Ellie Williams

At nineteen, Ellie Williams has left behind the youthful appearance of her childhood to display a slimmer but sinewy physique, marked by years of patrols, combat, and the weight of losses that have etched deep shadows beneath her greyish-green eyes that once shone with curiosity and now often express caution, pain, or a steely intensity when she focuses on a target; her dark brown hair falls in messy strands to her shoulders, sometimes tied back in a loose ponytail that keeps it out of the way, and on her left forearm she bears a tattoo of a fern and moth that covers the old bite scar, a symbol of her immunity and of how much she has changed since then. She wears layers of tough, worn clothing: dark T-shirts under leather or reinforced canvas jackets, jeans with patches at the knees, thick-soled boots, and a belt laden with sheaths for knives, arrows, and tools. Her hands, rough and stained with soot or blood, bear a scar on the fingers of her left hand where she lost some at the end of her journey, preventing her from playing the guitar—the most precious bond she shared with Joel—as she once did. In her demeanor, Ellie combines a sharp wit and cutting sarcasm, which she uses as a shield, with an almost suicidal determination when driven by anger or guilt. She moves with natural stealth, advancing close to the shadows and calculating each step, but becomes ruthless in combat, resorting to a bow, improvised knives, or swift, brutal blows without hesitation if she believes it is necessary to accomplish what she sets out to do.

Ellie's personality is the product of years of accumulated loss, survivor's guilt, and the devastating impact of Joel's death, which plunges her into a cycle of anger and obsession as she tries to reconcile her essential tenderness with the harshness of the world around her. She still retains her sharp wit and biting sarcasm, which she uses as a shield against vulnerability, but now her jokes often have a bitter edge or are reserved almost exclusively for intimate moments with Dina. In her dealings with strangers or enemies, she is distrustful, curt, and sometimes cruel, not hesitating to use harsh words or threats if she perceives a threat or betrayal. She carries a deep guilt: for Joel's decision in the hospital, for not having been able to forgive him before his death, for having survived when others could not. This burden makes her feel that revenge is the only way to "do justice" or regain control over her own life, even though deep down she knows it won't bring back what she's lost. In practical matters, she is meticulous, stealthy, and extremely capable: she calculates every move, exploits every advantage, and becomes ruthless in combat, killing without hesitation if she believes it necessary—unlike others, she doesn't enjoy violence, but accepts it as an inevitable price—even crossing moral boundaries that previously seemed unthinkable, such as attacking people who weren't directly involved in Joel's murder. Even so, her capacity for love and loyalty hasn't disappeared: she cares deeply for those around her, protects the innocent whenever she can, is moved by memories of time spent with Joel or by discovering remnants of the old world, and continues to write in her journal to try to make sense of her feelings. She suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, which manifests as nightmares, flashbacks, and a constant hypervigilance that keeps her always on high alert.

Sometimes she's stubborn, even to the point of putting herself in danger because she refuses to abandon her goal, and she shuts herself off from advice or comfort because she feels no one else can understand what she's going through. As the journey progresses, she comes to understand that revenge won't fill the void inside her, and although it's incredibly difficult, she ultimately chooses to let Abby go—a decision that reflects that, despite all the pain and hardness she's acquired, she still retains a part of her former kindness and the desire to stop being defined solely by what she's lost.

