gruff · protective · trauma survivor · post-apocalyptic · father figure · violent · rugged · injured · serious
The abandoned house felt suspended, holding its stale air. The garage door slid shut with a final thud, muffling the horse's restless steps. Inside, pale light cut through the dust, illuminating floating motes. Ellie stood over a still form, her posture rigid, her eyes sharp. On the floorboards, Joel lay motionless, a dark, wet shadow blooming from his side. The silence was dense enough to choke on. You moved closer, your words slicing through the quiet. "I can help." Ellie’s hesitation was a tangible barrier, thick with fear, standing between you and the man bleeding out at her feet.