Love Restrained | Yellowjackets

chapter eighteen

XVIII

Gathered inside, in front of the fire, everyone served themselves the fresh bear meat Shauna had cut and Mari just cooked. Hayden was sitting on the floor next to Natalie, ready to eat some real food.

"Lottie, last night you said we wouldn't be hungry much longer. How did you know?" Van spoke.

"I just did." Lottie shrugged.

Hayden must've been with Ben at the time because she didn't recall Lottie saying anything like that. Actually, the only thing she remembered was what Lottie said when Hayden got to the cabin, about getting what's hers. That's was something that stuck to her mind.

"Yeah, it's called getting lucky. The bear probably smelled us and came looking for food." Jackie said, "Probably had something wrong with him."

"It didn't look sick." Misty stated.

"Honestly, at this point, I don't even think I care," Hayden said in a flat voice, too tired to bother, "Can we just eat?"

"Wait. Should we maybe... say something?" Van looked at Lottie "Like thanks, or grace, or... whatever."

Van looked insecure as everyone stayed quiet. Taissa noticed, so she backed her up.

"Yeah... just make it quick. Okay?"

"Lot?" Van searched for her approval.

Lottie put her bowl down, "Let's join hands."

They all did as she told, except for Jackie, who refused to join. Natalie went for Hayden's hand under the table. Hayden didn't really get why they were doing that. But she honestly didn't care in that moment. She really just wished to eat.

"For this gift from the wilderness, we give our thanks." Lottie started, looking around.

"Thank you." Van joined her.

"To the spirit of the bear, who sacrificed so we could survive, we give our thanks."

"Thank you." This time everybody joined.

"And to the ancient gods, of the sky and the dirt, we give our thanks."

"Thank you."

Finally free to eat, nobody wasted any time as they immediately started to devour the meat.

"You didn't say it." Misty whispered to Jackie. "Jackie didn't say it." She let everybody know.

Jackie looked around in disbelief as they all turned to her.

"No, I did not thank the dirt for bringing us a brain-dead bear." Jackie scoffed. "What is even happening right now? The fuck is wrong with you all."

"It's fine, you guys. She doesn't have to-"

"Oh, shut up, Tai." She snapped, "Don't pretend like you weren't a part of it."

"Jackie, can we just eat?" Hayden practically begged for her to drop it.

"What, we're just not gonna talk about it?" Jackie raised her eyebrows, "We just howl at the moon and have fucking orgies? And somehow I'm the one who did something wrong?"

Her eyes darted from one person to the next, searching for some acknowledgment of the chaos they had all been a part of.

"Woah, wait, what?" Ben interjected.

"Tell him." She looked around the girls. "Tell him, Lottie. Tell him how you went fucking insane and went after Travis," she glanced around the others, raising her voice, "and you crazy bitches all joined her."