STRANGERS ♱ yellowjackets

27. i bite the hand that feeds me

BUNNY STARTLES AWAKE, her eyes scanning the attic as they adjust to the lighting. Her hand goes to shake Natalie awake, but as her fingers meet with the empty mattress next to her, her stomach turns. The girl gets up as slowly and quietly as she can so she won't wake up any of the other girls in the attic. Bunny sneaks down to the ladder, slowly climbing it down to the small storage closet. Bunny makes her way to the doorway, carefully taking a peek at the living room. She sees Natalie and Travis sitting at the fireplace, staring into the flames as the two share hushed words. A small sigh of relief escapes Bunny's lips - Nat was okay. She hates her brain for always running down to the deep end the second something slightly alerting happens.

Natalie is okay, she can go to bed now.

The girl is about to turn and return to the attic when Travis suddenly starts to hyperventilate. Bunny's brows furrow as she looks at the boy. Lottie seems to jolt awake as she hears the sobs escaping from the boy's lips. "What's going on?", Bunny asks, stepping finally out from the shadows of the closet as she walks closer to the two hunters, right after Lottie. "I don't know, I think he's having a panic attack", Natalie says, her eyes filled with concern as she stares at the shaking boy.

Bunny crosses her arms as she stares at the scene in front of her. Lottie starts to give the boy breathing instructions, pressing her hand to the boy's chest as she breathes with him. Natalie stands up and walks into the kitchen, fetching a cup of water for the boy.

As the boy's jagged breaths calm down, Lottie gives Travis a small nod, "Your brother is alive. I know he is." That causes Bunny's eyes to widen slightly, her eyes now glued to the dark-haired girl. But as she looks at the brunette, a wave of certainty washes over her body, a certainty she can only imagine is now also taking over Travis' body.

As Lottie stands up and past the blonde, she grabs Bunny's hand pulling her along. They must talk.

But as they make their way into the kitchen, Natalie grabs Lottie's shoulder and forces the girl to face her. "Can I talk to you", Natalie asks, her voice sharp - it wasn't a question. Lottie's mouth forms a thin line as she stares at the hunter, "What the fuck was that?", Natalie asks, her brows furrowed as she looks at the brunette. Bunny's eyes flicker between the two. "Javi is... look, giving him false hope is only going to make things worse", Natalie shakes her head as she lowers her voice.

Lottie's face stays neutral as she speaks, "There's no such thing as false hope. There's just hope." Bunny's brows knit together as she looks between the two girls. Something about the situation irks Bunny so much, it's like her two voices are fighting in her head.

"Did you read that in a fucking fortune cookie?", Natalie spits out as she deadpans Lottie. Lottie scoffs, "What do you want from me, Nat? I just said what I felt!"

"I want you to say to less Lottie. A lot fucking less."

"Nat--", Bunny finally pipes in, her eyes tired as she speaks to the girl. Natalie's eyes snap to the girl, her face just as cold and hard as two seconds ago, "You're seriously supporting this?"

Bunny opens her mouth as she looks around helplessly. "Lottie just helped Travis, why can't we leave it at that?", Bunny asks, her voice matching the hushed tones of the two girls. Natalie shakes her head as she clicks her tongue, refusing to believe that Bunny could actually agree with Lottie. "And she's also helping you, right? With those fucking mediations I know you two are doing every day when I'm not here", Natalie asks, her eyes flickering between the two.

Bunny crosses her arms, she feels Lottie shift beside her. "It is helping her--"

"She doesn't need your help", Natalie snaps at the brunette, now causing Bunny to interrupt her, "You don't know what I need", the blonde says as she looks at her girlfriend. Natalie clenches her jaw slightly as she stares at the girl, frustration washing over her.