Tahlia Dieu-Le-Veut | D4

Tahlia was short in stature which she made up for with her quick wit. Straight brown hair that interchanged between being braided or out. She wore simple and practical clothes and didn't care much for the shiny or colourful ones. The clothes she wore matched her can-do attitude and she wasn't about to be slowed down with impractical nonsense holding her back. 

Her dark brown eyes hid her little bouts of mischievousness that were often accompanied by an innocent smile that would leave you none the wiser. When talking to her you best be careful with how you act and what you say because you may face the wraith of an eyeroll, side-eye or folded arms across the chest. 

Despite her young age her eyes seem to see far more than the usual kid her age. She's a serious thinker and isn't afraid to speak her mind to anyone or anything. She's always ready to listen and give advice that makes you question how old she is when she seems to be wise beyond her years. However, despite being relatively fearless, and stubborn, she likes to be cheeky on occasion and isn't afraid to break rules if it's the right thing to do or to make someone smile.

She got most of her level thinking, and fearless speaking, from her mother (Miriam) and valued her pragmatic nature when it came to tackling the everyday problems that faced her family. She got her stubbornness, yet cheeky flair, from her father (Reggie) and they were a close trio for many years. She valued their support and tried to impart to others, no matter how young or old, the wisdom they shared with her at any moment she was allowed. 

When her parents died (they tried one too many times to keep food from the Capitol to feed themselves, family and neighbours a little extra to keep them strong) she was struck with grief but, despite her pain, she remained level in her composure. The neighbours around her fussed and busied themselves with her but all that did was make her feel worse about her situation. She didn't need them to feel better, she would work it out independently, as she knew she could. 

Her childhood was simple and peaceful. Her parents were the ideal couple and the very model of a wonderful parental unit. They treated her with kindness and with respect. When she was sad they were there for a hug and a biscuit and then when she wanted to go and venture out on her own they would tell her to be back before dinner. They made sure she knew how independence felt and what it meant to be thoughtful of others who were less fortunate. 

She was often one to give second chances to those who wronged her, mainly bullies she encountered during schooling, but not more than one more chance. A bully in her early tweens thought her forgiveness was weakness and tried to continue to make her days hell, but little did they know who they were up against. A short, and humiliating, prank later involving a bit of paint and a presentation in front of the class made sure she wouldn't bully Tahlia or anyone again. 

The good times can only last so long however and with her parents passing she was left on her own surrounded in a sea of condolences, which made her feel overwhelmed. She can survive on her own, and the constant reminder of her lot in life was breaking that image of herself into a myriad of pieces. She drowned out their cries of sympathy like most people in district 4, to the rushing of water past her ears as she dove into water. It was the perfect way to release the stress of the day, and the perfect place to cry. 

She needed a home, even if she didn't want to admit it. She needed a refuge, somewhere to come home for dinner before dark. She was brave, she was cheeky but she was still young and still had much to learn, she knew she would not be strong should she continue to try and stand on her own. She had heard whispers of a refuge by the sea at some tavern where girls could go who needed a place to belong to. So she had set off towards it and has not looked back since. She would be strongwith others, and she could now stand on her own just the same.