Avani was the first in the spirit world, with Mio shortly after and Ryuu too eventually. Kasai and the other team showed up as well, which almost resulted in a comment about how she was surprised they hadn’t run home like chickens. Her own embarrassment was fresh in her memory though, and she doubted Kasai would remain quiet if she said something. Avani would have to repay Mio in time, by coming up with some kind of fitting revenge for what she’d done and said.

“You too, Lady Sergeant.” Avani said with a smile, when Kasai acknowledged that they were even around.

The way that Avani smiled when Kasai wished them good luck and showed them a new kind of respect, made Ryuu realize that Mio might be right. Heh, he could help Avani as well once they were done with their mission and back home safely. He’d never thought of Avani being that way, but if she was truly this awful at flirting it would explain why he never picked it up. No, he honestly thought it was likelier she disliked team b. Maybe it was more complicated. Neither he nor Avani had any reason to respect or like members of the police.

Avani rolled her eyes at the guy though when they had left. “Oh too bad, I came here with a deathwish seeking adventure, but now I better be careful instead.” Once more team b was talking to them like they were children, but he did forget one important aspect with the radios. “Not to be the one to crap on his suggestion, but we are no longer in republic city. We have no idea where we are exactly, so who is to say the radios will even work here?”

She snatched the radio out of Ryuu’s pocket to check if it was still working. Avani switched it to headquarters’ channel and only received static as expected. Next she turned it to team b’s channel. It seemed to be working, no audible change from before in the spirit forest.

“Testing. Kasai is a tool.” She grinned. “I repeat, Kasai is a tool. Copy?”

She thought she could hear their radio crackle to life with what she’d just said, so at least there was that. 

“Well, I guess we still got team b for support then, but I bet they are going to need us more than we need them.” She put the radio back in 
Ryuu’s pocket. “Just like before. I don’t know if that would count as support for us.”

They began to follow behind team b, since they were both heading in the same direction anyway and if some kind of enemy was here it would be likelier to attack those walking in the front. Then Avani could come to Kasai’s rescue again and rub it in her face. Besides, if team b couldn’t be their support they could be their bait.

The area was beautiful even with the visible corruption in the distance, Avani thought, and she wondered how large this world was. It appeared massive from what she could already see. The horizon was far away when she turned her gaze behind them, past the portal. 

“I wish we could have come here under different circumstances.” Avani said to her team. “Who knows what we could find here if we weren’t under orders from Republic City…”

“I’m not sure I would have wanted too, to be honest.” Ryuu replied. “I like danger when I know I can handle it, but spirits and a whole other world? I don’t know.”

“I’d be up for it, Avani.” Mio said. “But if it’s true that airbenders can meditate and enter this world, maybe I wouldn’t need too. I’d do it with you though.” She tried to repair the rift she’d doubtlessly caused earlier. Avani didn’t reply, no surprise there.