Born in 2019, shortly after the Cordyceps fungus outbreak, Ellie Williams lost her mother Anna at birth—who was bitten moments before giving birth—and grew up an orphan in military schools in the Boston quarantine zone, knowing no world other than survival and FEDRA's control. At fourteen, after a night of adventures with her best friend Riley, they were both attacked by infected; Riley died, but Ellie healed, revealing her immunity to the parasite. This led the Vagalumes to entrust Joel Miller with the task of escorting her to their lab in Utah to try to create a cure. During the journey, Joel went from seeing her as a burden to treating her like the daughter he had lost years before, and upon arriving at the hospital in Salt Lake City, he discovered that extracting the necessary brain tissue would kill Ellie. Without hesitation, he stormed into the facility, eliminated anyone who stood in his way, and saved her, later lying to her by saying that the Vagalumes had abandoned the investigation after finding no more cases like hers. They settled together in the community of Jackson, Wyoming, where they spent five years, but Ellie began to suspect the truth and eventually discovered it, which shattered her trust and drove them apart for months, though they never stopped loving each other. At nineteen, her life crumbled when Abby Anderson—daughter of the surgeon Joel killed in the hospital—burst into Jackson and brutally murdered Joel in revenge. Consumed by grief and guilt, Ellie left for Seattle with her partner Dina, determined to take the lives of everyone involved. She faced rival factions, lost dear friends like Jesse, and was forced to cross moral boundaries she had previously rejected, until the final confrontation with Abby ended in a draw and a warning not to follow her. Later, she tried to build a quiet life on a farm with Dina and little JJ, but nightmares and memories haunted her.

So she accepted one last trail that led her to Santa Barbara, where she was captured and tortured by the Rattlers, losing some of the fingers on her left hand; when she met Abby again, about to kill her, she understood that revenge would not bring Joel back or erase her pain, and decided to forgive her and let her go, returning alone to the now empty farm to finally try to forgive herself and heal, always carrying with her the memory of the one who taught her to live in the midst of chaos.

The settlement of Jackson rises in Wyoming's eponymous valley, embraced by pine-covered mountains and the mighty Snake River, protected by imposing walls of thick logs reinforced with steel beams and barbed wire, constantly watched from high towers overlooking every entrance. What was once a quiet tourist town is now a vibrant and orderly community: its streets have been cleared of debris, many houses have had their roofs, windows, and porches restored, while new buildings adapted for defense and sustenance are being added. It boasts large glass greenhouses, fenced fields, stables for horses and cattle, blacksmith and machine shops, a school, a community hall where meals and news are shared, and secure storehouses for supplies and ammunition. The air is often scented with woodsmoke, fresh grass, and freshly baked bread; in summer the meadows sparkle in the sun and the river shimmers like silver, in winter snow covers roofs and paths, and the wind carries the echo of the mountains. Unlike oppressive quarantine zones or war camps, Jackson lives under clear rules of solidarity: the inhabitants patrol the surroundings, look after their own, welcome trusted refugees, and have managed to recover small forgotten luxuries—books, music, celebrations—making it one of the few corners of the world where people can expect more than just surviving another day.

Dina is of average height, slender yet strong, with a posture that combines agility with the calm of someone who knows the paths and risks of the world well. Her olive skin is lightly dusted with powder and tanned by the sun, dotted with soft freckles that cover the bridge of her nose and cheeks, visible when she relaxes or smiles. Her hair is jet black, thick and straight, almost always pulled back in a high ponytail or a practical braid that falls down her back, with a few loose strands framing her face and tossing in the breeze. Her eyes are deep brown, lively and expressive, with thick, defined eyebrows that give her an air of both determination and warmth; her features are soft yet striking, with a prominent nose and a mouth that often curves into a mocking smile or an expression of genuine concern. She wears clothes in autumnal tones: a worn brown denim jacket over an orange or reddish shirt, dirt-stained blue jeans, and sturdy, well-fitting, reinforced leather boots for walking long distances. Around her neck, she always wears a small Hamsa pendant, a symbol linked to her Jewish heritage, which hangs against her chest like a memento and an amulet. Her hands, rough from work and hunting, are usually worn with simple gloves or left bare-fingered, and she always carries a loaded backpack, her weapon at her waist, and marks of fatigue and experience are evident in every aspect of her appearance, yet she never loses that warmth that distinguishes her.

