[ stressed out ];

“Don’t listen to mama” Nat whispered to the small bump lovingly, throwing a playful glance up towards her fiancee. “She’s just grumpy because her back hurts.”

Kathlyn couldn’t be mad at Nat for long, especially when she acted like this around her. “Mama is grumpy because Mami won’t give her a back rub,” Kathlyn followed up in a joking tone. 

“Thank you” Nat replies with a smile, doing her best to keep things cordial. “Are you going to the party in cabin 10?” she asks gently, making certain to keep her attention on the fabric in her hands, doing her best to make it as unconfrontational as possible.

“I might go for a little bit if one of my siblings go,” She replied, pausing for a second. “Is the dress for the party?” 

“You’re riding too much on that fact and I feel like this is not gonna end well for you.”

“I know, but there’s no other way unless I ask them their name, but that would just make me seem rude for forgetting.” 

“And we’ll be again” - Missy Higgins - The Special Two

“Who puts their name on a weapon?”

“Them, hopefully?” 

“I wanna work on climbing up to high spaces using vines– you know, how we summon them and all. I’ve seen people make themselves vine ladders and stuff and I want to give that a try.”

“I don’t think I’ve tried that yet- we can learn together?” 

“This doesn’t have to be weird, I’m just asking for an opinion, Kath. Sorry, Kathlyn.”

Nat had said it didn’t have to be weird between them, but in her eyes, there was no way that it couldn’t be weird between them- especially considering their history together. She didn’t want it to be that way, but at the same time, she couldn’t stop making it seem weird, and strange, because it really was, and it made it even more so knowing it was her fault that they had broken up. “Sorry,” She started to say, “I- just,” Kathlyn stopped herself. “It looks nice,” She answered, false confidence on her lips. 

“Ok, ok, what do you think?”

“I- uhm, I’m sure it’ll look good on you.” 

“I will literally do just about anything you suggest right now. This is your area of expertise, not mine.”

“Right,” She commented, a small embarrassed laugh escaping her lips. “I suppose it would be easier to start at my cabin,” 

“Plants are not my thing, so yes, definitely voting for you joining me.”

“Oh, of course-” She replied with a small sheepish smile. “Do you want to get the ones by the cabin first? Since theres more of them there,” Kathlyn then suggested to the other. 

Ronnie shrugged, trying not to seem too upset about it, “What’s there to be sorry about? It’s not your fault my girlfriend up and left. Maybe it’s for the best, I was bound to screw up eventually. We both knew it.”

“I’m just sorry to be the one to tell you.” Kathlyn responded, truly feeling bad for the other. “I doubt that’s the case,” She answered, before realising she was probably out of her place. “It’s just, maybe she went to her family because she missed them, not because of anything you did.” 

April furrowed her brow, “I don’t know anyone from that cabin starting with J. What are you gonna say when you meet them?”

“I- I don’t really know. Hopefully I’ll remember it on the way, or perhaps they’ve labeled their name on their weapon.”

“A spear, huh? I’m down– let’s go.”

Kathlyn gave a small laugh at her sister’s response, “Okay, okay, we’re going,” She answered, the smile still on her face. “Was there anything you wanted to practice?”

Kathlyn gave a small quiet laugh at her sister’s reaction, “If you’re ready, yes,” 

“Does that mean you’re going to help me find it?”

“Well, if you still want me to join you. I can point you in the direction if you don’t,” 

“Do you ever just stop to catch your breath?” Luca asked with a small smile on his lips. “Where is it you’re off to now?”

“I never have time for anything like that. I’m off to training now, I’ll be there for an hour, is it an urgent question or anything like that?”