Nonhungry-and-binary - Rhys

Natalie’s entire life was about giving everything she had to others and getting nothing in return.

She hiked for miles in subzero temperatures just to find something to hunt and feed the group, and instead of being met with gratitude, she was blamed when the food ran out.

She extended compassion and support to everyone else when they needed it (comforting Lottie in the middle of the night, holding Shauna’s hand and never leaving her side throughout her labor, understanding Travis’ grief when no one else would) and yet she is always completely alone in her own moments of suffering.

She took on the burden of leadership even while still reeling from the trauma of Javi’s death and the cabin fire, guiding the group out of one of their darkest times. She guided them in building shelter and creating a thriving community. And they repaid her by pushing her to the ground, calling her a murderer, stripping her of her leadership role, and forcing her to butcher the body of her only father figure— whom she had just killed out of mercy and necessity for the group, so that no one else would have to bear the burden of his blood on their hands.

She risked everything to carry out an elaborate plan to get everyone rescued—climbing a mountain, contacting help, ultimately saving all of their lives—and still, in the adult timeline, they treat her like she’s beneath them.

She literally died as a sacrifice so the rest of them could keep living and all she got was a 1 minute funeral.

What a year this week has been.

Natalie is the only one who never allowed herself even the illusion of normalcy or happiness after the rescue. The others made some attempt—however fragile—to rebuild their lives or blend into the world. Shauna and Melissa retreated into the façade of stability, marrying and raising children in the quiet rhythms of suburban life. Taissa found a family of her own and pursued a successful career as a lawyer and then a politician. Van poured herself into her pop culture passion by creating her video store and allowing herself to live through the past. Misty satisfied her need to be needed through her career as a geriatric nurse. Lottie created her cult (intentional community). Even Travis tried to build a life with someone (before Nat came back in).

But Nat never created anything for herself. She didn’t even let herself have a home, she lived out of motel rooms across the country for her whole life. She remained completely alone apart from toxic stints with Travis that ended disastrously and brief flings that she sabotaged before they could get anywhere.

Even though she’s colder, harsher, and less openly compassionate in the adult timeline, her moral compass is still strong. It's that very sense of right and wrong that condemns her. She can’t accept joy, can’t allow herself peace, because deep down, she believes she forfeited her right to those things in the wilderness. Every chance at connection, every moment of possible happiness, she sabotages—because she’s still carrying the weight of what they did, and she doesn't believe she deserves to ever put it down. While others try to bury the guilt of what they did out there, Nat wears it on her sleeve.

She’s the closest thing to a “savior” or “saint” in this story, but that’s exactly why she suffers the most.

love to purchase items but at what cost

a comic about moving on

coach ben in the afterlife, watching shauna imprison people without cutting their ankle tendons:

10/10 dad joke

“you’re out of likes!” “you’ve already left kudos here!”

thinking about the sirens in suits/suit adjacent clothes plus a little genderswap moment... ;-; just for me

Sam on Dreamstat at the Deadline Contenders Television 2025 IWTV Panel