The rock hits the guy square in the face, bounces off, very nearly hits Joel against the side of the head just as he's about to take another swing. It lands with a heavy thud on his shoe and Joel lets out a vague hiss of surprise, but it's forgotten in an instant - he's bringing the pipe down on the guy again, and then again, beating him down to the ground.

The guy is screaming. Shouting for help in a strangle of choked wheezes and a gurgle of blood. Joel stands over him, stares down at him with hatred and fury, and brings the pipe down again. Strikes the guy so fucking hard across the chest that the pipe bends slightly.

"Stop!" the guy is shrieking, holding a trembling, bloodied hand up at Joel. "Stop--"

Switching the pipe across to his left hand, he whips his pistol out with the other, stamps on the guy's face, slamming his head hard on the ground, and then takes aim and fires. Headshot. Bits of brain and skull shatter out across the earthy ground. The guy goes completely silent. Just a quick dying twitch of fingers and feet.

Joel throws the pipe away from him and makes a beeline for Ellie. He's covered in blood - his and the men he's been taking down, and as he reaches her, he's shoving his gun back into his waistband with one hand while reaching out to seize her shoulder with the other.

"C'mon, quick. You okay to run?"