Nettle Quinn - District 7

Name: Nettle Quinn
Age: Sixteen
Gender: Female
District/Area: District 7
Appearance:

First glance and there are only two words a stranger need reach for in order to describe Nettle Quinn; lithe and fragile. The combination of the two seem odd for a girl of District 7; it being known for its main export, lumber. One might assume that children of strong and sturdy build could only emerge from such a place, but not Nettle who's been slight since birth. However, it doesn't take one long to notice that beneath her light, bronze skin are slight toned muscles accustomed to years of climbing trees, racing through forests, and wielding a pair of tomahawks.

Nettle stands at an average height of 5'' 5' though she swears that she's inherited the dwarf gene in her family, which she obviously hasn't. Her body takes on the shape of an hour glass with her tight midsection and often remains so, since her family is tight on food. Nettle too often refuses to be touched for fear of someone reacting unkindly at feeling her ribs, however, they are only truly prominent when she raises her arms above her head. Being as slender as she is it is no surprise that Nettle weighs about 100 to 105 pounds. Her weight although low aids her in most if not all of her physical activities, besides it doesn't take a hefty person to make lousy paper for her community. Naturally, Nettle carries a few scars on her legs and arms for none in District 7 can avoid the sharp edges of branches that poke out of trees and dense shrubbery. The only other imperfection that Nettle carries on her pine and honey scented skin would be her light brown freckles which bridge across her nose, lie atop her rosy cheeks, and rest against both elbows. Near her hairline are a few beauty marks, the same as her mother's, but they are often concealed beneath her hair.

Her face is exactly that of her mother's with its almond shaped eyes that are a deep, wood brown in color, its thin eyebrows, pouted lips (the lower fuller than the top), and its ovular shape. Nettle's hair like her father's is thick, slightly wavy, and a rich brown color that matches her eyes and becomes lighter when exposed to sunlight. Her hair, which passes her shoulders, is usually worn down at home or in the woods, but when at work Nettle often wears it in a messy bun or braids it into a simple fishtail. Pine needles and other sorts of foliage somehow find a way to nestle themselves within her mane, but it's nothing a quick rinse can't fix.

Clothing that Nettle owns (which isn't a lot) is made for comfort and not appearance. Most of her wardrobe consists of hand-me-down shirts from her older brother, Thur, and whatever was left behind from her mother. Nettle is most comfortable in jeans, boots, and t-shirts, although she can't deny herself a few of the girl-ish pieces that she's inherited from her late mother. Around her neck she wears a necklace strung from woven string and attached to the string is a small wooden carving of a nettle leaf. Most everything Nettle wears is earth tone, and that's the way she likes it. The forest is her home and where she feels most at ease.

Personality:

Although she wont admit it, Nettle is a hard girl to figure out. She can try to convince you that she is easy to read, like a book, however, her actions always seem to have a hefty or weighted meaning behind them. Still, there is no denying the fact that Nettle will do whatever she can to help someone, especially if they are wounded or broken.

Often times Nettle carries an expressionless face. She deals well with her emotions, unless she is forcefully driven into a meltdown. Her father always reminded her to keep her composure no matter the situation, and she has for Nettle always makes sure to keep her promises. Trust Nettle rarely hands out on a silver platter and reserves it only for her family. Nettle believes that she can trust her friends, but that line is very thin and if ever severed it will take a while to mend back together. With her family Nettle is very sarcastic and lighthearted. She adores Thur and could not imagine a life without her brother in it. In terms of love Nettle is very reserved and level headed. Her studies have made her so. She leaves little room for fantasy in her life, but she cannot deny the fact that at times she can be a dreamer.

In the wild Nettle feels more at ease with herself. She does most of her thinking in the forest and always runs to it when in need of a confident other than her brother. Like a nettle leaf Nettle can be prickly around the edges though she doubts the idea of having a short temper. If anything bothers her it has to build up in order for it to catch her attention. However, once provoked Nettle can be as damaging as a nettle's stinging stem, but it never if rarely happens. And even if it does Nettle's figured out how to take a hold of and reign in her emotions.

