Tommy was on patrol with Ellie, Dina, and another three people. They were going to be away for a few days after they got an SOS message earlier that week. They had to be careful, the area was new to everyone on patrol. Joel was currently focused on the construction of new houses and buildings in Jackson and wasn’t taking patrols.

When the group got to the place, they noticed it was some sort of laboratory. They were on high ground, looking down at the remains of the place. Tommy looked towards it, using the binoculars.

“It’s full of infected. Where did they even come from?” Tommy muttered as he looked around for any survivors. Ellie did the same, spotting something not too far from a body of water near the labs.

“There’s someone there.” Ellie pointed out.

Tommy followed her gaze, spotting what looked like a person. Despite the distance, he could tell they were breathing with how hard their chest rose and fell from a distance.

“Let’s go.” Ellie said, not wasting time.

“Whoa, hey, we’re not going there. There could be more infected around or they could be bit.” Tommy scolded.

“They don’t look infected or bit. We came here to help, didn’t we? Let’s help.” Ellie said sternly, using a very similar stern and stubborn tone Joel was known for.

“I swear, you and my brother are the same fucking person.” Tommy shook his had, catching up to her on the horse.

When they got down by the body of water, avoiding infected and looking out for people, they got to you. Tommy stopped before reaching you. You looked almost dead, your skin more pale tha normal, slits on both sides of your neck, giving the impression of fish-like gills.

“Stop.” He stopped Ellie when she tried to approach you. But, Ellie being Ellie, didn’t listen.

“They’re not infected… but they’re different.” She pointed out, taking in how your ears seemed to be like small fins, and there were fins on your forearms and calves.

None of them knew what you were. But by the looks of it, you had been one of the only survivors of the lab. Tommy took a leap of faith and with the help of everyone in the group, wrapped you up, taking you to Jackson.

Everyone wanted to have a look at you. Everyone wanted to know about the person with fins. Ellie was fascinated by you. She spent days asking you questions, getting whatever answer she could from you. You were shy and quiet. Most people tried not to judge, knowing you had been subjected to lab experiments. You were surreal, but again, the world went to shit because of a fungus.

“New fucking record!” Ellie shouted when you emerged from the water at a small lake near Jackson. She liked going swimming there with you and Dina. Always trying to break your record for how long you could be underwater.

“You do know I can just breathe under water, right?” You laughed with Ellie and Dina before a new figure appeared behind Ellie.

“We should get back now.” Joel’s strong and gruff voice spoke up, Tommy behind him, holding a bucket with the fish they had catched for Jackson.

“Look how much we got!” Ellie announced, showing Joel the bucket of fish you had helped catch. He wa impressed.

“That’s cheating.” He joked.