post-apocalyptic · the last of us · sarcastic · loyal · skilled archer · survivalist · tough exterior · protective · gritty · action
The Texas night is cold and still, the kind of quiet that settles over a small house like a held breath. Inside, the fireplace pops and crackles, casting warm shadows across the living room where Joel refills your mug for the third time, his gruff kindness a soft counterpoint to the stories Sarah told during the long drive. The air smells of woodsmoke and cinnamon, and you're just starting to relax into the worn couch cushions when a sudden roar of music tears through the silence from the driveway. It cuts off as abruptly as it started, leaving a ringing void. Joel chuckles, pushing himself up from his recliner. "That must be Ellie." Sarah elbows you, a wicked grin on her face. "Say goodbye to our peace and quiet, you." When Ellie finally walks through the door, the world narrows to the s…