Chapter Text
The crash would always and forever be fresh on your mind.
You sat beside Misty, who was busy looking around before she finally noticed you. You could tell she was excited having someone other than a football beside her, if not for the countless candies she kept dropping on your lap, you still wouldn't have thought otherwise.
You were only a year younger than them, yet just as hyped for the private plane Charlotte Matthews provided, also excited for the game but more for the plane, you've never officially rode one as big and luxurious as this.
You packed a lot of panties, wanting to swim in the hotel's pool with every chance you were going to get. Omg, you even brought hair glitter for all of you— probably going to get scolded by coach scott but yolo anyway.
A giddy feeling filled your chest, matching Misty's buzzing mood. Van passed sour patch kids around, everyone was so happy, so excited, you shared the gummies with Misty who was ecstatic.
You laugh as she shoves a handful into her mouth, you never thought Misty the creepy, the others dubbed her, was chill like that.
You didn't wear your seatbelt yet, kneeling up your seat and over to Jackie and Shauna behind you, you shook the pack to them as Jackie laughed and took it.
Your eyes flickered briefly to Shauna who was asleep.
That fast? You thought.
You bit the skin of your lips and sat back, clamping the seatbelt shut. You liked Shauna. You mean- liked watching her play, almost thirty percent on your gameplay was based on hers, you joined the sport the moment your foot stepped in highschool.
That time you only knew so much about soccer. They, aka Jackie, Shauna, Taissa, Charlotte, Van, and Laura Lee was tasked with teaching the freshies, aka you.
And Shauna was in charge with you and some other freshie. You nodded and shadowed beside her as she explained and showed the thingies to do.
And with time, sugar and spice and everything nice, you might as well compete in nationals
And you are!
And in a blink of an eye you were getting dragged out the plane, the screams were blurry, there was smoke everywhere, a curly blonde hair obscuring your face, you coughed and heaved as Misty placed you on the ground, shouting for Coach.
You blink into existence, the bunny your holding loafing in your arms.
"Are you alright?" Akilah's worried expression fills your sight, waving her hand in front of you. "Huh?"
"We need more filler for the bunnies side, they keep kicking them out of the pen," she gives you a pitiful smile, gesturing to the once grassy knoll turned soiled area.
A small smile carves its way on your face, you nod as you gently lowered the slumbering bunny. You pat your yourself, ridding of the dust on you and closed the pen's door behind you, bidding Akilah goodbye.
You helped Akilah with the animals, a cute little sanctuary she suggested and you happily took a shift with taking care of the litteluns. You also helped with cooking, especially when you first crashed, you and Mari taking turns cooking and preparing the meals.
The makeshift hays and fillers were by the outskirts of the camp so they wouldn't ruin the whole whimsy aesthetic, but anyways you pass the huts and out of the camp, your hands lightly brushing the growing grasses and flowers.
Suddenly you still, you arms stuck in the air beside you, kinda like a hug me state, still touching the grass, your eyes train on the bunny digging a small burrow.
Slowly, you lower yourself, approaching the animal with caution. The bunny was a calico color, the orange blacks and whites, you have got to bring it to Akilah, she'd be ecstatic with another cute little addition to the sanctuary.
You hold your breath as you extended your arms, cupping your hands together as it nears the bunny.
And with a little more scooching from you, a gasp escapes from your mouth as you bounce at the bunny, clamping your hands around its body.
You squeal and stand up, scanning the animal currently trying to escape from your arms.
"You're so cute." You beam, petting its head.
You cradle it in your arms as it immediately calms down from that retched position you had it earlier.
You bounce it as you turn your whole body in a hurry to get to Akilah.
You let out a yelp when you bump into a wall. The bunny in your arms suddenly jumping down and quickly disappearing among the mosses.
You frown and groan, rubbing your forehead.
"What was that?"
You didn't have to look at her to know it was Shauna. Your eyes widen in a slight, feet shiftig from one another as your eyes flick up to hers.
"A bunny," You say, almost teetering on a whisper. You try to hide your disappointment at the loss of the beautiful animal, you could still feel the pretty coat under your palms.
You shake your head as you flash her a rigid smile. "What are you doing here?"
