I was thinking about doing random chapters of Ellie and Joel living in the Community in Jackson, I'm not sure how many chapters I will do but there will be random stories. There will be different events and holidays they may celebrate has a community, but be warned people who are sensitive... there maybe horror in some chapters.

I thought I'd begin where Ellie and Joel arrive at the Jackson Community, then we can venture through the years until the present day game. I finished the game now, it was a different. If anyone would like to discuss the game my dms are open.

-The Last Of Us is owned by Naughty Dog/ Sony Computer Entertainment

-Some of the parts of this fanfiction are in the game, other parts aren't in the game.

-Spoilers may happen.

Snowflake Warning

-Ellie grew up in a world of monsters, TLOU isn't about butterflies and rainbows... it's horror.

-If you're playing the game I know, I know the story has thrown heartbreak at us. I'll give us some happy times.

-Sensitive material, Ellie likes girls... get over it!

Keep safe and enjoy!

Chapter 4!

Summertime - 2034

Saturday had been an exciting day for Ellie, Jesse and Dina were the perfect tour guides around The Jackson Community. They showed Ellie the library and introduced her to their friend Cat, she was a really cool person. Cat had shown Ellie some of her artwork and her own random comic book sketches she had been working on for the last week, she was also a fan of the Savage Starlight series.

Cat's artwork blew Ellie away, she had really impressed Ellie with her comic strip stories. Cat was also designing tattoos for some of the local people, she dreamed of owning the first ever Tattoo Parlour in The Jackson Community someday. Ellie joked about being her first customer, but Cat took her joke seriously and offer her a discount when her dream happened.

Ellie had spent the whole Saturday with her new group of friends, they hung out at the playground area and Cat took them to one of the community's nature walk trails for a picnic. Cat's Mom had made them a few steak sandwiches and a flask of hot strawberry tea, she had even gave them some beef jerky.

They had spent the day reading comic books and exploring the trail, they even discovered rope swing over a pond. Ellie had watched them playing around in the pond and splashing each other, she told them she couldn't swim when they invited her to join them. They didn't make fun of her or question her why she couldn't swim, she did mention to them that Joel was going to start teaching her how to swim from Sunday.

The day had been fun for Ellie, she couldn't wait to do it all over again next weekend. But now it was Sunday and Joel was going to teach her how to swim, he had mapped out a route for them to take outside of The Jackson Community. It was going to be the first time she had ventured beyond the safety of the walls of the community since she had arrived there, but she trusted Joel's judgement.

They left their house and headed to the stables, Ellie was really looking forward to riding a horse again. Tommy had told her he had chosen the perfect horse for her to use on trips outside of the community, she couldn't wait to meet the horse. She entered the stable with Joel, Tommy was already there with two horses for them. He introduced her to a beautiful brown coloured horse named Shimmer, he told her that this horse would belong to her from now on.

Ellie stroked the horse's neck and checked beneath it, the horse was female. Joel checked both of the horse's satchels, there was food rations and medical supplies inside of them. There was also a drinking canteen and some spare bullets in a small satchel, it was all the things they would need while they were outside of the community.

Ellie mounted her horse and took hold of the reins, she placed her feet in the stirrups while she beckoned the horse to move forward with a gentle tap on the horse's sides. She rode the horse out of the stable and greeted a few on the farmhands, she had met a lot them in the week while she worked on the crop fields.

Joel wasn't that far behind her, she rode the horse to the wall's gates and waited for him there. The gates opened as Joel approached them and Tommy gave Ellie a bow with about five arrows, he told her she may need them just in case they ran into any trouble. She thanked him and put the arrows in the satchel, she then connected the bow to her backpack.

Tommy waved them off before they rode through the open gateway, he told them to take care on their journey while Ellie waved back at him. Joel took the lead while Ellie rode not far behind him, they made way along a pathway and through field of corn. Ellie looked at an abandoned Gas Station as they rode passed it, Joel told her that they had found some useful tools in there a few days ago.

They kept on moving forward until they found themselves in a forest of tall trees, there was a stream running through the forest with many Bluebells lining the embankment. The small stones in the water glistened in the sunlight and the sweet scent of flowers wafted on the breeze, it was just enchanting.

