In the video game “The Last of Us,” Ellie and Tess, two of the main characters, are surviving in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by infected humans. During their journey, Tess becomes infected, and Ellie quickly realizes this. In this response, I will explore how Ellie knew that Tess was infected.
Firstly, it is important to understand the characteristics of the infected in “The Last of Us.” There are several stages of infection, each with its own symptoms and physical changes. The first stage is referred to as “Runner,” in which the infected person exhibits aggression and altered behavior. The second stage is “Stalker,” in which the infected becomes stealthier and more dangerous. The third and final stage is “Clicker,” in which the infected’s face becomes distorted, and they use echolocation to find their prey.
When Tess and Ellie first encounter the infected, Tess is shown to be very experienced and knowledgeable about the infected. She tells Ellie to be careful and stay quiet, indicating that she knows the dangers of the infected. Throughout their journey, Tess continues to demonstrate her knowledge and experience with the infected, suggesting that she is well-versed in identifying the various stages of infection.
When they first encounter the Runners, Tess and Ellie work together to fight them off. During the fight, Tess is bitten by one of the infected. Ellie witnesses this, and it is likely that this is how she first realizes that Tess is infected.
However, it is also possible that Ellie’s immunity to the infection allowed her to detect the early signs of Tess’s infection. In the game’s story, Ellie is immune to the infection that has devastated the world. She was bitten by an infected person in the past but did not turn into an infected herself. This immunity could have given her a heightened awareness of the infection’s effects on others.
Ellie’s heightened awareness is further demonstrated in the game’s story when she encounters Sam, a young boy who has been infected. Ellie is able to detect the early signs of Sam’s infection, which the other characters are not able to do. This suggests that Ellie has a unique ability to sense the infection in others.
Another possible explanation for Ellie’s ability to detect Tess’s infection is that she is simply very observant. Throughout the game, Ellie is shown to be very perceptive and observant, noticing details that others miss. For example, she is the first to notice that Joel is injured when they first meet, and she is able to find hidden items and paths that others do not notice. It is possible that Ellie’s keen observational skills allowed her to notice the subtle physical changes in Tess’s behavior and appearance that indicated she was infected.
In conclusion, there are several possible explanations for how Ellie knew that Tess was infected in “The Last of Us.” It is likely that Ellie’s observation skills, combined with Tess’s experience and knowledge of the infected, allowed her to detect the early signs of Tess’s infection. Alternatively, Ellie’s immunity to the infection may have given her a unique ability to sense the infection in others. Ultimately, it is the combination of these factors that allowed Ellie to recognize that Tess was infected, setting the stage for the events that unfold in the game’s story.