Air. Water. Earth. Fire. The era of the industrial Fire Nation reaches its peak. The recent invention of the steam engine allows Fire Nation vessels to travel against the wind and reach far-flung lands out of season. Trade blossomed and the Fire Nation grew prosperous. Portside towns sprung up all over the Fire Islands and expanded quickly, taking advantage of new opportunities. But as these towns grew, communities began to grow more isolated. It is in one of these towns that this story of warmth, and sanctuary takes place.

In a small abode in Kinzan Bay, a young lady emerges from her hiding place and shuffles to the pantry, wincing along the way as the pain from her sores and bruises reignite with each movement. She digs through the drawers and cabinets for something to eat, anything. She doesn't live here, but she's hungry and desperate. A cool wind blows through the holes in her worn clothing, and she shivers, the tattered coat on her back doing little to protect her skinny frame from the winter chill.

Suddenly, the front door unlocks and creaks open. Panicked, the lady clumsily grabs a handful of dried dates and stumbles into the nearby storeroom. She peers out through a crack in the door and sees the signs she had left that signaled her presence: pots and jars clumsily rearranged, toppled items, the trail of dried dates on the ground. Her body tenses as she observes the stranger setting a teapot on the charcoal kiln and heading directly to the pantry. The winter chill is forgotten; she now shivers in fear. She shuffles back slowly, trying her best to maintain her composure and make herself scarce. Footsteps approach, and her anxious breaths escape audibly despite her efforts to silence them.

As the storeroom door slides open, she instinctively recoils into the wall in response and raises her delicate hands to protect her face, scattering dried dates across the ground in the process. "No, please, don't hurt me! I'll leave, I promise. Don't come near me..."