Everyone knows Shauna and her new profound temper with everything, especially with Mari. They would always find something to fight about in the most petty ways possible. Like the time Mari coincidentally bumped into her when she was showing you some weird dance she came up of, some of the meat shauna was carrying fell to the ground and they started the usual session and not long after you'd have Nat and Tai pulling them away from eachother.
The spring melted the snow as well as her hidden anger issues.
She tilts her head, a ghost of a smirk adorning her face but it's gone as fast as it was there.
"Nothing. Why'd you wanna know?"
Your eyes widen as you stutter, hands fiddling with your sleeves.
"O-oh, uh. I should go," you move to pass her but she blocks you with her body. Your feet brakes in time before you crashed into her again.
You feel your cheeks heat as you slowly lifted your eyes to hers.
"Shauna?" You say, blinking confused. She stared at you with the same deadpan expression she has when she's on the chopping station. You uncomfortablely shift on your feet as you set the game of staring contest between the two of you.
Looking at her now, you probably kinda understand how the others are kinda scared of her.
You probably are now but the beating of your heart covers it entirely. Akilah told you she'd sometimes take some routes longer just to avoid the angry bird. You laughed and slapped her arm, cackling as the both of you kept eachother awake in your shared hut with confessions.
Your tongue points inside your cheeks as you break the staring contest first.
"A-akilah's probably waiting, I should go," the last few words were whispered. Thankfully she lets you pass, speed walking your way out of that awkward atmosphere, not bothering on looking back at the butcher.
You arrive back at the pen and find no Akilah, sighing you lock the gate closed and grab the makeshift basket. The camp could do some good laundry.
You visit their huts one by one, throwing their clothes inside the hamper. You reach Shauna's hut last, surprisingly, her hut was very clean of any debris or stray clothes, they were nearlt bunched up a corner, mostly stained with blood.
You purse your lips and knelt down to get them, trying to avoid touching the red. Goosebumps fill your body, you didn't know how you could do the butching, good thing you had Shauna, or the lot of you would be screwed.
You shut your eyes as bloody Shauna during her birth flashes in your mind. The cabin was wafting of warm blood, everyone panicking, Misty almost spiraling by the sink, you stood beside Akilah holding warm water and extra rags, pinching yourself from the blood.
A branch snapping outside the hut snapped you out of your thoughts. You immediately stand up and exited the shelter.
You were met by Gen who was carrying bunnies and squirrels on her belt. You give her a tight lip smile as she waves to your direction, your eyes follow her to Shauna.
Who was already looking at your direction. Oh wait no. She was looking at Gen, gesturing to the chopping station.
But..
You shake your head, adjusting the hamper on your hips and making your way for the stream.
🐝🔪
The dawn was already coming fast when you arrived at the camp.
"Finally!" Mari jogged to you, hooking her arms with yours and pulling you along with her.
Everyone was coming together at the center, the bonfire area you made together.
"What's the occasion?" You joke, whispering to Mari.
"Oh Nat called a meeting. No idea what's it about." She shrugs, the hamper still leaning on your hips.
Nat catches your eyes and she nods, she surveys the crowd before clearing her throat.
"Alright, some of you probably know what I'm going to talk about but for the others," she starts, Taissa right beside her along with Gen and Van. Your eyes catch on Shauna's, they follow down to her bloody arms and sleeves.
Laundry again tomorrow. You thought.
She's still wearing her butcher apron, not caring about the mess of guts on it. "As you all can see, I've started teaching Gen here,"
Gen bows dramatically, you burst out laughing with Mari who was cackling like this was the best comedy show ever aired.
"-how to hunt. And so far she's been doing great. And we've talked and decided that others would also benefit in learning other skills."
Taissa nods with her. You purse your lips and grip the hamper tighter.
"So!" Taissa clasps her hands loudly, stepping forward to the middle of the crowd. "What we'll do is, Nat is in charge of teaching you how to hunt. Me and Van, we'll be responsible with setting the traps. Misty and her first aid. And last but not the least, Butchering with Shauna."
Mari snorts beside you, covering her mouth. All eyes immediately train on her.
"Got something to say, Mari?" You feel your pulse in your fingertips as Shauna takes a step forward, her head tilting to the side, eyes narrowing and zeroing on Mari.
You pinch Mari as she bites her lip from laughing.
"Mari stop," you whisper, hoping it was only Mari who heard. She huffs and puffs, flipping her hair away.
