Eden Lupus Ashford

Kiddo

Nathan Ashford [uncle]

Zee Ashford [uncle]

> *❝I don't believe in any gods, if I did then they have forsaken me.❞*
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> -Eden Ashford to Dr. Alderman
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## Overview

Eden Lupus Ashford is the main protagonist of Dark Horizons and the only confirmed immune child to be discovered. She was born in Flamefair, New York to Sage Lupus and Jordan Ashford, which the latter was killed before she was born. More often than not she is a quiet child with an attitude and loves to rebel against adults, whom she despises. After being wronged by adults in the past and being treated badly by other she believes humanity deserves to crumble to the Nekros Flower, gaining the attention of Dr. Alderman. While traveling to Abyss, Reuben, and Elias she becomes more social and over time her resentment towards adults dwindle, but she still doesn't trust them. She becomes the little sister figure to Elias and they actually make quite the mischievous duo.

## Appearance

Eden is an 8 year old girl with dark red, almost crimson curly hair that does down to the top of her shoulders. Her skin is a warm, earthy tan and her eyes are a hazel green with golden flecks swirling within. While being small and lithe she is a bit malnourished after the death of her mother, but eventually gains healthy wait as she travels with Abyss. The most notable accessory is a hot pink flower pin, which is a replica of the purple flower pin her mother wore [which she keeps in her pockets]. She wears a dingy pale yellow t shirt with dark green overalls and normal tennis shoes.

## Personality

Eden was actually raised in caring, loving hands from her single mother. Sage was sometimes too soft, but tried her best to help her daughter channel her anger towards something productive. This was art and writing, which both her parents had enjoyed, and she used it as a creative outlet. Whenever she wasn't writing she was helping her mother upkeep the home they had spent years building, defending it from the undead she was learning about to plant and wildlife. Eden is surprisingly brave for a child, being ready to face anything without thinking of how it may affect her after. Reckless as some people call it.

While her mother was good and loving she was a bit too paranoid sometimes and over protective. This led Eden to feel trapped at times, not being able to go off on her own, and over time she became hot headed and defiant. Sage doesn't know how to punish her child well, and there was no one there to really scold her. However, some of Sage's sarcastic remarks have rubbed off over the years. Eden tells the truth even if it hurts people's feelings, and is of course childish when confronted about things.

#### *Personality Strengths*

+Hard working

Thanks to Sage being raised int he boreal forests of Alaska she knew how to survive and raise a child all on her own. No matter what happened Eden would always respect her mother for her hard work and strived to be the same. In early morning hours she would go out and till ground, forage in the forests, and even skin animals her mother brought home from hunting. Needless to say if Eden puts her mind to something she will be very dedicated and work hard to achieve it.

+Intelligent

Although she only knows the most basic math and how to read and write the child is well versed in foraging, animals, and survival. She was also taught how to use guns by multiple people, and although she's obviously not as proficient, Eden can still use the weapons to kill. She has gotten as far as she has alone thanks to her knowledge and wisdom from all the trauma she has endured. It's making her grow up fast even if she doesn't realize.

+Creative

Like any child Eden is creative, but she uses this with her street smarts to make efficient traps and come up with solutions some adults may not consider. She thinks outside the box and loves to draw and write, thanks to her mother teaching it to her. No one really knows this, but she's a great storyteller and loves to tell stories to others, which also makes her a pretty good liar.

+Brave

While some call it stupid and other call it reckless there is no doubt that the little girl is pretty brave for her age. This could result from lack of self care but she isn't afraid to charge in head on.

#### *Personality Weaknesses*

-Hot headed/rebellious

With her mother being as overprotective as she was Eden became pretty rebellious, and she couldn't help that she got a bit of her father's moodiness. It really made Eden remind Sage of the girl's father and her patience often extinguished the temper tantrums.

-Sarcastic

While she got Jordan's moodiness it was Sage who gave her the sarcasm. She was witty and had good quips on hand, ready to go for when Eden needed her own taste of attitude. Sometimes they would go on with petty bickering, but it made Eden understand the concept of sarcasm much quicker. In turn it the child now is quite sarcastic and witty herself.

-Blunt

Tying into her sarcastic nature Eden also got the straightforwardness from her mother. It borders on shameless, but its just that Eden likes to tell the truth even if she knows it hurts. To her its better than lying.

-Childish

When she doesn't get her way, or keeps getting repressed, she will throw fits and hold grudges. Of course she still has that childish, bratty nature that all youngins have and doesn't seem to be outgrowing it any time soon.

