Secrets And Hope {The Last Of Us Fanfiction}

XVI

They began their journey through the afternoon haze of the sun as it shone down upon their forms, casting shadows down upon the overgrowth that took over the concrete that once marked the road. The map was old, marking out old highways and roads that led directly towards Livingstone. The two walked in silence, listening to the sounds of nature that had taken over mans creations, vines wrapped around electricity poles, trees grew through the buildings, causing them to disfigure and become reliant upon the support of that one tree. In a way, it was a representation that everything relied upon Mother Nature, and man sure knew that by now, whether they were too late or not.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Nora spoke out quietly, her eyes straying into the wilderness they began to disperse into, no more buildings in sight, just the foliage and trees of the forest that surrounded them. Joel's eyes lifted from the map to look at what she was gazing at, and he, too, took in the scents, the sight and the atmosphere that surrounded them.

"Sure is," He replied in his deep set voice, before his eyes once more landed upon the map, "We should stop at this ranch nearby and set up camp, it's already getting dark,"

"How far?"

"I'd say about 20 minutes," Joel's eyes lifted once more and met with Nora's. With a nod, they continued on their way.

Walking down a muddied track, they arrived at the abandoned ranch. The picket fences were broken and crooked, the house was rotten and the structure misshaped, the only thing that seems to be in a decent condition was the barn besides the odd hole in the roof. The two trudged quickly through the mud over to the barn and with their guns securely in their grasps, made their way inside. The place was dark yet derelict. Not a soul in sight, and so they proceeded to make camp for the night.

They both sat around the dancing fire, the broken branches and chopped up logs crackled, giving off a golden glow. Despite the fires comforting warmth, Nora still felt the draught of the chilly spring breeze, and so she shuffled closer to Joel, leaning against him slightly to feel his bodies heat.

"You know... I used to be a Girl Scout, and they took us out on a camping trip. Taught us how to make dens and pitch a tent, create a fire. I bless those moments, they truly did teach me how to survive. Though little did I know that at the time, for me, it was all about the adventure," She quietly spoke, her eyes watching the flames.

"Tough nut eh?" Joel smirked, looking down at her, and Nora gave out a little giggle as her eyes lifted to meet his.

"Yeah well... The only thing they didn't teach me was to hunt and shoot a gun,"

"No, no they didn't. You know, the first time I shot someone, it haunted me for days," Joel began to explain, "All I could see was that mans face, every night and everyday,"

"But now all you see is a dead man and nothing more right?"

"Right. Funny what this world does to you eh?" Joel scoffed with a shake of his head and his hand wrapped subconsciously around Nora's waist, pulling her closer. Nora smiled softly to herself, and she rested her head upon his shoulder.

As the flames somewhat hypnotised the two, Joel failed to notice that Nora had drifted off to sleep. His eyes gazed dreamily into the fire as it danced upon the logs, "I always used to dream of what would happen if all of this ended, the undead, the fight for survival. I used to dream of my daughter still being alive, i would have taken her to see the dolphins on the East Coast like she always wanted to. She would have been in her 30's now... you would have loved her,"

He looked down at Nora, and smiled softly to himself as he saw her peacefully asleep. With a sigh, he lowered her down upon the ground and pulled her blanket over her slight form. Pulling his gun out of its holster, he rose to his booted feet and took the first watch for the night. Standing at the barn door, his eyes wandered off into the forest that surrounded them and sighed contently.

A few hours passed, and with a gentle groan, Nora's eyes fluttered open against the soft light of the crackling fire. After realising where she was, she pushed herself up onto her elbows and her eyes casted over to Joel who remained stood by the open door of the barn. She didn't know how long he must have been stood there for, but she didn't waste any time in rising up to her feet and walking sluggishly over to him.

"Hey,"

"Hey," Joel replied under his breath, the bags under his eyes telling her that he needed to get some rest, "Sleep well?"

"Like a little baby," She smiled softly and put her hand upon his upper arm, "Why don't you get some shut eye, eh? I'll take over,"

"Yeah, yeah that'd be great," He replied with a yawn, the idea of sleep enticing him increasingly quickly to get his head down. Putting his gun back inside his holster, he pressed his lips to her forehead to kiss her goodnight, then padded back over to the campfire. Nora smiled softly as she watched him settle down beneath the blanket and finally allow his lids to slide shut.

--

Joel walked up behind Nora, his hand resting upon the small of her back rousing her from the daze she seemed to be under as she looked out the the forest. The morning dew spread over the grass that surrounded the forest floor, the moist damp air almost enlightening their senses.

"Are we ready?" He asked, handing her pack over to her, and with a nod, the two set off from the ranch back onto the road. The birds sang their merry songs as they flew up above in the orange morning sky.

Minutes of walking turned to hours before they knew it, and eventually, they saw the sign.

Welcome to Livingstone