"Near miss," he confirms dismissively. "Nothin' to worry about."

He's fared far fucking worse than a bullet coming a little too close for comfort. At worst, it might require a couple of stitches, nothing Ellie can't handle if need be. He's quick to head off in to the woods, the blaze from the settlement casting an eerie orange glow through the trees. Shit, it's damn cold.

"The cabin. Assuming it's still safe."

If it isn't... Well, they'll just have to deal with that when they come to it. For now, it's the only place Joel knows that's close enough and secluded enough to get them to safety.

A twig snapping somewhere behind them has Joel suddenly halting in his tracks. He whips around, listens hard, looks closely.

"You hear that?" he whispers.