What’s in a name?

If you’ve been following video games for any length of time, you have probably heard of “The Last of Us.” In many instances, you didn’t have to play the game to understand that culture that surrounds it. If you still hadn’t heard of it, maybe you did from the HBO series that aired this year while breaking viewership records. This series is where my column title, “Wolves never look up,” comes from.

“The Last of Us” follows a hardened  Joel — after losing his daughter Sarah — and an orphaned Ellie in an apocalyptic world caused by climate change. According to lore, climate change created a breeding ground for a fungus called cordyceps — a real fungus that typically infects ants. As humans are infected, they turn into zombie-like creatures with various stages. That’s really the gist of the game. Joel and Ellie fight for their survival in a world that’s out for blood.

Only three years ago, the video game released a sequel, following both familiar and new characters. One of them being Abby and Lev.

“How did we never find these?,” said Abby.

“Wolves never look up,” Lev said.

“What does that mean?,” she responded.

“It means no matter how many people or guns you have, we’ll find a way around you,” whispered Lev.

Lev is describing the Washington Liberation Front, or wolves, an antagonist in the story and the team that Abby is on. These are people Lev avoids for his safety. How? By traveling on alternate routes in the city, such as bridges connecting skyscrapers, because wolves are convinced that they are so powerful that they don’t feel the need to analyze all of their surroundings. At least, that is my interpretation.

I’m not sure what stuck out to me about this scene. I think it’s that it feels like a personal call out. I often live in my own world and I don’t know whether I’m happy or take issue with that.

What if I am as oblivious as the wolves are? Am I constantly missing what’s right in front of me? These worries are always on my mind. Sometimes, I’m scared that I’m not present enough in my life and, for whatever reason that, quote gives me a reminder.

It really just reminds me to take in my surroundings. Whether that is recognizing the minutes I’m spending with loved ones or taking the time to play with my dogs even if I’m tired. That could also mean paying attention to what is happening around me for my own safety. Or sometimes, I literally look up.

It’s silly, but looking up feels like a relief sometimes because I really never do it. I mean, who does? I work in an office all day and then go home and sit on the couch. I never think to lay outside and just face the sun, especially in this Texas heat, or the stars, but when I do, it feels like a reset. And when I’m struggling, that’s what I need.

I laugh when I think about how often I think of this quote three years after the game’s release, but then I think of what it reminds me of and I don’t find it so funny anymore. I’m grateful.

So, look up if you haven’t. Look up from your phone; look up to the sky; look up and realize that you won’t get these moments back.

Kelley is a reporter for the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. She can be reached at [email protected].