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It was a night that filled the team with anger and disappointment in their now former leader Natalie, who had just freed their coach from the dangers of the wilderness.. (aka them).
Natalie now sat solemnly gazing at the campfire, taking in the heat in hopes it would distract her from the embers of rage burning in her teammates hearts. No matter how everyone felt, she would do it again. She couldn’t stand to watch Coach Ben hanging on a thread while begging for death so killing him was the least she could do, no matter how much it hurt to do so.
Breaking out of this train of thought, she feels a presence sit near her at the quiet yet crowded campfire which leads her to look up.
Mari.
The dark haired girl had her hair in the usual ponytail, while wearing the weird animal fur they gathered for warmth due to many cold nights. It would be dishonest to say that she didn’t look as pretty as she always does, even with the harsh conditions of the wilderness wearing everyone’s looks down.
At first its silent, then she hears Mari’s hesitant voice, almost in a murmur, begin to say
“What you did for Ben-“
she then looks around hoping nobody else is actively listening.
“to Ben, it was like really really..”
Mari quietens, leaving her words almost up in the air in hopes that Nat will understand exactly what she’s implying through just Mari’s tone alone.
Nat’s expression shifts, a face that once wore guilt and shame, now looked relieved as if all her worries were washed away with a single glance from the slushie entranced girl.
Mari didn’t have to explain herself, Natalie knew what she meant. And oh did it twist at her heart in ways she had never known, as even when the whole world seemed to point and ridicule her for her actions that night..
Mari stayed, stayed and lingered in a way that felt reassuring, stayed and lingered in a way that let in too many unexplained emotions that she couldnt quite put a name on yet.
“I know”
Nat replies with a subtle nod, gazing into Mari’s eyes while the flame burns brightly in the background, the glow now illuminating the nervous yet still soft look on their faces, as the sound of the campfire was the only thing interrupting the bond that was slowly yet surely emerging between the two .
Breaking the silence, Mari looks down before quickly adding on
“And you shouldn’t have done it.”
A sigh of relief is heard from Natalie’s end. To the other girls, this conversation was nothing short of Mari telling Natalie off for what she did, but for them and them only, it was Mari recognising Natalie’s sorrow and comforting her in the only way she could while ears were still present.
A small smile was now blooming onto the ex leaders face, as Mari had managed to be a single glimmer of light in what was most likely Natalie’s worst day of her life, and because of this small act Natalie’s flame continued to burn even brighter, even when Mari was no longer around to ignite new fires into her heart.