Joel spots one of them. Only just - he can only just make out their thick bomber jacket, the hoodie pulled up over their head - but he can hear them talking. And the way they talk about Ellie makes his stomach twist with deep, coiling disgust and anger.

"That fuckin' little bitch is fast, though," replies the one.

"You go this way." Joel can't see the other one, but tries to make a guess where the guy is referring to. "I'll go 'round this way. Circle 'em. If you see the guy, take him out."

"And the girl?"

"Use her a bait if you get her first. Like you said."

"On it." Footsteps quietly taking off.

Joel takes aim with the arrow. Fucking assholes. They ain't gonna get anywhere near his girl. With his head cocked slightly to the side, eyes fixed sharp on his target, he draws the string back to a firm tension, waits to make certain he's got a good angle. One of the men steps into better view. Perfect headshot.

Joel releases the arrow with a soft ping. There's a wet thunk and a strangled wheeze as the arrow cuts straight in through the guy's windpipe.

"Bowers? Hey, Bowers!" Joel hears the other guy softly calling out to the man Joel had just taken down. "That you?"

Joel's already reaching back for a second arrow as he watches the guy clawing at the air and at his throat as he sinks to the ground, gurgling.