Laina Valentine

[Joy]

Laina Valentine was around 19 years old when the apocalypse began. Her past before Knox County caused her to be very on edge at all times, hypervigilant and easily triggered. She has an extreme fear of guns due to a traumatic incident that occurred when she still lived in New York. She often felt overwhelmed during the apocalypse, constantly feeling like she was limited because of her trauma, but she had a tendency to seclude herself from anything that would bring her near a gun. Laina was incredibly loyal, kind and caring. Despite not being able to help much when it came to looting, building, etc, she tried her best to help as much as she could with cooking and supporting her friends emotionally, comforting them and overall being a very peaceful person.

When Laina was 16 years old, still living in New York with her afro-panamanian family, she became a witness to a very violent crime in her neighborhood. This event led to attacks on her and her family, eventually forcing her to enter WITSEC. Because of her strange circumstances, Laina was relocated to Kentucky, where her family was to join her in a year's notice. She lived under foster care with an elderly couple that had a daughter around her age – she and Laina were always rather distant, but still close enough to value each other as part of each other’s family. Laina had been forced to leave behind all of her belongings, including pictures of family, that might have potentially revealed her identity – said belongings were to be brought with her family when they were to relocate as well. She met Solomin, her future boyfriend, and Cat, her best friend in high school there. She and Solo had even gone to dances together and visited Cat in the hospital with cake after.

When the apocalypse began, Cat was quick to allow Laina to come to her family’s home to stay safe with them. Laina was very shy and quiet at first, but she began warming up to the others in the family like Fiona, Pearl, and Rocco over time. Miraculously, one day, Solomon contacted Laina via radio and he came over quickly. Unfortunately, their reunion was bittersweet as the apocalypse had been too much for him, and he grew distant before ultimately disappearing forever. All he left was a peculiarly grim note which hinted at him being dead.

Laina went from living on Cat’s farm, to Cat’s mansion, and then to Louiseville, then with the homestead where she stayed. She felt safe there, and she truly loved everyone she lived with there. They all went through a lot together, facing and enduring loss, grief, pain, and fear together, but their bond only grew stronger (I think). Laina and her group believed in helping others when possible – they would invite people to live with them to get back on their feet – but they were cautious of strangers.

(May edit in the future, probably not though I'm very tired. More of Laina's stuff posted in survival stories & in Epligoue under "The Homestead Epilogue". I had so much fun with all of you! also sorry for the poor drawing lol i quit drawin a whiile back so)