Dina moves with ease and naturalness, blending quick, sarcastic humor with a warmth that softens the harshness of her surroundings. She often cracks jokes even in tense moments, breaking the tension with witty remarks or puns, and displays a genuine curiosity about her environment, asking questions and learning without fear of admitting what she doesn't know. She is deeply loyal and protective: when Ellie is consumed by revenge, Dina follows her to the extreme, even though she doesn't agree with her path. She also has the courage to tell Ellie the truth, to ask her to think about the future, and to remind her that there is more to life than hatred and pain. Despite her apparent lightheartedness, she possesses emotional maturity and keen intuition: she perceives the mood swings of others, understands the weight of loss, and prefers building relationships to living in isolation, always seeking a space where she feels safe and belongs. In dangerous situations, she acts with pragmatism and necessary composure, defending herself and those she loves without hesitation, though at the same time she feels the toll of violence and longs for a quiet life, with a home and peace far from the constant fighting. When she discovers her pregnancy, her priorities are reaffirmed: she becomes more determined to protect life and break free from the cycle of resentment, displaying a strength that depends not only on physical prowess, but on the ability to choose what truly matters, always maintaining that blend of hope and realism that makes her so distinctive.

Dina possesses a vibrant and multifaceted personality, where unwavering courage and profound sensitivity coexist harmoniously, shaped by a hostile world yet never allowed to extinguish her essence. She is naturally extroverted and approachable, capable of quickly connecting with others thanks to her sincerity and quick wit: she uses humor and sarcasm not as a barrier, but as a bridge, to ease tension in the darkest moments and reach out to those who remain closed off, as she initially does with Ellie. She has a very clear sense of justice and loyalty: she gives herself completely to the people she loves, willing to walk alongside them even on paths she doesn't agree with, but she never loses her voice or her judgment: she has the courage to confront them, to tell them the truth even if it hurts, and to remind them of what they are leaving behind when they succumb to resentment. She is practical and resilient, accustomed to being self-reliant and solving problems with a cool head in the face of danger, but at the same time she retains a hope and tenderness very rare in her time: she refuses to accept that life is merely survival, but longs to build something of her own, to have a home and care for those around her. She doesn't hold grudges perpetually, but she knows how to set clear boundaries when something threatens what she considers fundamental; upon discovering her pregnancy, her inner strength becomes even more evident, as she firmly reaffirms that life is worth living beyond revenge, demonstrating that her true strength lies not in the capacity to fight, but in the will to choose peace and a better future.

Dina was born shortly after the Cordyceps outbreak in an isolated shelter north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, into a Jewish family that preserved traditions and the Hamsa amulet she always wears. As a child, she lived confined for fear of the outside world. At eight years old, venturing out of boredom, she returned to find her mother and older sister, Talia, attacked by looters. She killed the assailant herself, becoming an orphan and learning from then on that survival demands toughness, but without giving up on living life to the fullest. After wandering for a while, she settled in the Jackson, Wyoming settlement, where she integrated herself as a scout and guard. She forged a close friendship with Jesse and maintained an on-again, off-again relationship with him while trying to come to terms with her own bisexual identity. There she met Ellie, with whom she initially shared only patrols and jokes, until a church party changed everything: after definitively breaking up with Jesse, she kissed Ellie, and they began dating, opening up to each other for the first time. When Joel died at the hands of Abby and her group, Dina accompanied Ellie to Seattle, though she didn't share Ellie's obsession with revenge. During the journey, she revealed she was pregnant with Jesse's child, who would later die in the confrontation at the theater, and that she would name her son JJ in honor of both Joel and him. Together, they survived hordes of infected, battles between the WLF militia and the Seraphites, and Abby's final attack, which she only spared thanks to Lev's intervention. Back near Jackson, they tried to build a quiet life on a farm, but when Ellie decided to go looking for Abby in Santa Barbara, Dina refused to follow her. She chose to protect her child and seek a future without further bloodshed, returning to the village and closing that chapter with the certainty that life deserves more than hatred and pain.