To Quell the Wrath

Chapter Eight - The Log Cabin

Author's Notes: TW: Discussions of suicide.

The sun is beating down and despite it being August, it is fairly warm this afternoon. Dina and Ellie have returned to the farm for the day, so Ellie can go through her art things. She had flicked through her journal and tried to play guitar, but since losing two of her fingers on her left hand, it is a struggle, and the sound is muted. She sighs and leans it up against the window. Taking one last look at her supplies, so goes down to JJ and decides to complete her farm duties. Since leaving the farm, the sheep had been let loose to roam the hills, but now as winter is drawing in, they had decided to round them all up and take them back to the barn at the farm. It had been a monumentous task locating all 20 sheep, but with their dye spots on their wool, it was a lot easier. Sadly, a few had been eaten by Infected, but the girls knew the risks when they set them free for the summer. Now every day they would have to go back and forth to the farm, twice a day to feed them, but at least they'd be keeping up on their exercises.

Ellie scoops up JJ and has him on her hip when she steps outside into the hot sunshine. Dina is in the garden watering the vegetables and Ellie decides to try and herd the sheep into the barn for the afternoon. This is the first time in months that she is herding them, as the last time she did so, she had another flashback of Joel, which ended up with her having a panic attack. She hopes that nothing triggers her again today, but even so, she's on her guard. Ellie rounds up the sheep and leads them into the barn, checking the back corner for any runaways. Thankfully, there are none and this is a relatively easy task.

Stepping outside the barn, she blinks between the dark and the light and sighs. "We did it, buddy. That was fine, that was good. We're good, JJ." He smiles and babbles to himself. She and JJ go and see what Dina is up to and as they walk, they enjoy the peace and quiet on the farm. Ellie makes her way through the tall wheat field and stops by the oak tree, which has a heart and the letters D + E JJ carved into it. Ellie smiles at it and places a hand in the middle of it. "Family, JJ." She says before joining Dina at the vegetable patch. "Ooh, damn, look at that butt." Ellie says as Dina bends over to pick up the watering can.

Dina chuckles and turns around. "Ooh, look at my beautiful girlfriend and my cutie baby. Are the sheep in the barn?"

"Yup."

"And no...?"

"No, we're good."

"Excellent. That's what I like to hear. I'm nearly finished and then we can start lunch."

"Good, I'm—"

"Starving." Dina finishes and Ellie laughs.

"Yes." Ellie replies, before dancing behind Dina.

"Oh, I see your dancing hasn't improved."

"Shurrup." Ellie scoffs.

"No, it's good. I like it. How about we—" Dina whispers in Ellie's ear and she gasps.

"Mmhmm... ooh... woah..." Ellie responds to the dirty talk in her ear. "I like where this is headed."

Dina smirks at her and kisses Ellie's neck, who gulps audibly. "You okay there?" Dina asks.

"Mmhmm." Ellie concludes.

They finish up in the garden and then head inside for lunch. As Dina sets about making sandwiches, Ellie puts JJ in his highchair so Dina can get his lunch ready first. She makes silly faces at him, which gets him laughing. Dina comes in with JJ's mashed up food and water in a Sippy cup and places the plastic plate and plastic cup with silicone lid in front of him. "C'mon, don't get him all excited before lunch, otherwise his hands'll be in it, and it'll be flicked everywhere."