Joel made his way back through the undergrowth, stopping where he could still see area where the fallen scavenger lay. He kept low. The trees were partially blocking his view, but it was good enough he thought. He waited.
After a while he saw one of his attackers come around from behind the cabin. The man kept making a whistling noise, clearly searching for his comrade. A minute or two later the other man came into view from the front of the cabin. Both of the scavengers talked for a moment and then split up slightly; both started to look around the outskirts of the clearing near to the cabin. Each man disappearing from view for a few seconds as they passed behind tree trunks, only to reappear again as they continued their search.
Any minute now, Joel thought.
"Carl, over here !", Joel heard as one of the scavengers finally discovered the body. Joel continued to watch, not moving an inch.
The man called Carl came running into view. He was the shorter of the two men. It was the first time Joel had seen him clearly. He could now see that the man had a large angry scar running down the left side of his face. The man called Carl bent down to examine the corpse, and stood back up after a short time. The remaining scavengers were deep in animated conversation although from his position Joel couldn't hear what was being said. Both men repeatedly looked around, using occasional hand gestures and pointing at the cabin.
Wondering what to do next, Joel assumed.
The shorter man - Carl stepped away from the other man, taking a few steps in the direction of where Joel was. He started to shout, turning slowly as he did.
"I know you can hear me, the time for games is over my friend. I had offered you a quick death. You have killed my brother. That deal is no longer on offer. Now you will die a slow painful death. We will find you, then we will go back to your camp and kill everyone else. This I promise you, my friend."
Joel smiled to himself. Well that clears a few things up, he thought. Now it was clear. They had been watching him. A few questions remained but any doubts were now gone. He couldn't put Ellie in danger. He couldn't put the rest of the camp in danger.
He checked the rifle again, risking the noise. He only had three bullets left.
Well 'my friend'. Looks like you just sealed your fate, he thought.
Joel aimed the gun. Slowed his breathing and waited for the right moment. His finger tightened on the trigger as he waited, the muscles in it tensed. He considered his options.
He fired.