Darla Edmunds

Darla Edmunds is the other protagonist of the Ashfall series. It is her mother's farm where she and Alex first meet and she resents him being there (it is explained why in Darla's Story). Darla has a natural talent for mechanics, having been an active participant in fixing machines with her father throughout her life, and is a very skilled farmer. After the tragic moment that leaves her mother dead and house in flames, Darla accompanies Alex on his journey to Illinois. Darla and Alex get closer as the journey continues, having to save each other and depend on one another quite a lot, and eventually begin dating.

In Ashen Winter (the 2nd book in the Ashfall series) Alex and Darla leave Alex's Uncle Paul's farm and set out to find Alex's parents. In a fight gone wrong, Darla is shot and kidnapped by flensers (a word used for cannibals in the Ashfall series) and Alex sets out to find her, meanwhile putting the search for his parents on hold, which leads the premise of the second book. This is where we are introduced to Alyssa, who Alex mistakes for Darla because they look very similar from the back. She gets a crush on Alex and this begins a hatred of her by Darla when they meet.

Sunrise, the third installment of the Ashfall series, sees Darla as a village caretaker and mechanic. She oversees technical issues and works on building or creating new technologies to move their community (named Speranta). She is also part of the community "militia" and accompanies Alex and other community members on scavenging expeditions. At one point, she and Alex get one hand each cut off by the main bad guy of the book and Darla creates hooks for them. Darla and Alex get married once things settle down in the community, and she makes it clear that she wants children, but Alex is too afraid of the possible outcome of her death. She and Alex's mother were never on good terms because it is implied that Alex's mother blamed Darla for the death of Alex's father, though she never admitted to it when confronted. This changes, however, when Darla saves Alex's life in front of her.

Skills