Author's Note: Even though I haven't played TLOU, the characters and story stuck with me long after I finished (watching people play) it. So I finally tried my hand at some fanfiction. Did I get the character's personalities right? Anything else I should add? Put it in the comments! I am always trying to improve, so constructive criticism is allowed!
Disclaimer: All credit for the things in the story goes to Naughty Dog and I don't own the characters.
"Swear to me," Ellie looked up at Joel. "Swear to me, that everything you told me about the Fireflies is true." The sounds of the river seemed to fade into the background as Joel considered the question. He had come so far with her and couldn't lose his daughter again. You can't save her. Even if you got her out of here, then what? Marlene's words echoed in his ears as he shifted his weight. How long before she's torn to pieces by a pack of clickers? The truth could wait.
"I swear."
Ellie went silent. "Okay," she said simply, after the slightest hesitation.
About half a mile away, a graceful deer lowered its head and munched on the lush grass. Behind it, a girl silently slipped her bow out, nocked an arrow, and pulled back. She let go, and the arrow sang. The deer went rigid, then fell to the ground, a dark crimson patch slowly spreading where the arrow hit. The archer hurried forward, grabbed hold of the antlers, and started dragging it with her. Before long, the sound of voices made her stop and listen. As the voices got louder, she could decipher them.
"Tommy's place is just through here. Feels good to be back, huh?"
A pause was followed by a rustle of branches, and a much younger voice replied, "Yeah." The duo made their way toward Jay, who crouched in the bushes, bow held at the ready. She shifted her weight, and her foot crunched on some dead sticks. The smaller girl jumped, staring hard just to the left of where the archer was.
Jay counted to five in her head, then slowly stood up, brushing some leaves from her orange hair. The tension was heavy in the air they stared at each other, Ellie's hand crawling to her gun, and Jay looking for any sign that they would kill her.
"You guys have any ammo or guns you don't need?," She gestured to her kill. "I'd be willing to trade, if you guys..." Her voice had started off strong and confident, but trailed off as she brought her attention back to the girl, who let out an involuntary gasp, eyes fixated on the deer. "Hey, it's dead. What are you so scared of?" she said kind of awkwardly, as she wondered what could be so terror-inducing about a deer. As if to demonstrate, Jay tugged at one of it's big antlers.
But Ellie didn't hear her. Her mind was a million miles away. Even though it was a relatively warm day, it felt like the coldest of winters. A tall, lanky man stepped out from behind a tree.
"Hello… we just want to talk," came that dreaded voice, the one that Ellie feared the most. Her fingertips touched the cool metal of her gun, and she gripped it so hard her knuckles turned white. Goawaygoawaygoawaygoaway.
Joel glanced at her, lines of worry etched in his rugged complexion. But they left as quickly as they came, and he turned his attention back to the stranger that stood before him. It was obvious she had struck a raw nerve in Ellie, and he wasn't about to let the situation get any worse for her.
"Listen. I don't know who you are. How 'bout we just go on our separate ways?" As Ellie pulled out her gun, Joel rested a rough hand on her shoulder.
"Easy."
Unaware, or perhaps hiding awareness of her terror, the man continued. "Um, name's David, this here's my fr..." Ellie blinked. The hand on her shoulder dragged her thoughts back from the hell it had just been in. The snow in her hair, patches of dead grass, the smell of the dead rabbit, and the neighs of Callus in the background all disappeared. She was standing there, with her gun out, aimed at nothing. Her arms dropped to her sides and her head went down.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, kiddo." Joel was torn between comforting Ellie and making sure this stranger didn't kill them. "Why don't you just take that deer and leave?" His gruff tone seemed totally different than the one he used for Ellie a moment ago.
"Alright then," Jay was slightly weirded out by the way the girl reacted. Secretly, she wanted to join them back at wherever they were going. It had been a while since she had met people that hadn't immediately wanted to kill her. Before she could say or do anything she would regret, she shrugged and started lugging the deer behind her, surprisingly fast for her size.
Ellie and Joel continued on their path, Ellie much more distant than before, if that was even possible. "Ellie? Don't go runnin' off like last time. There are only so many horses," He turned toward Ellie, who hadn't replied. "Ellie?" Her emerald eyes snapped up.
"What?"
He sighed. "Never mind." Any other attempt at small talk was met with one-word answers or silence. Joel sighed and ran his hand over his mouth. He had never known this side of her. She was always so happy, with her jokebook, and random side comments, and now she was just so… quiet. He didn't know what had happened with David before he pulled her off of him, but whatever it was, it was enough to break his chatty, energetic girl.
He didn't try to make conversation after that, and the only sounds that could be heard were their plodding feet and some birds that were chirping away in the breeze.
At last, they reached the familiar gates. Ellie barely looked up as the guards recognized them and opened the doors. Maria saw them come in and hurried over, her face full of joy.
"You're back! How'd it go?" Joel looked at her tiredly. "We can talk about it tomorrow." Or never. There was a flicker of doubt in her blue eyes as she replied. "Sure. I'll alert Tommy, and he'll give you guys a place to stay. He's going to be glad you're back. We all are." Joel's gaze had drifted to Ellie, who had not said a word since arriving. I'll talk to her later.
As soon as she saw the pair leave, Jay trailed them, leaving the deer far behind. She heard their comment about going home somewhere, and she was intrigued. They might have supplies. The gates of the settlement loomed before her, and she stayed crouched in the bushes, watching to see what they would do. To her surprise, the gates swung open almost immediately for them, and they disappeared behind a wall. Jay looked over her shoulder, where she could see a cloud in the distance. Wait, that's not a cloud. As the bandits advanced, Jay only could think of one plan. They'll have to let me in. It's the only way I won't get beaten to a pulp. She stood up, and ran to the entrance. Guns were pointed at her, and she raised her arms.
"Why are you here?"
"There's people coming in from that direction. You're under attack."
Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. There will be more to come!
