Natalija Kaczka
Candles to blow out: 15
The day my mother screamed: September 2nd
Personality: Natalija is cheerful, intelligent, sociable, a romantic, and free spirited. Since she was a child she would be the one to go out and make the friend rather than wait for someone to come to her. Learning is her joy in life, right up there with running, and she pushes herself past her "issues" to be better than anyone else. She's the life of the party, the one that will take that dare or dance with anyone or make someone laugh just so every person knows she's there. Her head is filled with romantic ideas of love and friendship and how everything should just be simple. Boyfriends fly through her life, but none of them are serious. She voices her opinion, but listens to others. As often as she can, she lets people know that she's her own person and proud of it. Because of this, she has an arrogance streak in her, along with the occasional flair or bad temper or moodiness. She doesn't know when to stop pushing herself or what her limits are, physically or emotionally, and she takes very, very few things seriously.
History: Though her family is originally from Latvia, Natalija grew up America. Almost immediately after she was born, her mortal parent remarried. Even though one isn't related to her, she still calls them "Mom and Dad". They lived in "Southie" Boston, Massachusetts where she went to a public school made up of Irish, Polish, and Baltic State kids as students. Other kids flocked to her, something that happened more and more as she grew older and prettier. School proved to be hard due to the dyslexia and ADHD, but she didn't let it get to her and tried her best anyway. Her best friend were the neighbors in the tenement over and from a young age, the two girls' parents let them wander about as they pleased. They kept out of trouble so that they could keep their privilege, though "keeping out of trouble" meant "doing things and not getting caught". Together they would snag food from Faneuil Hall or pickpocket some unsuspecting tourist and giggle about their prize afterwards. It was a simple life in a dangerous neighborhood, but they didn't ask for much, and Natalija loved it anyway.
Around the age of twelve, at the heart of all teenage angst and when the first monster attack happened, her parents divorced. Since she was never one to be completely unaware of anything other than herself, she was shocked. She figured she would see some signs beforehand, but there were none. When she was told, she left the house as it was getting dark on her own. She went to a friend's house, cried and complained, and on her way back, something attacked her. Though she stabbed it with a Swiss Army Knife, nothing happened. Afraid, she ran and never told anyone. After that, no matter where she went, attacks would follow.
Her father moved down south, to Louisiana. It was an upper class neighborhood. It turned out he got a job promotion which got him more money, but he had to move down south. Her mother refused to leave, so they divorced. During school breaks and summer, she went to visit him. At first she just sulked and tried not to make friends. But since it wasn't in her nature to be lonely and she craved attention other than her father's, she went out, mastered the southern accent, and acted as if she lived down there her entire life. Friends came soon enough. She acted the parts well and played into the geographical location like she really was too different people. In Louisiana she was the southern bell with the smooth, high class accent and in Boston she was the dangerous pretty girl who, like everyone else, would be destined to a life as a waitress, shop worker, or if all else failed, go into a gang.
The satyr who ended up leading her to Camp Half-Blood actually found her in the summer break of after her sophomore year, which she spent with her dad down in Louisiana. Another one of those "annoying, imaginary bothers" attacked her as he came around the corner. He saw the whole thing. Without giving a good enough explanation, he grabbed her by the arm, asked where her house was, and led her there. In a rush of words he managed to explain what was happening to her father who quickly sat down at a computer, reserved two tickets for New York for that night, and drove them to the airport. Poor Natalija never got an adequate explanation. Or a phone call to her mother.
Weapon of Choice: Bow and arrow or dagger. If all else fails, she wouldn't complain with a sword or spear.
Don't forget: She dresses well, acts very girly, but is still a tom-boy at heart.
Behind the curtains: gameofcatandmice