Joel checked his map while he continued to ride his horse, he told Ellie that they should arrive at the lake in an hours time. They kept on moving through the forest, the sweet smell of covers lingered in the air. There were many beautiful wildflowers and the bird flew above them in the treetops, the day was getting hot now. The landscape beyond The Jackson Community was just stunning, it was nice getting to explore the lands outside of the community. It wasn't long until they came to the edge of the forest, there was a vest lake just outside the forest.

Ellie shielded her eyes from the sun as looked out across the lake, it went on for miles. The sun shimmered on the surface of the lake and the small waves crashed against the lake's shoreline, the water looked so inviting on this hot day. She could see some buildings on the other side of the lake, she pointed them out to Joel and he told her it was an old Summer Camp while he dismounted his horse.

" Do you think we could explore it?" Ellie asked.

" Maybe, we can do that some other time." Joel replied.

" Could you imagine if it was like that Summer Camp we saw in those horror movies last week?" Ellie asked, she thought for a moment. " What were thone movies called again?"

" Friday The 13th." Joel replied.

" Yeah, Jason and his Mother." Ellie said.

" You've got much chances of finding Infected there than make believe movie characters." Joel said.

" I'd rather have the Infected than Jason, they're less stabby." Ellie smiled.

Ellie dismounted her horse and she let Shimmer wander with Joel's horse to the water's edge, she then walked to the shoreline of the lake. It was pebbly, Joel told her that it kind of reminded him of a beach. Ellie had never been to the beach before or paddled in the ocean, but she had seen pictures of the coastal areas in books.

Ellie picked a pebble from the ground and threw it into the lake, it made a plopping sound which made her smile. Joel joined her side and crossed his arms while he breathed in the fresh air, it seemed like he was taking in the view.

" How did you find this place?" Ellie asked.

" Tommy told me about it." Joel replied before he looked at Ellie. " I thought it would be the perfect place to teach you how to swim."

" Tommy sure knows all the best places around here, it's perfect." Ellie said.

" You're right." Joel said.

" Did you bring any swimwear?" Ellie asked.

" Nope, we can just swim in our clothes." Joel replied.

" Awesome!" Ellie smiled.

Ellie took her backpack off and sat down on the ground, she took her sneakers off next. Joel told her to be careful before he took his backpack off, he said sometimes there could be strong currents in lakes. She told him okay has she got up from the ground, she then hurried towards the lake. She paddled her feet in the water and wiggled her toes, the water was freezing. She complained to Joel about the water being too cold, but he told her to suck it up and just get on with it.

Ellie sighed to herself and walked further into the lake, she gasped as the water reached her waist. The water was taking her breath away, she shivered as she gently moved her arms around in the water while she waited for Joel to join her.

" Holy shit! It's so fucking cold!" Ellie yelled.

" You'll get use to it, just don't go too far out." Joel said.

Ellie turned around to face Joel as her teeth chattered, she was so tempted to have a pee in the water so she would warm up a bit. Wrapping her arms around herself she remained still until Joel joined her in the lake, he also complained about how cold the water was and that he wished he had brought them some diving suits to swim in now. Apparently he had seen some in the stockroom in the Clothes Store, Ellie was interested in knowing where they had found them since they weren't close to any coastal areas.

" Are you ready?" Joel asked.

" Yeah." Ellie replied.

" Okay, just move your arms first and we'll do the leg kicking thing later." Joel said.

Joel showed Ellie how to move her arms, he told her to copy him. Ellie moved her arms in circles, she was told by Joel that this swimming technique was called the front crawl. It was a faster swimming stroke, he also mentioned she would have to learn how to move her head side to side while she swam.

Ellie practiced the arm movements, she was getting use to them now. Joel told her he would support her body while she kicked her legs, he crouched in the water and held his arms out in front of him. He told Ellie to lie across his arms on her stomach, he promised not to let go of her until she was ready. She did what he asked, she moved her arms in the water and kicked her legs while Joel supported her body.

" Gentle kicks." Joel said.

Ellie slowed her legs down and gently moved her feet, the splashes lessened. Joel told her to move her arms and legs in circles in the water this time, he said it was called the breaststroke. She moved her arms and legs in the water, she told Joel she felt like a frog. Joel laughed at her remark while he lowered his arms into the water, she swore has she began moving forward. She panicked slightly in the water while she kicked her legs hard, but she kept moving forward.

