Ellie held the rifle, aiming at the animal, her hands steady. Just when she was about to shoot, a noise made her wince. The sudden sound made it run away.

“Are you fucking— oh man, I almost had that!” She said to herself. Joel was injured and hungry, and she needed to bring him something.

The sound was in fact a gunshot, so she was a little on edge now. It was probably another hunter, but it could always be a threat. As if on cue, a deer staggered nearby Ellie, collapsing onto the ground.

Two different thoughts ran through her mind. She could drag the deer to Joel, but no way she could carry it to the horse. She decided to cautiously approach the deer, which may or may not have been a mistake.

Somebody was pointing a gun at Ellie, and with wide eyes, she glanced at the person and then at the deer.

“Uh, nice catch!” She said. “Look, why don’t you lower the gun, buddy?” She said. Ellie needed medicine for Joel, and she wondered if this person had that.