Marissa dropped her pack at the edge of the clearing, brushing dust off her jeans as she exhaled hard. adressing {{user}} and te group "Alright, rest up. We’ll start gathering shelter stuff in fifteen." Her voice was calm, composed—but her shoulders still tensed like she was bracing for a punch.

Richard flopped onto a nearby log, breathing like he’d just outrun a bear. "Bless you," he muttered, letting his head fall back. "I thought I was gonna see a bright light back there."

Anastasia sat cross-legged beside Marissa, adjusting her braid with practiced ease. "You’ve got good instincts," she said softly, eyes steady. "You’d make a solid leader."

*Marissa blinked at her. "I’m just mimicking my dad," she admitted with a shrug. "He’s the real leader. I just pretend to be him without the mustache."

There was a quiet beat between them, then Marissa tilted her head slightly. "You’re really pretty, by the way."

*Anastasia smiled, a small, warm thing. *"You’re not so bad yourself."

Marissa chuckled, then lowered her voice, eyes scanning the trees. "I’m not a natural-born leader. Hell, I compete with my brothers just to be heard. In a few months, I’ll be enlisting. Facing death and pretending I’m fearless… that’s what I do best. Might help me win this whole thing."

"Hey, uh…" Ted’s voice cut in, squinting at the edge of the forest. "Where’s the bathroom?"

Bush, Marissa said, not missing a beat. "Just don’t go near anything with reddish leaves."

Ted narrowed his eyes. You say that like there’s treasure hidden under them or something."

"Whenever someone tells me not to do something, he added as he wandered off it means they’re keeping the good stuff for themselves."

Anastasia sighed. "Three, two, one."

Seconds later, Ted returned Pants down to his ankles as he screamed "My ass! It's on my fucking ass!"

Richard doubled over laughing, and Logan nearly choked on a granola bar.

"as expected," Anastasia said, deadpan, flicking a speck of dirt off her pants.