Callico Keystone / D7 / FIN

Down..

Down...

...silence.

Safety surrounds me as the house still stood. Strong, thick arms grip my thin body pulling me into warmth, wrapping something around my torso. "Thank Ripred, you're still alive my sweet Callico. I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost you, too."

His voice eases my mind in the bleak darkness. The lights suddenly flicker as the minutes go by and the wind eases up. The thunder no longer seems to take pride in its monsterous tone. The storm had passed us with minimal damages except for the tree that tore through my bedroom wall. It also contributed to my tremendous fear for storms. I had only managed a few bruises that night, but when I woke up the next morning, the sun was shining and my father tended to me and the others hurt and displaced by the fallen trees in the district. I learned how to take care of others by watching my father's generous nature.

THE PRESENT

As life would have it, that day when I was seven granted me some wonderful practice with my current talents. Rebuilding things broken was like a party to me. Here in district seven, it's all wood, hard work and splinters. Heavy lifting on a daily basis has done nothing for me in ways of muscle mass, but strength surrounds my bones from the repetition on the daily. Long chestnut colored hair has been my father's favorite attribute about his only daughter. He would aways comment on the shade as though it were one of his most admired trees and often such would braid it and decorate it with a single flower found among the trails on his way home. A kiss on my forehead signified how much he loved me as his daughter every day.

He did nothing but encourage me to be the best that I can. From a young age, he has enstilled in me no fear for the weapons and tools that I would hold. The blades would never be faster then my own judgements and reactions. He would often try many types of activities to make sure that I was mindful of the dangers that lurked with the job. His activities also prepared me for the dreadful moment if I were to have to be taken away. I fear the games will ruin it our life. He'll be lost without me.

He tries so hard to provide for us, but ever since the storm ten years ago, we've had a hard time getting back on our feet financially. I earn decent amount in order to take care of the food for just me and him, but he still has to provide for the two other half siblings somewhere in this district. My stomach is always given just enough to keep me healthy but it remains flat and my legs never meet. Long, thin fingers can detail the smallest of wood slats with ease. Intriquette designs that would make the people of the capitol cry and long for the artist responsible. My keen eye for detail is hidden behind my hazel, blue and green, iris's that wash over the many variations of wood. Each slat deserves my best work and I'm quite picky about what is seen and what is displayed. I have a eye for beauty.

As for my mother, I've never met her. I'm sure I did a few times or whatever, but when I was born, she nursed me long enough to be healthy before wanting to escape the taxing life of being a mother. My father says that I look like her very little, which is a good thing. I'm glad for that. However, he tells me my two half siblings that she brought into the world a few years later resemble me. I'm hoping that I'll get to meet them one day whenever his estranged ex-wife will let them. I also hope they don't resemble me as my father has said. I have no querrel with being an only child, but I fear that I may never know them if they were somehow to end up in the games.

FUTURE

I often dream of what my life will be like in a little over a year. I yearn to see the day when I no longer am pushed into the thought of going into the games. My father has tried to keep me as active as possible should that happen, but I have a clear idea of where I'd like to be. I want to use my creative skills to build a manitude of wooden replicas of lost tributes for district seven. I want to carve and create the last known smiles they had on their faces and then present them to the families so that they would always have that memory of them. I plan to see that the capitol knows my artistry and make them want me to appear to the capitol, if only that were possible.

A family would always be a must. Three or four children to look up to me and take on the bright morning glow and take the day by storm. To raise them up, I would train them in everything possible, making sure that they had every opportunity possible to survive adn thrive in this district. No more struggling would my family endure as I would make sure they succeed in everything they do, just like I will one day.

One day at a time.