Vetch Wells, District 9

Standing at just over 6 feet tall, and possessing the muscled frame characteristic of many foundry workers in the district, Vetch weighs in at just under 200lbs. His dark hair is usually hacked off at around shoulder length, accompanied by the beginnings of a scrubby beard it lends an unkempt and wild cast to his features, an appearance somewhat softened by his light blue eyes. His eyebrows are usually knitted in a frown, making his lips look even thinner, and giving him a severe look only absent on rare occasions. Already well on his way to adulthood, Vetch possesses the strong jaw and slightly upturned nose of his father.

Vetch’s tanned skin is well weathered, and his lower arms and hands are covered with the scars characteristic of metalworking. Despite the evidence of these small wounds, his hands are perhaps his best feature. Lucky in his inheritance, his hands combine the dexterity of his mother and the strength of his father.

Vetch is usually dressed in strong and functional clothing, when not wearing a blacksmith’s apron, he is attired in roughspun clothes in muted colours – obviously repaired in several places. The only extravagance he permits himself in his mode of dress is a small intricately-carved rowan wood pendant that he wears at all times. While he may not necessarily like his father, he regards this heirloom as an important reminder of his past.

Often coming across as surly or rude, Vetch has a no-nonsense approach to life, and is quick to dismiss anything that he sees as useless or fanciful. Vetch often seems as if he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, working long hours in the foundry to support his mother and sister and contribute to the production of the district as a whole.

Vetch tends to mistrust anyone that he doesn’t know well, feeling that the legacy of his father lies heavily on his shoulders. Despite this, Vetch has a kind heart, and is fiercely protective of the people closest to him. He has a strong sense of loyalty, and once given, his word is his bond.

Vetch is often hesitant to speak his mind, for fear of filling the stereotype of brawny simpleton that others have branded him as on multiple occasions. He tends towards quiet contemplation, and his direct mode of thought and action sometimes lead him to conclude things that others would not. While not the quickest thinker ever, Vetch possesses a good mind, and is a great believer in learning from experience.

A degree of Vetch’s surly mannerisms and stormy disposition is an adaptation to life in the district. Without them, he would feel vulnerable – and therefore he is not quick to discard them. His demeanour softens when alone with his family, or when he is by himself.

Vetch’s biggest fear is falling. He is subject to fairly intense vertigo, a fact that frustrated him for many years and that he considers a severe personal failing. Ever since he was a child, he has been reluctant to climb trees and otherwise leave the ground where he feels most comfortable.

Vetch’s father, Able, was a wanderer - a fact that breeds distrust among the residents of the district to this day. Hunger and desperation brought him to the boundaries of District 9, where he discovered a fallen tree that had created a ‘bridge’ across the fence. He found his way to the outskirts of one of the settlements, where he was seen by a local woman. Rather than raise the alarm she invited the obviously famished stranger to share a meal with her. Over the resulting days they became captivated with each other. He was drawn to her grace and sweet voice, she to his freedom and strength. Passing Able off as a recluse from the backwater areas of district 9 granted them the ability to live relatively untroubled for years, though the threat of their secret being revealed hung heavily over the family. Much of Vetch’s early life was spent running his parents ragged, earning the nickname of ‘my little stormcloud’ from his mother, due to his troubled disposition and quick temper.

As he grew up, he’d spend long periods of time in the woods with Able. Despite the unforgiving nature of the forests it represented the only time to get to know his father. He learned woodcraft, trapping, and a passing skill with a bow, this was discouraged by Yarrow, who was fearful of him taking after his father and leaving someday. He later wandered the verdant forests of district 9 to seek solace from the teasing of his classmates, who often taunted him for his ‘good-for-nothing’ father. And while his absences from school were noted, the cohesiveness of the community kept this from becoming an issue.

Everything proceeded well until Vetch's 12th year, when the agents of the Capitol got word of Able's true origins. Peacekeepers came to the small family home and arrested the illegal wanderer. While Able was taken off to the disciplinary centre for interrogation, the peacekeepers had mercy on Yarrow and merely beat her for aiding and abetting a criminal.

The public spectacle of the arrest and beating caused rumour to spread through the district like wildfire. For the family, it soon became apparent that instead of friendly greetings from neighbours and other residents, they only received suspicion and disapproval.

In his mid-teens, Vetch apprenticed under his uncle at the local foundry. His skill with his hands and practical nature allowed him to learn quickly, and excel in his work there. Vetch was thankful of the chance to supplement mother’s efforts to feed the family and to prove that he was unlike his father. His clever hands have earned the grudging respect of his co-workers, some of whom Vetch counts as part of the select few he trusts.

Able's true fate still remains unknown to the family, but Vetch believes it highly likely that his father was executed, but he never mentions this within earshot of Wren for fear of spoiling her optimistic outlook.