The Last Winter
The Winter that year is long and harsh. Leaving its mark on all who are forced to bare through it. Gritting their teeth and stealing themselves against each bitter snap it brings. Somehow making it through the the vert end; Starving and Emaciated. Like stray dogs left to the back alleys of a dilapidated city. Wasting away the trash and rats that find refuge in the dark and cold places. Despite these harsh images brought to mind, there is still a certain beauty to winter. A certain way the light sines on the freshly fallen snow and the way the sky turns white - as if all color has been sapped away by the snow itself.
Ellie still doesn't like winter. Because with the winter comes horrible nightmares that leave her gasping in throes of agony, wishing day by day that they would just leave her alone. Just let her be peaceful for one second in time. In the winter, the innocent sounds the earth around her makes turns sinister, malevolent. They become the sound of a sadistic mans cruel laughter, and the shapes of dead trees outlined in the distance become his body. Ellie shivers, pulls her jacket tighter around her body and hunkers down close to Joel and the campfire. If he were not there she couldn't go on - but he is, and she is glad for those tiny moments of reprieve he brings her. Joel doesn't talk about what happened much, and really only when she is the one to bring it up. He can see clearly the look in her eyes that tells of her true feelings, but he doesn't push, and he doesn't ever ask what's wrong.
She's glad for these facts.
Sometimes the snow brings hallucinations. Mirages in the distance that seem to fade only seconds before reaching them. Ellie knows that these day time hallucinations are not real, that there's no possible way David survived and is there, unmarred by a single wound and still seething with anger. She often thinks though that maybe this is her punishment for all the bad she and Joel have done. All the lives they have destroyed as a means to an end. Convincing themselves day by day that if it weren't the others to do, then it would be them on the receiving end of a smoking gun. Left to rot, and be decomposed for the greater beauty of the land. Return to the earth, as its always meant to be. Sometimes though, Ellie thinks its blessing to see David. Its good sometimes, that she can see he isn't there anymore and only a hallucination brought on by fear. She likes knowing that even if she see's his face, there's nothing he can do to her anymore - definitely not while Joel is around to keep her safe; Not that she can't take care of herself of course. Ellie is strong and independent. But there's always that nagging fear at the back of her mind.
"Best get some sleep girl," Joel mutters, covering his face by the brim of an old cowboy hat he found not too long before to keep the wind off his face in the night. Its hard to sleep in these conditions, hunkered down in a garden shed barely reinforced by flimsy walls that seem to breathe and sway with the motions of the wind. In a way, she finds it easy to smile. Joel puts up a good front, but he cares - she knows he cares. With simple words and gestures sure, but its still something to make Ellie feel safe in his presence. "Ellie," Joel warns, jostling her lightly. "Sleep," He insists. Both of them have a long day ahead of them tomorrow. Finding the Fireflies and all...
"okay," Ellie replies, bundling up next to him with barely more than a sheet between them.
Its been like this for a while, sleeping close together. She can't sleep without him next to her, to remind her in the depths of the night that she isn't alone. His breathing becomes entrancing, the rhythm quick with nightmarish sleep. Ellie wonders what he's dreaming of, laying there, with the space of hours stretched out between them. She doesn't know how long she lays with her eyes open, just watching the rise and fall of Joel's chest beside her. But eventually, and with little trouble her breathing begins to match his.
And with a final, at peace smile she falls into a steady sleep; For once, without nightmares.
A/N: Hey guys this is Novelizer here, posting my first official story on here. At the moment its just a one-shot but I'm thinking about turning it into a full out story that details the Winter and maybe advance beyond to after the Firefly incident. Please tell me what you think. I'm not sure if I got their personalities down very well, I felt good about how this turned out and it was uber fun to write. I won't make this multi-chapter unless people will actually want to read it, so please review and all that jazz.