Pushing forward, the trio walked in mostly silence, keeping a steady pace as they navigated through the varying forest. The radio sat at Kasai's hip, and she wondered when it would speak to her again. Kieron noticed her hand subconsciously resting on the radio every now and then, so he walked up beside her and grabbed in, placing it in his waistband behind him. 

Kasai turned around with a confused expression. 

"You need to focus on something else, Kas. So, this is mine for now." He waived the radio at her and placed it back in his waistband. 

Barron couldn't help but smile when he saw Kasai's expression, and as she went to take the device back from Kieron, he intervened. Picking her up, he placed her over his shoulder and walked forward several steps. 

"Alright, let's play a little game. We used to do this back in the Southern Water Tribe all the time during the spiritual events." He placed her down and turned her to face away from the two. 

"Okay, close your eyes and listen. Not to the trees, or the wind, but to the things that lurk within."

Kasai rolled her eyes, but closed them anyway. She took in a deep breath and then sat silent for a second. After a moment, she opened her eyes and looked at Barron. "I didn't hear anything." She raised an eyebrow towards him. 

He sighed and closed his eyes, remaining silent. Kieron stood to the side, trying his hardest not to make any sound. After a moment, Barron opened his eyes and pointed to the right. "There are two spirits over there, friendly ones, don't worry. You can't see them, but you can [i]sense[/i] them." 

As Kasai had just closed her eyes to try again, the radio muffled from beneath Kieron's shirt. He quickly pulled it out and saw Kasai headed in a bee-line towards him. He shot himself up on a pillar of earth and pressed the button to respond. 

"I'm sorry, Kasai can't get to the radio right now, but I'll be sure to relay the message to her. Minus the cackling though, I don't cackle, I chuckle." He grinned and placed the radio behind him again and remained high on his column to avoid Kasai retrieving the radio. 

Barron turned Kasai around again and made sure she did not get to Kieron. "Try again, clear your mind and open it to them. If you do that then maybe we can better judge what is bothering them so." Kasai let out a huff, but reluctantly closed her eyes and steadied her breathing. 

Soon, she could sense the two spirits Barron had mentioned. He was right, all she felt was light coming from them. But then, a different feeling became known to her, and her expression turned. She could sense a heavy presence, one not too far away. She opened her eyes and looked at the two, Kieron had finally lowered himself. Both the boys held a stern expression, and she followed their gaze until she saw it. 

A light emanated in the distance, and without speaking, they all moved forward towards it. Soon enough, they were upon it, and each of their mouths gaped with awe. In the ground was a crater, at least 20 feet in diameter. From it, an eerie glow escaped and bathed the surrounding vegetation with its light. 

"What the...?" They all stood, unsure of what this thing was or what to do about it. "I'm getting a bad vibe from this..." Kieron spoke up and shook his head with discontent. 

Barron looked forward and nodded to himself, "It's a spirit portal. There must be something sending out the disturbed spirits from within..."

"Within? As in... we have to go in there?" Kieron swallowed hard and looked at Barron, who in return gave a shrug and a nod. 

"If whatever is disturbing them lies within... then we must go in to quell it. We can't do anything from right here." 

Kasai and Kieron both looked questionably at the portal, each gathering the courage to enter it. What if they did not return? What if it was a one way ticket? What if they found something beyond their capacity within? The questions raced through their minds as they stared into the ominous light.