'Yellowjackets' cocreator is surprised by fans who have gotten a tattoo of the show's mysterious symbol without knowing its meaning

• One of the biggest mysteries on Showtime's "Yellowjackets" revolves around a mystery symbol.
• Insider asked the series' cocreators and showrunners the symbol's meaning at PaleyFest.

One of the biggest unanswered questions on "Yellowjackets" revolves around a mysterious symbol.

The Showtime drama, currently in its second season, follows a girls' soccer team that gets stranded in the wilderness after their plane goes down and the fallout of the traumatic event 25 years later.

A mystery symbol, which resembles a human figure with a line through it and a hook underneath, has appeared in both the past and present timelines. More than a dozen episodes into the series, we still know very little about its meaning. Fan theories have postulated it's everything from a relic to ward off evil spirits to a possible map to a mining shaft.

Insider asked some of the series' cast and its creators about the symbol during a red carpet event for the Showtime series at PaleyFest in early April — and I got a particularly interesting response from coshowrunners and executive producers Jonathan Lisco, Ashley Lyle, and Bart Nickerson when I showed them I had it drawn on my hand.

When asked what they could divulge about the symbol, Lisco joked that he was "actually very nervous" that I had it drawn on my hand. "But we can't tell you why," he teased. Lyle chimed in that she'd seen online "Yellowjackets" fans who had even gotten permanent tattoos of the mysterious symbol.

"I'm like, 'You don't know what that means,'" Lyle said. "That is a dangerous game to play."

Star Kevin Alves says the mystery symbol is a sign of 'hope'

Most stars avoided specific guesses about the marking and its meaning when asked. Melanie Lynskey, who plays adult Shauna, wasn't sure what she could share with us.

Meanwhile, Warren Kole, who plays Shauna's husband Jeff, told Insider of the symbol: "That's a mystery. I haven't even bothered myself trying to figure that out." Kole coyly added he may actually know what it means.

But Kevin Alves, who plays young Travis on the series, told us the most about the symbol, saying it meant "hope."

"It's something that connects us to things that we don't understand. The things we're not even sure we believe. But in many ways that symbol means hope," Alves said.

"If you ask Travis or Lottie, that's hope," Alves added, mentioning another character who was stranded out in the wild who seems to have a strong connection to the mystery symbol.

Lyle demurred when asked about Alves' interpretation, telling Insider, "Well, I know that this season Lottie in particular believes that it is a symbol of providing safety, but we cannot confirm or deny those Lottie rumors."

Lyle also wouldn't confirm whether fans would finally learn what the symbol means in season two, saying she thinks we'll just have to wait and see.

But Simone Kessell, who joined the series as adult Lottie this season, told Insider she believed we may learn a bit more about the symbol in episodes to come saying, "I think they're just keeping it under wraps because I think it will be revealed soon. So, I can't give you any spoilers."

Cocreator Bart Nickerson created the mysterious 'Yellowjackets' symbol

While they couldn't share much about the symbol's exact meaning, Lisco was more than happy to share who came up with it.

"I think the person who designed it may be a little too humble to admit it, but I will just point a finger at this gentleman here," Lisco said, pointing at Nickerson.

Nickerson clarified that the final product was created collaboratively: "I did the first design of it, and then the three of us talked about it and made some adjustments."

"So if something terrible happens to you, I am not just to blame," he joked, referring to the symbol being etched on my hand.

While the symbol's meaning may or may not be revealed soon, one thing is for sure: The story will be continuing beyond season two.

Renewed for a third season in 2022 ahead of the season two premiere, the showrunners told Insider "none of" the next season is written yet. Lyle added they're in "early stages," gearing up their writers' room.

And as for whether they have a particular number of seasons in mind to tell their story, Lyle said that while they do have a plan, it very well may "change and evolve" over time.

"We're always a little reluctant to set things in stone because what's most important to us is telling the right amount of story," Lyle said, adding that the writers don't want to either "rush things" or, on the flip side, "drag things out" just to continue keeping the show on the air.

New episodes of "Yellowjackets" air Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.