Akala

Age: 16
Height: 5'6"
Hair: Dark brown, past waist, half updo, beads on parted bangs
Eyes: Light blue
Description: Akala was born on a small island near the equator known as the Central Water Tribe. There, her family, relatives, and other residents lived together peacefully, since they were an exporting zone for all nations. Living on the island, she made many friends. Her best friends was a boy named Tamo and a girl named Wonna. They did everything together; play on the beach, make sandcastles, and listen to the tales by the elders. Tamo would watch the two girls practice waterbending by Akala's mother, Dekena. It was one day, when she was 10, that a strange  shape came to the docks of the island. This was odd because there was no scheduled importing exporting that day. Akala's mom, who was training her and the other students,felt suspicious and told them all to go home. Tamo and Akala ran to her house and told her dad, who ran outside after hearing. A few minutes later, there was a fight between the Central Water Tribe and the earthbending pirates. Many of the children were spared, but very few adults made it out alive. Sad that she lost her family, Akala packed her things and whatever she could find that would remind her of her parents and decided to go on a journey. Tamo, wanting to keep the promise that he made for Akala's father, came with her. The other children stayed on the island, to make a fresh start since there were a few adults that could help rebuild. Taking one of the surviving canoes and using the pushing/pulling method her mother taught her, they went off to the Southern Water Tribe. It was there they went their separate ways. Tamo and a few of the villagers went off to Republic City while Akala stayed and practiced waterbending by Katara. At 13, she mastered waterbending and was given a map by a local resident that displayed the world. Katara gave her supplies, some money, and a new canoe to travel. The first place she went to was the Earth Kingdom. She settled in Ba Sing Se for a few months; writing letters to her friends, seeing the sights, and learning combat training from palace soldiers. They only taught her the basics, like letting your opponent use their energy before attacking you, how to quickly take your opponent down, and to always keep your instincts alert after danger strikes. After leaving Ba Sing Se, Akala made it to Kyoshi Island. There she was taught Chi blocking. It was difficult at first, but after gaining faster reflexes and better flexibility, it became easier for her. Most of the warriors respected her and her fighting abilities and, before leaving, they gave her a pair of war fans. Grateful for the gift and the friendships she gained, Akala promised to come back. By the time she 15, she was taught how to control plants from the Swamp Benders, heal from the Northern Water Tribe, and lived in the Fire Nation for a  few months, learning only their only. At 16, she traveled back to the Central Water Tribe and saw that everything was slowly, but surely, coming back together. Wonna, who was the first person to greet Akala, told her that she was a waterbending master. This brought back their friendly rivalry and they decided to settle this once and for all with a waterbending battle. Despite both of them using amazing strategies and waterbending skills, the battle ended in a losing tie. Her friends, now mature teenagers like her, wanted her to stay, but felt guilty about leaving Tamo. She said that she headed for Republic City to live there, but promised to come back to visit. When she entered Republic City, it was quite different; big city with bright lights, lots of different people, and so many things to do. She settled in the middle class of the city, unpacked her memories she gained from her journey into her new apartment, and found a job working as a teacher at the local waterbending school. 6 months living in the city, she finally met up with Tamo, who was living on the richer side of Republic City. Now a handsome young man, Tamo was a bit different; he was less energetic and didn't seem to joke around as much, but still had that friendly Aura. It hadn't been two weeks when Tamo said that he love her. Akala was taken aback; she never thought that he would say that. But it was what he said next that devastated her. He said that the only way they could be together was if she gave up her waterbending. Angry at her words, Akala slapped him and said that the last thing she was going to do was give up something she loved. Afterwards, they never saw each other. It was one night, while taking a walk, that she was ambushed by strangely dressed Chi blockers. Putting up a good fight but losing in the end, Akala was knocked out. She woke up on stage in front of a large crowd. She looked around and saw three other benders handcuffs, just like her. One was a young man named Jai Ko, a firebender. They both started whispering ways to escape, but it was then that a mask man named Amon appeared on stage and told everyone what he was going to do; he was going to permanently take away their bending. Jai Ko and Akala watched in horror of watching an elderly earthbending couple becoming powerless. When it was her turn, Amon told the story of her life, only making it more twisted and making it seems as though everything was her fault. Wondering how he knew all this, she noticed that Tamo was in the first row. Feeling betrayed, she continued her and Jai Ko's plans. Like the couple, she was given a chance to fight Amon for her freedom. But instead of fighting him, she fought the Chi blockers guarding the doors and they both managed to escaped. Akala cried that night. A few hours later, Tamo asked why she escaped. She yelled at him, saying that she lost everything the day the pirates attacked; her family, friends, even her confidence was destroyed. Waterbending was the last thing that kept her connected to her culture and her family. She was so angry that the water that she was boiling for tea, spouted onto the ceiling. Tamo left, saying like the fast of the benders, her bending would be gone permanently. After a while of not seeing a Chi blocker, she felt safe, but always kept her instincts alert.

