Malu (airbender)


 * This article is about the airbender. For the character from "The Deserter", see Malu.

Malu was an airbender from the Eastern Air Temple. A mysterious figure of mystical powers, she fled her home for the Earth Kingdom following the Fire Nation's first attacks.

History
Malu, commonly referred to as the "ghost witch of the mountain", arose as a figure of Earth Kingdom legend in the years following the Fire Nation's first strikes. An enigmatic beauty who supposedly controlled the spirits and seemingly vanished and appeared at will, Malu was truly an airbender whose mother hid her in a mountain cave to escape the Fire Nation's storming of the Eastern Air Temple. Her parents were airbending monks and some of the Hundred Year War's first casualties. For years, she lived a solitary existence in the forest, but, ten years into the War, she stopped hiding and began attacking Fire Nation soldiers. Despite not having a teacher under whom to train, she quickly mastered the airbending skills that helped her survive for so long.

Although her ultimate fate is unknown, some say she made her home in the mountain passes, and villagers paid tribute to the spirit who protected the forest so long ago.

Trivia



 * In Malay and Indonesian, "Malu" means "shame".
 * "Malu" is also the Indonesian and Malay word for "shyness", which would fit her rather elusive nature.
 * "Malu" is also the Polynesian word for "gentle wind" or "calm wind", which would fit Malu as she is an airbender.
 * Although considered an non-canonical character, Malu was the only female Air Nomad shown that had not acquired her tattoos until the introduction of Ikki and Jinora in The Legend of Korra.