Name: Tikaani Aput
Alias: N/A
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Personality: ● Chatty ● Attention Seeker
● Bubbly ● Optimistic
● Boisterous ● Unfocused
● Impulsive ● Easygoing
Background:Tikaani was born in the South Pole, a member of the Southern Water Tribe. Tikaani's father was a warrior, and died in battle when the boy was very young. Thus, the boy has little to no memories of him. All he knows about his father are some photographs his mother had, as well as things his mother told him. For the majority of his life, it was only Tikaani and his mother, and Tikanni was responsible for a lot of household things while his mother worked as a healer in the village. Primariy fishing, and cooking meals. He would go out on boat rides with his uncle on his mother's side to catch fish, and diving for sea prunes and fresh seaweed. His uncle also taught him how to navigate and steer a boat, because Water Tribesman should be able to navigate the seas. His mother however was the one that taught him to cook. The boy really liked to eat, and she felt it best that he learn to make his own meals sometimes. His cheerful and upbeat persona made Tikaani popular with his peers. He found it very easy to make friends with people. In between his chores, he made time to play with the other younger children in the village, whom he thought of as siblings. He particularly enjoyed going Penguin Sledding with them, although he was often the one who had to make sure the other kids didn't hurt the otter penguins.
While he was happy at home, Tikaani has always wanted to leave his small settlement in the South Pole, see the rest of the world, and potentially have a cool adventure. Mainly because he got bored with the day-to-day routine at home. Tikaani finally found some excitement in his life when he learned he was a Waterbender at the age of 12. He found out while he was watching his mother bend, and imitating her movements for fun. Obviously, he didn't have much control of it at that time, and the end result was Tikaani getting wet. After that, he trained with Waterbending masters in the tribe, as well as his own mother to hone his skill. Surprisingly, Tikaani took to bending rather quickly. Even though the masters didn't particularly care when the boy referred to it as 'cool water magic.' His boundless joy and enthusiasm overwhelmed a lot of the people who tried to teach him. He got bored with studying and often just wanted to play. The ones who actually mananged to hold his interest were his mother, and Nukka, the Chief of the southern tribe. He learned a lot during his lessons and became a skilled Waterbender.
At 14 years was the age when a boy takes part in the Southern Water tribe rite of passage of ice dodging. This was usually something a boy did with his father, but Tikaani's father was dead. Fortunately, there was a reason why his uncle taught him to sail a boat when he was younger. He took Tikaani out to sea, and had to guide the boat through iceberg infested waters. It was difficult but Tikaani managed to do it, and he earned himself a Mark of the Trusted on his forehead for proving to be exceptionally steady and dependable.
When he turned 18, Tikaani decided that he learned all he could in his small village. He wanted to leave the South Pole, see the rest of the world. He did after all know how to sail and could Waterbend like no one's business. His mother was hesitant to let her only child go off into the world all by himself. After all she did lose her husband, and couldn’t live with herself if she lost her son too. She had to be convinced to let him go. Both by her brother and Chief Nukka. She was the one who gave Tikaani his membership into The Order of the White Lotus. This way, Tikaani could travel and see the rest of the world, but he would have an organization to keep him safe. His mother was put at ease by this. So, reluctantly, and with a tearful good-bye, she let her son go. Tikaani promised his mother he would return someday.
