Mattie shuddered from her head to her toes. The fact that he brought it up made her face itch, and as with most itches, it took just about all of her willpower not to scratch at it. Her spine felt cold as she turned around and watched the bodies burn, the wretched smell swirling up into her nostrils. She leaned on the wall and watched Nicholas pack the backpacks through half-lidded eyes. She'd been hoping to sleep all day and just be too boring and lazy to attract anyone's attention. And then this had happened. 

Then when he told her to carry the lighter backpacks--was that a jab?-- she threw aside her blood-spattered crowbar with a loud metallic clatter. "You saying I'm weak, you little asshole? Give me one of the heavier ones. We're equals." With that, she snatched the weapon-filled backpack from his hand and shouldered it. Then she grabbed one of the lighter backpacks and headed outside. She still wasn't quite sure if she wanted to trek around with this guy, but since he had entrusted her with two packs full of supplies she felt kind of stuck with him. 

The weight of the pack made her grunt with effort, but her stubborn expression made it clear that she wouldn't take any other option.