District 4 female tribute (Filipo97)

Name: Taystarian "Tay" Gray

Age: 17

Description: Five foot six, long chocolate brown hair, long legs, no arms. Green eyes, the usual in 4. Medium ish tan.

Family: Father disappeared a few years back, mother ran off with a lover, and her little sister died mysteriously and is suspected of being murdered.

Romance: Hasn't moved on from her boyfriend who died in the same boat crash that she lost her arms in two years back. His body was found clutching a promise ring.

Intro:

Everything shook, pulling my grasp away from Harr's. I reached out for him as I stumbled on the slippery deck, but he was out if my reach and I could no longer see him through the fog. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something fly towards me, and I felt a pain in the side of my head. I struggled to keep my eyes open. I had to find Harr.

The fishing boat had collided with something. I wasn't sure what, but it had a lot less damage than we had.

Minors were allowed to work in District Four because the Capitol always had an over abundance of fish and such, so we were a necessity to them.

I stood up and roamed the deck, blocking out the screams of my shipmates. One scream burst out, and I ran in the direction of it. Instantly recognizing Harr's voice, I couldn't refrain myself from wanting to save him before anyone else. I had a closer bond to him than with anyone else. We'd been best friends for years before he asked me out. We'd gone out for two years so far. I couldn't lose him.

I tripped and landed on something soft. I scrambled to my knees and heard Harr's heavy breathing.

"Harrthander Jay Anigan, don't you dare die on me," I pleaded, clutching his hand. I couldn't see through the fog too well, but the board sticking out of him was obvious.

"T-T-Tay... I love you... Please don't forget about..." my one and only love said before dropping his head to the slippery wood panelling. Tears ran down my face, and I could hear a distant screaming that was louder than others. It sounded more like a wail than a scream. It took me a moment to realize that it came from my lips.

I got up, extremely sad and pee'd off. Whoever caused this crash, whoever caused my soul mate's death, will die along with Harr.

The fog had thickened, the wind was howling fiercely, and salty waves were crashing onto the dock. It was a normal sized fishing boat, with a bigger front and a smaller rim. I couldn't find anyone else, no matter how hard I looked. A wave of loneliness crashed over me as I realized I had no one. No one was left to hold me at night, left to kiss me on the forehead and banish all nightmares. I truly was alone in that moment, and all that followed.

Something heavy hit me in the chest and knocked me over. I tried to drag myself up, or at least away, but whatever hit me was pinning me down.

The fog cleared for a second, just long enough for me to see a large metal object flying my way. It caught on a beam and split in two. I struggled beneath my weight, trying and trying to escape the metal, but it was no use. I accepted fate as the large metals crashed and crushed above my elbow on my right arm and below my shoulder on my left.

I blacked out just as flashing lights came into view.

It was the stupid Reaping day. I had to, of course, dress in my best for the foolish event. Before I became a double amputee, I trained in the center daily, half hoping to become a career in the Games. That dream vanished once I fell in love with Harr, and became only a distant memory when he died.

I struggled into the dress, using my stumps to guide it over my body.

Had it become easier to do things after the crash? Yes and no. I didn't have clumsy limbs to worry about, yet I needed fingers to do specific jobs like fish and eat. I had to eat like an animal for six months before creating a method.

I headed into the kitchen of my measly house. I lived alone, on the outskirts of the District Four city, where no one knew of my existence. I didn't mind; it was easier this way. No rude stares, childish questions, and prejudice because of my state. I was free of bias.

I took the one seat at the table, and pressed a button with my stump.

My eating contraption was worthy of Three. I pressed a button and a million gears worked up, working my food down a series of tubes and into my mouth. I just had to lift my stump off the large button to stop so I could chew. It was quite efficient.

After I finished my breakfast of dry cereal, I left to head to the center square. My door was specially made, too, with a switch that opened the door for exactly three seconds; just enough for me to get in or out. I could lock it from the inside only, by pressing a button on the door.

My lack of arms weren't too much of a liability. I could flip switches and press buttons. I could rotate them like a normal shoulder. I could hold them up, out, forwards, backwards, and down.

So what if I couldn't do a cartwheel or work. I sold my intelligence, I helped the fishermen calculate the number of fish caught in a week and got paid a little for it; just enough for food and clean water.

Who cared if I was different. I was me.

I swam with the sea of fish, stood in line for finger pricking, everything. Peacekeepers ushered me into my age group. I was among the last into the threshold, so it started almost immediately.

The video they show every year explained the war, the sacrifice, District 13. As usual, I noticed a small Mockingjay fly through the ruins, and a sliver of hope ran through me. Maybe someone could save us. Maybe someday.

I paid no mind to the District escort, as they were always a pain. The only notation I made was when my name was read. Dang.