**Likes**

Cats, nature, drawing/writing, exploring

**Dislikes**

Authority, boredom, spiders, small spaces

**Fears**

Spiders and small spaces

**Hobbies**

Writing, drawing, and foraging

**Mental Illnesses**

Abandonment issues and separation anxiety: Due to the adults in her life either dying or straight up abandoning her she has a hard time getting attached to people, and when she doesn't paranoia constantly plagues her. This sometimes makes her feel like she's unworthy of being loved and like she shouldn't exist at all. Its a big thing she is struggling with even as she now has friends to travel with.

## Stats and Skills

#### *Stats*

S: 2/10

Obviously she isn't that strong for a child, and can't really lift anything heavier than a cinderblock. She mostly relies on her smarts, agility, and pure luck to get her out of most situations.

P: 4/10

While her eyesight is the best of her senses her hearing isn't that good thanks to being around firearms from a young age with no ear protection. Her sensitive child eardrums were kind of ruined by the loud cracks of bullets piercing the air.

E: 6/10

Surprisingly she is resilient and one tough cookie. Despite seeming small and frail she can take a lot of physical abuse, although the mental side is lacking. While being hard on the outside she is easy to provoke

C: 4/10

Her social skills are really lacking, but it can't be helped. She hasn't had many positive interactions with anyone besides her mother, so she's just barely learning how to express herself and process feelings. Its still hard for her to talk to others and prefers to stay quiet unless spoken to.

I: 5/10

Being a child she isn't the smartest, but she does know a lot about plants, animals, foraging, and survival. Eden also likes to learn new things and has a pretty open mind, so she takes in any information like a sponge.

A: 7/10

While she isn't very strong she is agile and can run very fast. Eden can also get into small spaces easier than most and can gain access to some places others cannot.

L: 7/10

Even if she has some survival knowledge its also luck that has played a big factor in her survival. From avoiding being captured, finding the hiding spot at the right moment, or people showing up just in the nick of time, most of it is attributed to her high luck.

#### *Skills*

Eden was born during the apocalypse right at the start, where the parasite that resides in the toxic pollen was almost smothering all life. The parasite made its way into the DNA of the embryo, via inhaled spores by the mother. It has a chance to kill the child at birth and have them turn into a Nekros OR the parasite can morph into the DNA and give the child immunity. With being immune, she can also feel the locked away consciousness of other zombies if she is bitten. Sometimes she can hear them whisper broken words, and on occasion they will leave her alone if she pleads.

## Weapons

#### *Primary*

Glock 18

Caliber; 9mm

The gun used to belong to her father Jordan, which he gifted to Sage after he died. Sage used it mostly for protection and defense, but did teach Eden how to use it. When Sage died it was the first thing Eden took when she left home, and holds it close to her wherever she goes.

#### *Secondary*

Black hunting knife

It also belonged to her father, but it was gifted to Sage as a romantic memento before Eden was born. Sage handed it down to Eden after telling her stories of how brave and kind her father was, and just like the gun its something she considers special.

#### *Melee*

Rusty, bloodied crowbar

Funny enough, this also belonged to her father. It was kept by Sage for mostly utility reasons, but when Eden left her home she found it to be far more useful than just utility's sake.

## History

Eden was born in 2023 to Sage Lupus and Jordan Ashford, being named after a wonderful tale told by the Lupus family for generations; the Garden of Eden. Her father had been shot long before she was born so her mother was left to raise her alone, which was obviously difficult. She was raised in a humble treehouse in Massachusetts, fending off undead since birth and helping her mother around the homestead.

However, at the age of 6 her mother was bitten and left her to go turn far away from her child. Eden was left alone in the treehouse until a psychopathic man named Easton came by to "adopt" her. However, he met with her uncle, her father's brother Zee, and promptly abandoned the child after only a few months of watching her. Easton did teach her how to shoot a gun, but also some twisted morals and left the child with abandonment issues. From there she waited alone in her treehouse, trying to survive over the course of a year.

When she was 7 years old she was found by a cowboy named Billy Remmington, who also taught her how to shoot a gun and he defended her against the Remnants of Hope, which was her first encounter with them. After this she was found by Dr. Alderman, who killed the Remnants of Hope and promised to teach Eden all he knew about the virus. However, she knew he was crazy and after rejecting his offer he called a hoard of Nekros which made her have to abandon her treehouse. Billy took her far from her old home in his truck, eventually she asked to be dropped off in Texas. She met a small group of adults who had kids, just like her, and took her in. However, while playing at a park one of the kids was bitten and infected the rest. Eden was the sole survivor of this group and was found by Abyss, Reuben, and Elias. Afterwards Reuben left the small group, and she had to listen to Abyss obsess over finding him for months.

Eventually they found Reuben after he was tortured by the Wasps, and the rag-tag group happily reunited. Now she constantly teases Abyss for having a crush on Reuben, unaware he feels the same.