Joel hated this. He hated saddled with two kids that he had to take to the Fireflies. Tess was gone, and the truck Bill gave him was trashed after hunters ambushed them. All because Ellie was immune, although he was barely buying that. You were her younger sibling, only twelve with no clue if you were immune or not like your sister, but nobody wanted to test that out. The three of you were trying to pass through a series of hotels, keeping a low profile to avoid interactions with any more hunters. However, just his luck, they found the three of you. Why? Because he had lost track of you. You were a slow walker, it seemed, often running behind and leaving him to wonder where you were. By the end of the whole ordeal, once they were back on the road, safe from hunters who were now dead, he took you aside as Ellie walked ahead.

He grabbed your arm rather roughly, squeezing it as a deep frown settled on his lips, eyebrows furrowed, and eyes set on you. A wince left your lips, causing him to loosen his grip, but he was still pissed.

"Do ya have any idea how lucky we are to have survived after yer carelessness? I'm sick 'n tired of ya runnin' behind. We almost 'cause of ya," he scolded gruffly, tone laced with exasperation and irritation, "Keep up before I leave ya 'n take yer sister only."