Hope Ward (Remake)

## Appearances

"*There's a **whole world** out there...and we've only seen a **part** of it. The part that **they** want us to see. Imagine how many people are **out there**...beyond where the rangers go. How many **stories** there could be...we **have** to see it for ourselves. **I have to see it**,*"
—Hope to her friends about their journey to the Republic[src]

**Hope Ward**, nicknamed **Little Wolf**, is a main character born after the outbreak in *Strain Zero*, serving as the co-tritagonist of the *Descendents* arc. She is the first daughter and eldest child of Henry Ward and Holly Maxson, born between *Season 4: Remake Part I* and *Part II*. When she came of age she signed up for civil service and enlisted in the Commonwealth Army. After being bitten by a walker but somehow spared of infection, Hope and her friends sought to travel to the Republic to seek treatment, unaware that the situation out west would have dire consequences for her family and her home.

## Post-Apocalypse

### Season 4: Remake

The third child born in the series since the fall of society, Hope was conceived in the nine months between "*What We Deserve*" and "*No Time Left*", during which time her parents and their group were on a journey to find and settle "Greencole", a supposed safe-zone somewhere in the northern United States. Her mother realized she was pregnant while the group were facing a hostile army called the Innocents in the ruins of Fargo, during which time they discovered "Greencole" was actually a codename for Adams Air Force Base in Montana. Although the group eventually reached the base, together with a convoy called the Pioneers, they were forced to flee upon discovering it was overrun by a group of cannibals. The Pioneers eventually settled their own community on the shores of Wolf Lake, which they named Greencole after their original destination.

Hope was born in mid-2007, and her name was chosen over alternatives such as "Charlotte". As she grew she was given the nickname "Little Wolf", which was used by her parents, adoptive siblings and the other members of their group who served as her extended family.

### Season 6: Remake

#### "Hope"

Dr. Steele runs yet another OPT test on Hope and summons her parents to give her the news; she explains that Henry is showing "normal" levels while Holly's tests continue to give a negligible background response. Hope's test, somehow, is giving a result never seen before: nought. Tanya further explains that the same result has occurred in more than ten of Hope's OPT tests, meaning that there is no chance that it is a fluke or error. This has led Tanya to come to a startling conclusion: Hope may be naturally immune to LBI.

Henry and Holly are overcome by the information and broach the possibility that a cure could be made from Hope's immune system; Tanya replies that, even if it were possible, she does not have the equipment nor the knowledge to study such an endeavour, let alone create a cure, and adds that there is always the possibility that Hope could still be infected if she were bitten. Agreeing to never take such a risk, the trio decide to keep the information to themselves and tell Hope of her gift when she is old enough.

### Season 7: Remake

Upon reaching the age of fourteen, Hope signed up for civil service, the Commonwealth's educational framework intended to teach children crafts and careers. At age sixteen, Hope enlisted in the Commonwealth Army, hoping to become a helicopter pilot like her hero, captain Cara; by seventeen, she had moved from Graystone into her own apartment in Bastion, which she shared with roommates Justin and Abby. She took to wearing a hood when walking around Bastion to avoid attention due to the population's reverence for her parents.

#### "A New Beginning"

At Adams Air Force Base, aspiring pilot Hope receives word that her leave has been approved. She runs to her dorm, packs immediately and catches the next railcar to Bastion, the bustling capital of the Commonwealth. She navigates the city market towards her apartment on the east side of the Missouri river, keeping her hood up to avoid attention. Over the market loudspeakers, the city's radio station announces the victory of Governor Maxson in the recent election, marking the start of her third term as governor of the Commonwealth.

Reaching her apartment, Hope packs two bags and says goodbye to her roommates Justin and Abby, fellow trainees who didn't get their leaves approved. Hope, an aspiring helicopter pilot, reveals that this leave will be her last break before her entrance exam, where she will hopefully learn under the Commonwealth's top pilot, captain Cara. Hope sprints to the bus station and barely manages to catch the next bus to Graystone.

Upon her return , Hope hears that her mother Holly is still busy preparing her victory speech. Instead of going home, Hope visits Ben's, the bar run by Nicolas. Hope receives a warm welcome from the residents, especially Nicolas, and surreptitiously serves her alcohol. They discuss Hope's childhood memories of the bar's namesake, whose picture is mounted above the counter; Hope reveals that she cannot remember Ben's voice, but always hears stories of his bravery. She asks about Ben's partner, Uncle Jimmy; Nicolas reveals that Jimmy left Graystone a while ago and now lives alone in a cabin a few miles away.

Their conversation is suddenly interrupted by Lawrence, now an officer, who protests about Hope drinking alcohol. He is met with resistance from Nicolas, hesitantly backs down and grudgingly welcomes Hope home. Conversation turns to the fact that Lawrence's dad, David, never told him about his true parentage despite it being common knowledge. Nicolas guesses that Lawrence's knows but won't admit it to himself.

Hope and a few of her friends decide to sneak out of town and explore the hills; they are ambushed inside an old barn by the "Pale Ones", the monstrous children of the Mother and the Carldweller. Alerted by their children's absence, Henry and the other parents organize a search and follow the distant howling, arriving just as the Carldweller appears to recover its offspring. Henry and the Carldweller leave peacefully.

Back at Graystone, instead of punishing Hope, Henry shows her his private workshop in the attic where he gifts her a home-made mandolin he was saving for her birthday. Their talk over, Hope returns to her bedroom and finds a bite wound on her calf. Meanwhile, out in the wilderness, a patrol led by Muldoon are attacked by a powerful creature.

## Killed Victims

* Nines *(indirectly)*
* Numerous counts of zombies

## Relationships

### Henry Ward

"*We made a **mistake**, keeping the world out there from you...the **real world**. But tonight, you showed me that you have **what it takes** to fight it. And I've **never been so proud**, Little Wolf,*"
—Henry to Hope in the attic[src]

Hope is very close to her father and idolizes him; he affectionately calls her "Little Wolf", a nickname used by her entire extended family. She likes to hear stories from her adoptive aunts and uncles about her father's life in the apocalypse's early days, which he largely refuses to tell her. In her teens, she is often compared to him, and not just physically: they share the same affinity for the outdoors, old world music and books, as well as a penchant for taking risks.

## Appearances

### The Walking Dead: Strain Zero

#### Season 4: Remake

* "Divide"
* "Nightmares"
* "Conquer"
* "Wolves"

#### Season 6: Remake

* "Hope"
* "March to War"
* "Fear Itself"
* "All Out War"

#### Season 7: Remake

* "A New Beginning"
* "Act of God"
* "Manhunt"
* "For Blood"
* "Something Begins"

## Trivia

* Hope's OPT tests indicate that she may be naturally immune to LBI, or at least was not born with it unlike the other children. In addition, she showed no signs of infection after being bitten on the calf in "*A New Beginning*".
	+ This makes her the first canon character to be possibly immune to the zombie plague
	+ It is currently known whether Hope's apparent immunity is genetic, as guessed by Tanya, or environmental as Henry suggests

## References

1. ↑ Henry proposes that he, Holly and the other Clarkson Survivors were exposed to something in Renton, which may also explain Ben being a "slow turner"