Droplets of water fell upon the ocean, little disturbances in the calm adding up to a massive number of dimples over the otherwise clear seas' surface. Below the water, no fish, no animals of any kind could be seen- all had taken refuge in the deeper areas of the ocean, finding safety far away from the chaos happening above. Despite the rain, the temperature was incredibly high; not due to the humidity of the falling rain, but due to a contradictory dryness in the air. Half of the raindrops evaporated before reaching the ocean's surface, and the other half scalded with boiling heat. Perhaps that was why, like the fish beneath her boat, Kala Hishen cowered behind a makeshift cover, a roof of sorts of armor and cloth.

A single boat, a scow which clearly had no business being so far out into the ocean, thrashed about over the bubbling waters, was managed timidly by the woman hiding under the roof she had hastily thrown together. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but even then, she could see the comet through her eyelids- a burning red dot in the sky, no doubt the cause of the chaos. Holding tight to the oars in her hands, Kala waited. Her heart pounding, her stomach churning, Kala regretted her decision to take this shortcut, rather than opting for a safer land-based route. It was no matter, now. All that could be done was for her to try to survive.

Knowing that the rain would burn should it touch her skin, Kala decided to get out of it. She wrapped herself in her cloak, tying her scarf over the lower half of her face, and lowering a hood over the top of her head. Letting the makeshift roof of her light armor collapse into the bottom of the boat, she began to row. Now that she had cleared her head, Kala realized she must change directions. Unable to see any stars in the sky, save for the comet, she blindly chose to follow the current of the water, to move out of the storm as quickly as possible. Mustering her strength, she adjusted the sails of the boat, and began to steer as steadily as her shaking hands could.

Shrouded in the darkness of night, and the plummeting curtain of rain, the captain of the lonely boat could only see a few meters before her. Far off, she knew there must be land eventually, yet she could barely see the front and back ends of her boat, let alone any such safety. Her ears were no help, either. All she could hear was the splashing of the rain against the waters, and against her boat, as well as the roaring of the wind rushing by her ears. Grimacing at her relative blindness, Kala closed her eyes, succumbing to the senses she knew might help her the most. 

Through the thin cloth cover over her nose and mouth, Kala could still taste the bitter, salty air. As she was no sailor, and had little experience, it took her several minutes before she could make any sense of the information conveyed via nose and tongue. The disturbance of the ocean caused the thick layer of salt in the air, but it was the rain which caused the disturbance to which she paid heed. Honing in her focus, Kala realized the source of the rain.

Having come from a village west of Omashu, Kala knew the area well. Between that city, and Ba Sing Se, she knew the most direct route crossed through the two lakes, through the Serpent's Pass. The western half was a freshwater lake, the eastern half, as it was directly connected to the ocean, saltwater. The biodiversity of the area was incredible, but now, the divide was true. Several tastes were apparent in the rain. Rust. Ash. The softness which was so apparent in freshwater areas. Copper. Combined, these could only mean one thing.

The rust, from the bilges and keels of their ships, the ash, from the burning of whatever was in the water at the time, and the copper from the mist of blood, from creatures and people alike. Kala's eyes teared up, not just due to the brine in the air. The fire nation has taken the Western Lake.

Her parents had been on their way to Ba Sing Se. The most direct path was through the Serpent's Pass. Given the timing of this event, it was highly unlikely that the couple was still alive, unless her uncle had accompanied them. Remembering that the soldier had been sent to Omashu, Kala realized there was no hope. Stone faced, and filled with a new rage, Kala cleared her mind of all thought, and sat down on the small deck of her little boat, eyes still shut.

Though it did not seem like the time or the place to do so, Kala began to meditate. First, she tuned out the tastes and smells coming from all around her. Next, the sounds of the torrential downpour. Finally, the sensations of touch, from the occasional dot of pressure of a raindrop, to the feel of the cotton clothing on her skin. After several moments, she was empty, save for a repeated mantra, the one thing resonating loudly in her mind. The words echoed within her as they might if shouted in a wide cavern.

"Find the Avatar. Find the Avatar. Find the Avatar."