"You'd have to have a stash of wood. Or something to use as kindling. It's a complicated thing. We'll do a lot of camping and I'll teach you all that shit, okay?" He could see the way her mind started clouding her face. She was so much like Sarah, so expressive in the same ways. He didn't want to overwhelm her... she liked learning, and he was still learning what the cut off to that was. He'd never tried to mitigate things with Sarah because she'd had Tommy and school and her grandparents. "Come over here."
"Yeah... okay."
Ellie's voice replied softly, as she gently nodded and tried to settle the idea that Joel would teach her what she needed to know. Part of her wished he wouldn't because if he didn't teach her how to take care of herself, then she wouldn't have to try to live without him. It wasn't lost on her that the man wasn't exactly a spring chicken and the idea of existing without the only parental figure who had ever shown her love that she'd known, brought tears to her eyes.
"Huh?"
She looked confused as she snapped back from her thoughts at his request to have her come closer. She wasn't sure what she had missed while she was in her own head, but she didn't hesitate to do what she was told. She made a silent promise while she watched him lay dying in that abandoned town, that if he just lived - she would never question his authority again. She'd just do what she was told. Just like he wanted her to. Rising to her feet, she crossed the distance in just a few short strides.
"Want a hand?"

















