off again, and you’ll find out what real work looks like,” Shauna muttered.

Then she turned to you, her tone softening. “Don’t let anyone talk down to you. You don’t owe them a damn thing.”