" Fuck, fuck... fuck!" Ellie yelled.

" Keep going!" Joel smiled.

Moving her arms and legs in the water Ellie kept moving forward, she cough though when she tried to put her head beneath the water. Joel swam passed Ellie and stopped ahead of her, he held his hands towards her with a big smile on his face. He encouraged her to keep going, he told her not to quite.

Ellie kept going until she reached him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed while she gave him a hug. She pulled herself away from Joel while she held onto his arm, she was so happy with herself right now. She couldn't believe she had swam to Joel, this was the best day ever for Ellie right now.

" I fucking did it!" Ellie smiled, she spat some water from her mouth before she coughed. " Holy shit Joel, did you see me?!"

" I did kiddo, you did good." Joel replied.

" This is so awesome, I can't believe I did it!" Ellie said.

Joel congratulated Ellie once again as he stood up in the water, she tried to put her feet on the bottom of the lake but she ended up with a mouth full of water instead. She held onto Joel's arm as he walked back towards the shoreline, she finally managed to find her footing and let go of his arm. Joel got out of the lake but Ellie decided to stay in for a little bit longer, the water was rather cooling in the summer's heat.

" Are you going to try it again?" Joel asked.

" Hell yeah, just give me a minute to catch my breath first." Ellie replied.

" Just be careful, okay?" Joel asked.

" Okay." Ellie replied.

Ellie moved around in the shallow part of the lake, she was trying to get her arm movements right so she could move faster in the water. Joel was sitting not that far from the shoreline, he had made a campfire and he was using his new camping stove Tommy had given him to boil some water in his camping kettle so they could have some Cup Noodles for their lunch. She made eye contact with Joel while she splashed her arms around in the water, he shook his head at her in amusement.

" Ellie, you're doing it all wrong!" Joel said, he showed her what do to again with his arms. " You're flapping around in there like a fish, do what I'm doing!"

" I'm fucking trying!" Ellie coughed.

" You're like a goldfish, keep you mouth closed!" Joel said.

" What's a goldfish?" Ellie asked.

" A little orange coloured fish with a three month memory span, they sold them in pet stores." Joel replied with a smile. " Something you've both got in common, you know the three month memory span part."

" Ha-ha! You're so funny!" Ellie said.

" You'll get better over time, you've done good for your first swimming lesson." Joel said.

" Is lunch ready yet?" Ellie asked.

Joel gave Ellie a nod of his head, she hurried out of the lake and shook herself off like a dog would after it had gotten wet. She sat down next to Joel and cupped her hands around the hot cup of noodles, the smell was so intense. It smelt like really strong beef broth, the Cup Noodles had been a trade with a passing group near the community. She had been told by Joel that some people needed some medicine for a sick child, Tommy had arranged for a trade to be made between him and the group.

It happened a lot in The Jackson Community, some groups of people would joined the community and live peacefully amongest them. But other groups sometimes attacked the community for self gain, they wanted supplies and livestock. It was sad when it happened, but Ellie knew that some people out there weren't trustworthy.

Ellie brew on her Cup Noodle before she took a sip of it, the flavouring of the broth mixture was salty. She pulled her knees to her chest and looked out across the lake, she could see some mountains just beyond the Summer Camp, it felt like heaven on earth to Ellie. It was days like these that she enjoyed the most with Joel, they could relax and just be themselves around each other.

Ellie placed her Cup Noodle on the ground and took her notebook from her backpack, she opened it up while she took a pencil from her bag's pocket. She looked around at her surroundings and noticed Shimmer drinking from the lake, she poked her tongue out of the side of her mouth as she began to draw her horse in her notebook.

" What are you drawing?" Joel asked.

" It's just a doddle, nothing special." Ellie replied.

Ellie sketched the outline of Shimmer's body, she struggled to draw the horse's legs though. When she was done she wrote Shimmer's name beneath it, she then wrote about her swimming lesson with Joel and how she planned on exploring that Summer Camp on the other side of the lake someday. Ellie put her notebook away when she was done, she told Joel that she would have another dip before they returned back to The Jackson Community.