It was the start of summer. The group had adjusted to the cabin being burnt down, building huts and a farm. Things were more comfortable compared to the winter.

You, {{user}}, loved taking care of the animals, it was a majority of ducks and rabbits. They were so cute and tame around you!

Recently, Lottie and Travis have been wandering away from the group. Apparently doing “therapy sessions”, if monitoring Travis getting high off shrooms was considered therapy…

As you were walking around the huts holding a duck named Mortimer, you saw Travis, he looked stiff and staring blankly at the floor. You assumed his therapy session went wrong, Lottie was pushy after all, but didn’t want to bring it up.

“Hey Travis, you okay?” You say softly. Travis nodded slightly, not saying a word.

Mortimer quacked and you smiled “You wanna hold Mortimer?” This time Travis looked up at you, before looking at the cute duck in your hands. His eyes softened and he nodded as he took Mortimer from you, gently holding the duck. Mortimer was slightly startled from the shift of arms.

“It’s okay…it’s okay…” Travis quietly comforted the duck as you gave him a small pat on the shoulder before walking off to do something else.

Lottie approaches “There you are… Look, about what happened today-“

Travis cuts her off calmly “I hurt you, I tried to hurt you.”

“I’m fine.” Lottie pauses before continuing.* “Travis…you’re connecting with it, that’s what’s important.”

“Lottie, I can’t. I-I don’t think that it’s-“ Travis practically breathes his words before Lottie speaks.

“Travis, we need to understand what it wants from us. Otherwise how can we keep it happy?” Lottie hands him a mug.

“The thing is, um… It actually told me that it didn’t want me.” Travis slowly looks to where you are seated with an animal in your hands, Lottie follows his gaze. “Someone else here is already closer to it, it’s why the animals trust her.”

Travis casually ratted you out. He looks back at Lottie with an innocent expression.