Kay Burklin, District Five

Kay is quite small for her age, short and skinny. Her mother thinks she's anorexic, but she really does eat a lot; she just has a high metabolism. Her hair is somewhere between dirty blond and brown and slightly longer than shoulder-length. She doesn't bother with it for hours like some girls do, just washes it when she thinks of it and ties it back to keep it out of her face. Her hazel eyes are what she considers her most attractive feature; large and framed in long lashes, they draw attention away from her wide, flat nose and skinny chin. She spends quite a bit of her time outdoors, so she usually has a deep tan and a smattering of freckles across her cheeks. She walks quickly and confidently, with long strides. Fashion means nothing to her; her family can't afford expensive clothes, but she doesn't mind. She would prefer to dress in a baggy T-shirt and whatever pants she fits into.

Quiet, though not shy, Kay is a girl who can stay silent for most of the day but can also discuss something that interests her for hours. She does have a bit of a temper, especially when something bad is done to one of her dogs. She is a bit of a solitary soul and is content to pass much of her time alone or with one of the dogs. Though she has a few good friends, she prefers the company of her canine companions, especially Harris, a border collie who cannot be sold or bred because of his deafness.

She loves spending time outdoors and has taught herself many things about the forest and it's creatures. Kay has a great respect for nature and is passionate about the enviroment.

She absolutely loves animals; her mother scolds her that she loves her dogs more than people, and she may be right.

Overall, she is a modest, down-to-earth person who does not have trouble voicing her thoughts. She is kind but not overly compassionate; if you ask her for help, she'll probably tell you to figure out the problem yourself.

Kay's father died when she was very young, of a great sickness that swept through the district. She remembers when her family used to breed parrots; in fact, one of her earliest memories is that of playing with some young parrot chicks. After her father passed away, Kay's mother moved on to her passion, breeding dogs. Being an only child, Kay helps her mother with the dogs whenever she can. A self-taught trainer, she helps breed, raise and train dogs to sell. Her family mostly specializes in working breeds: border collies for District 8 and greyhounds for District 9. Kay has an knack for breeding and developed a small breed to sell as pets to the Capitol.

She and her mother get by fairly well, as there is great demand for working dogs. They are not rich, but not poor either. Like every other teenager, Kay is mildly anxious that she will be reaped, but due to the protectiveness of her mother she has only had to use a tesserae once. They usually have enough to eat and are fairly content with their lives.