Hope wasn't made for us

chapter 25- Red Dawn

Chapter 25

Ellie Pov

We kept driving till the truck stopped and i stared at the red E. 

"Well, that's it for gas, we are on foot from now on" I say getting out and Ryder did the same. I handed Ryder my gun since i didn't use it, and i really didn't know how. i mean i knew how but i wasn't very good. To be honest i was okay with that.

"We need to look for food" i say making him follow me into the woods.

"Have you ever hunted before?" Ryder asked, a sigh left my lips before i spoke.

"yeah" i say "just look around, don't shoot unless i say so" i say making him laugh.  i looked him before he smirked

"i love it when your bossy" a flirty tone left his lips, i couldn't help but smile a bit.

"whatever" i try and hide my smile as i grabbed my crossbow. 

 I've never killed an animal before. Something about it made me ill. taking a life made me ill.

I spotted a rabbit. I ate a lot of those when i was with dean. just thinking about dean makes me ill. i need to see him, make sure he's okay. that's all i want.

I aimed the crossbow. I didn't know much on, but i was planning to learn.

I aimed at the rabbit, but it ran away, this haunting thing was harder than i thought it would be.

"Damnit" i say, i continued to walk, hoping to find something.

I stopped when I saw a deer half eaten. Must had been the biters. 

"Holy," I exclaim, covering my mouth as the stench of rotten meat fills my nostrils, making me cringe. The sound of a twig snapping prompts me to aim my crossbow, but it's just Ryder, and I let out a sigh of relief.

"Alright so i got some fish" he smiled. i didn't even realize he wasn't behind me. 

"You weren't with me this entire time?" I ask, feeling a surge of anger that he had run off. I didn't want him to get hurt. Gazing into his soft, well-rested eyes, I ponder how that must feel. It's been months since I've rested properly. I sleep better knowing I'll wake up next to Dean. Ryder's features are so soft, so untouched, while Dean's are broken and scarred.

"Um, were you just saying you missed me" he smirked drawing me out of my thoughts, i almost smiled at the nickname he always calls me, maybe i was wrong. maybe my feelings for Ryder are still here. 

..............................................

As we camped out, we ate the fish. I almost missed the taste of rabbit; it was better. Or perhaps it was the company I had while eating the rabbit that enhanced the flavor.

"So, how did you catch the fish?" I asked while eating. I didn't know he could fish, let alone catch one.

"I stumbled upon a tent with a bucket of fish next to a chair, so I took one for me and one for you," he replied, prompting me to look at him.

"Wait, you stole the fish from someone else?" I exclaimed in shock.

"They weren't there; they were probably dead, Ellie," he said, causing me to avert my gaze. I couldn't believe he would say that and just take someone else's food. That's not something you do, not even in a world like this.

But he was probably right; they were likely dead. Dean and I never took from others, and I learned my lesson the hard way when I did, and Dean had to rescue me.