"Nothing—"
You gasp as Shauna charges at Mari, the hamper falls immediately when you're pulled backwards away from the two.
Shauna grips Mari's shirt by the collar, shaking her.
"Shauna!" Taissa ever the first responder, trying to rip the butcher off of Mari, Nat follows and places herself between them, trying to seperate.
You gulp and hurriedly gripped Mari's shoulders, trying to pull her away.
"Shauna. Let go." Nat warns lowly, you wriggle Mari, trying to loosen Shauna's hold but she doesn't budge. The two barks insults at eachother.
Shauna raises a fist but Nat succesfully tears them open before it lands. A yelp escapes out of your mouth as you and Mari fall on your back.
You cough out Mari's hair, slapping her and her hair away.
"Shauna enough." Nat stands between her and the two of you on the ground. You huff and stumble as you stand up, dusting yourself.
They get into a stare off. Does that always happen with her? Before Shauna grunts and tuts away, claiming her spot amongst the crowd again.
You pick up the clothes and put them back in the hamper, scampering away when you finish.
Nat huffs loudly.
"Going back," she sighs. "You guys should probably choose what you wanna join now so we can start asap. If you still don't know what you're going to do in 5 then we'll choose for you."
The crowd burts into clamoring as they start discussing, even the leaders started going around and asking. Only Shauna stayed where she was, before you could meet her face, Mari pulls your attention back.
"I'm definitely not butchering with Shauna."
A small chuckle comes out of you as does she.
"Oh definitely. Or you might as well be dinner tomorrow," you cackle, she bursts into laughter, slapping your arm.
"I'm actually thinking about joining Van and Tai,"
You nod along with her as she yaps about what where why how she'll join them.
You fiddle with your sleeves, foot tapping on the ground impatiently, butchering is undoubtedly crossed out, wait no, ripped out of your list. Next out of your list in hunting. Either you'll be with Mari, or Misty's first aid.
Which...
You squint, Lottie and Akilah was surrounding Misty, your eyes flick to Tai and Van who had Mari and Travis. Nat was also talking with Gen and Robin.
You jerk away when a finger pokes your ribs. You clutch your side like a wounded soldier, the tickling sensation still there.
You didn't notice Shauna behind you, her hand comes back to hide in her pockets, the corner of her mouth tugs up, the toothpick wiggling in her mouth.
"S-shauna." You stammer, fumbling over your words. She tilts her head, eyes glinting as they settle comfortably on you.
"You choose anything, bambi?"
"I, uhm, not yet. Probably—"
You frown at the nickname, squinting at Shauna who was staring right ahead to Taissa who stepped forward.
"Alright! Let's count it! If a class has too much or too little we'll have to transfer some others!" Taissa announces, you hear some groans, especially Mari who was sending you wiggly eyebrows, aka code red.
You shrug, mouthing a 'what'.
"Okay perfect- then, oh yn where are you gonna be?"
You cough, clearing your throat. "You and Van,"
Tai frowns, nodding, but she's frowning, checking the makeshift clipboard, which was actually tree bark.
"Oh my gosh, I'm very sorry we're full with Robin and Trav. Maybe Nat—"
"She's with me." Shauna steps beside you, staring Tai down. Tai hesitates, her eyes dart between yours and Shauna's.
"I think she should be able to choose for herself yes?" Tai says, not bothering to pay Shauna a glance.
Everybody's eyes were on the three of you, others whispering. You shift on your feet uncomfortablely, you gulp and fiddle with your sleeves.
You feel Shauna's gaze burning on the side of your head but you pay her no mind.
Finally, you give a curt nod. Tai blinks, gripping the clipboard tighter.
"I-I should probably, uhm, yea." You point to Shauna beside you. Tai sighs, nodding.
"I'll be with Shauna too," You hear Melissa as she raises a hand up.
Relief passes by you as they all returned to their business. Tai going around the crowd.
When she finally finishes, she stands beside Nat.
"Ohkay, that would be it I guess. Meeting adjourned!"
You puff your cheeks, clasping your hands behind your back, you didn't move an inch from your place, and it seems Shauna was thinking of the same thing.
She pokes your side and you jerk away again, a small chuckle escapes her mouth. She spits the toothpick away and places her hands in her pockets again.
"See you, bambi."
You blink and say goodbye but she turns away and goes before you could finish.