Publicly, even in school, Nettle is regarded as shy and nonthreatening, which for the most part she is. Although she despises the games, she lets on that they don't bother her, but she can't help but question why the Capitol would do such things. Nettle isn't always the best judge of character and is a bit fuzzy on laws, but uphold them she does, or at least she tries. Being young there is always room for change and Nettle is quite sure that she has a lot more to learn about Panem, her district, and herself before she can accurately judge her character.

[/color][/blockquote][/blockquote]History:

Sixteen years ago in a rectangular log cabin, Nettle Quinn was born daughter of Rubus and Itea Quinn, and sister of Thur Quinn. Born in December on the Winter Solstice Nettle entered the world in a fragile and serene state. Her mother, Itea, already middle aged and weary blessed the birth of her unplanned daughter with a song that most men in the lumberyard whistled to while hard at work. The song lulled young Nettle from her sleep and once it was finished she started to cry for more.

Nettle was raised rather leniently by her mother who always encouraged her daughter in areas of creativity and leisure. Rubus on the other hand having been made hard by work made sure to raise his daughter on principles of respect and self reliance. Rubus wanted if nothing else to make sure that in his absence, say he died in the lumberyard, that his family could survive on their own two feet. He held Nettle in high regard for her fragile demeanor, but Nettle was sure that he cared more for her well being since she was his only daughter.

Nettle enjoyed a rather easy life at home and kept herself busy with her chores and studies. Thur especially wanted his sister to learn all that she could, because like their father Thur too was over protective of his little sister. Their eleven year age gap certainly placed a damper on their relationship, however, Thur's age came in handy once Nettle turned twelve. As if her first reaping wasn't terrible enough, Nettle lost her father that same year in a terrible accident. Thur and Itea who never wanted young Nettle to sign up for a tessera could not bear the sight when she brought home the meager supplies; she took one for herself and for Thur. The family struggled and going to bed hungry became as natural to Nettle as breathing air. It wasn't until Itea fell ill that Thur introduced Nettle to their father's old pair of tomahawks. Only then did Nettle learn of her father and brother's unlawful hunting. Of course they poached on a very light scale bringing home what Nettle remembered were stews of rabbit, squirrel and an occasional wild turkey.

For fear of the crimes that her father and brother had committed right under her nose Nettle refused at first to wield the weapon, or even to step foot into the forest. It wasn't until Itea passed from her illness that Nettle realized that she and her brother were in danger. Luckily, Thur had already engaged Prima, a lovely schoolteacher, and once Itea had passed, married and taken Nettle on as his responsibility. Thur would have never let anyone taken Nettle to a community house, not while he was alive. Still, although the marriage kept Nettle at home, the young twelve-year-old could not ignore the fact that her small family was starving. With a gentle push from her brother Nettle took up her father's tomahawks and discovered her true calling; the forest.

In four years Nettle became quite skilled at the art of using tomahawks. For the most part she uses her weapons to hunt, but more often then none Nettle enjoys climbing trees, the weapons becoming an extension of her own arms. When Nettle isn't in school she is either making paper for a small shop in town, gardening in the family's petite garden, in the forest, or studying more at home. Nettle can't deny her obsession for books, mostly just the ones on plant and animal species. Sometimes Thur often finds her reading in a tree, which to Nettle's delight he encourages for he is glad to see that with all of the hardship their family faced, his sister has not lost her spirits. Two years remain, just two years and then finally Nettle can quit worrying about the reaping and the games. Her brother survived it, though his chances were lower since he never had to sign up for tesserae while their father and mother were alive. With Prima's extra salary the Quinn's have managed to ignore signing up for more tesserae, however, Nettle never ignores the fact that they could at any point easily sink under again. If the odds are ever in her favor Nettle will see to it that her family survives till the end.

[/color][/blockquote][/blockquote]Codeword: Odair
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