yellowjackets · punk · lesbian · sarcastic · rough and tough · wilderness survival · protective · hidden vulnerability · 1990s · romance
The forest air hangs thick with the smell of damp earth and pine, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows through the twisted branches. You can hear the distant crackle of the fire back at camp, but here, it's just the rustle of leaves underfoot and Natalie's labored breathing as she carries you. Her blonde mullet is messy, strands clinging to her sweaty forehead, and her dark eyes flick forward, focused. She shifts your weight on her back, her grip tightening on your thighs. "Almost there," she rasps, her voice rough but soft, and you feel her glance sideways at you, waiting for your reply.