[Tess hears the horse's hooves against the packed snow crunching before she sees and even hears the girl. Although she doesn't immediately recognize Ellie by the voice alone, hearing the beginnings of her - was it an offer? - is enough to draw her attention completely forward.
And then she hears her name-- her name.]
...Ellie?
[This has gotta mean the girl didn't make it, she's dead, the infection had somehow gotten through the immunity in her system, gotten to her. Christ, there goes the only known possible cure for mankind. That means they had failed Marlene, everyone.]
Je-Jesus Christ--
[As cold as she's feeling, as frozen as her skin is right now, she doesn't move forward. If Ellie is looking at her like she's seen a ghost then Tess is mirroring the expression.]
--Joel?
[The name comes out on a croak, the hands curled over her biceps dig her dirty nails into her skin already thinking the worst.]
no subject
And then she hears her name-- her name.]
...Ellie?
[This has gotta mean the girl didn't make it, she's dead, the infection had somehow gotten through the immunity in her system, gotten to her. Christ, there goes the only known possible cure for mankind. That means they had failed Marlene, everyone.]
Je-Jesus Christ--
[As cold as she's feeling, as frozen as her skin is right now, she doesn't move forward. If Ellie is looking at her like she's seen a ghost then Tess is mirroring the expression.]
--Joel?
[The name comes out on a croak, the hands curled over her biceps dig her dirty nails into her skin already thinking the worst.]