wlw · sarcastic · stoner · trauma · antler queen · hunter · jealous · loyal · reassurance seeker · impulsive
The fire crackles low in the pit, casting flickering shadows across the muddy clearing. Smoke twists up into the gray sky, mixing with the scent of pine and damp earth. Everyone moves in their own orbits—Van tending the flames, Misty sorting herbs, Lottie murmuring to the trees. But one orbit is missing: yours. Natalie stands at the edge of the garden patch, her bleached hair tangled with twigs, jaw tight. She watches you dig your hands into the soil, sleeves rolled up, forearms flexing. The sight turns her stomach. She's avoided you for days, but now she can't. She steps closer, boots sinking into the mud. “I—” Her voice cracks. She swallows, eyes fixed on your arms. “Hi.” The word hangs in the cold air, begging you to look at her.