Akala is a nice, good-hearted young woman that is trying to find her place in the world. Her love for learning has taken her everywhere and now she is trying to settle. Akala is very intelligent, learning everywhere she goes and always bringing a piece of her journey with her to remind her of what she's learned. She believes in trust and commitment, so if someone, like Tamo, who was trying to force her into something or was lying to her, she would go into a rage, which is shocking because she is quite level-headed. Akala can no longer trust Tamo because of how he betrayed her, but hopes that he will turn his life around and quit the Equalists. Her best friend in the city is Yu Ling, a young firebender that happens to live next door to Akala with her mom. They got along fast because of how she reminded Akala of herself when she was young. She seems to have develop feelings for Jai Ko, but doesn't know why. Akala believes it's his bravery and how relaxed he was when it came for a plan to escape from the Equalist. She loves teaching the children waterbending, since it reminds her of her mother. Travelling all over the world gave her an adventurous and slightly rebellious side.

Akala is very pretty with light blue eyes, tan skin, long dark brown hair, and a crescent shaped birthmark next to her right eye. She has a lean, athletic, but still feminine, figure. Her outfits change throughout her journey. Living on a tropical island, she dressed in loose tunics, short leggings and sandals, but when she traveled to the Southern and Northern Water Tribe, she dressed in thicker tunics, pants, boots, and coats. While at the Earth Kingdom, she wore green blouses, pants, and sandals. In Kyoshi Island, she wore her normal clothes, but while training with the Kyoshi warriors, she wore their uniform. In the Fire Nation, she wore a dark red qipao with gold trim with even darker red stockings and red flats. When she was finally settled in Republic City, Akala began wearing her normal clothes again. When teaching at the waterbending school, she dressed more appropriately.

Learning many fighting techniques from different parts of the world, she's mastered waterbending from different regions, is highly skilled in Chi blocking, and hand-to-hand combat. Though she has mastered waterbending, she only uses it for emergencies. The Kyoshi warriors stated that not to rely solely on bending, because it will drain your energy to fight oncoming enemies. When fighting, she uses Chi blocking as her main fighting technique and waterbending as a distraction of to corner her opponents. The only time Akala uses her bending as a primary weapon is against a machine or an opponent she cannot strike.

Fighting style: Chi blocking, waterbending
Weapon: War fans

Civilian clothes: Light blue halter crop top, dark blue capri shorts, white sandals, and a bracelet made of white sea shells.
Teaching: Light blue long sleeve kimono blouse with white trim, blue pants, white boots, hair is in ponytail.
Pajamas: White sleeveless tunic, blue shorts, hair is out.

Likes: Streaming water (meditating), Jai Ko, teaching, writing to her friends, talking to Yu Ling
Dislikes: Tamo, the Equalists, making tea (a sign that she is sad, angry, or any other negative emotion).