Firefly

Forty-Five

Present Day

The snow was hard to trudge through in some areas. It made us slower and tired us out. I convinced Joel to take breaks more often so we wouldn't overwork ourselves. There were towns we had to bypass due to unfriendly people. A city we had to find a way around completely because the infected took up residence. But there further west we got the less infected we saw. There was nothing but fields and mountains for miles and miles out here. We had been walking for a few hours when we stumbled upon a small cabin. It was clear that someone lived there because there was smoke coming from the chimney and there were animal hides hung up outside. 

When we walked over, Joel decided to sneak in because knocking is apparently not an option anymore. An older woman sat in a chair in the living area of the small cabin. She was a sweet woman, offered us soup and showed Joel on a map which way we needed to go. She informed us that her husband was going to be back soon from his hunting trip. Joel ushered Ellie and I upstairs to hide. I had rolled my eyes because I thought it was just ridiculous.

When her husband did come  when Joel came out of hiding. His wife was calm like nothing was wrong. She told him everything, even that Joel wasn't alone. Ellie and I didn't even bother staying hidden. The man showed us the same spot on the map that his wife did. But he warned us of the death river, then we left. On our way out Ellie tried taking one of the rabbits, but I stopped her and made her put it back. "Joel, are you okay? You're not having a heart attack are you?"

I looked at Ellie when turned around to see Joel leaning against one of the posts with one hand. His other hand was on his cheat. I rushed over to him worried that he was having a heart attack, but the look in his eyes when he looked at me told me that wasn't what was happening. There was panic in his eyes; he wasn't having a heart attack, he was starting to have a panic attack. "Joel, I need you to take slow deep breaths." I had a hand on his cheek making him focus on me.

"He's not going to die is he?" Ellie asked. Joel pushed me away and stood up straight. "I'm fine. Let's go," he said, and started to walk in the direction we needed to go. Ellie and I gave each other a look before following after him. There have only been a few times where I've seen Joel have a panic attack. The last one he had was about a year after we got to the QZ. As we walked Ellie did what she does best, talked and asked questions. When it started to get dark we found a small open cave and Joel started a fire.

We sat around the fire trying to keep warm. Ellie started asking about what kind of teats they would be running. She always wanted to know if there would be any kids like her there. "I don't know, maybe." Joel pulled out a flask and took a swig of it before handing it to me. I took it and did the same then handed it back. Ellie looked between us and with a little convincing Joel handed it to her, letting her take one drink.

Then it was time for bed, Ellie curled up on her sleeping bag and fell asleep. I curled myself up closer to Joel, who put his arms around me and rested his head on top of mine. I'm not sure when but at some point through the night we both fell asleep. Joel woke up first; sitting up with a jolt. I groaned, opening my eyes, and looked around. Ellie was standing a few feet away, rifle in hand, keeping watch. She explained we fell asleep, and Joel needed the sleep, so she kept watch. She went through the list of things Joel had taught her. He still wasn't happy that she didn't wake him, but told her next she better and then took the rifle.

After packing everything up we kept walking. We walked across bridges that sat high above rivers but we never knew if it was the river of death or whatever that old man had said. We passed a water plant and Ellie asked about it. Joel explained to her that we used to have water plants to male energy then proceeded to tell her he didn't know exactly how it worked. "You could have made something up and I would have believed you."

We walked across more open fields covered in snow and walked along the river. "Hey, what if this is the river of death?" Ellie asked. We stopped in our tracks and looked around. Seconds later two men on horses showed up. Joel tried to explain that we just wanted to pass through but they had none of it. Then more people on horses showed up. They had a dog with them, claiming that he could smell I'd you we were infected. Joel pushed me behind him and I pushed Ellie behind me.

That didn't last long before they made us stand apart. Then they let the dog come towards us. First it was Joel, then it was me. The dog sniffed us and quickly moved to the next. I looked over at Joel with worry before looking at Ellie. Joel was staring at the people in front of us on the horses. I looked back at them too wanting to remember their faces if Ellie ended up getting hurt or if they tried to hurt her. But then I heard giggling. Joel and I snapped our heads over where it came from and saw Ellie on her knees petting the dog.

"Look, like I said, we're just passing through. I'm just looking for my brother," Joel said. The dog was called back to its owner and I moved towards Ellie. "What's your name?" A woman asked. She was looking right at Joel with her brows forwarded. "Joel." In the next few minutes we were on horses and being taken back to their camp. Big gates came into view and they slowly opened.

We were led inside the walls to be greeted with a large community; a whole town to be exact. Joel got off his horse and then slowly started to walk towards someone. "Tommy!" I jumped down off the horse Ellie and I were on and looked over to see Tommy rushing over to meet Joel in a hug. I looked up at Ellie and she gave me a sad look. "Everything will be fine," I reassured her.

"Yn!" I looked over and smiled at Tommy. The two brothers walked over and Tommy pulled me into a hug. "It's so good to see you. How have you been?" he asked. Joel came to stand beside me and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. Ellie got off the horse and stood on the other side of me, slightly behind us. A smile grew on Tommy's face and he nodded his head. "It's about damn time you two fixed your shit."