They shared the small dressing room with one other team, the team that was on before them. The Badgerfrogs often made friends or were friendly towards other teams. They all had the same goal in mind and they loved the same sport dearly. There was no use in making enemies with them. The only ones that seemed to grate against the Badgerfrogs the wrong way was the White Falls Wolfbats, but they rubbed everyone the wrong way. 

The other team greeted them warmly; outside of the Pro-bending arena, the two teams often went out to dinner together or practiced together. They were called the Poodle Monkies. Admittedly they weren't the best team around but they tried hard and worked their butts off. 

[color=9e0b0f]"Hey where's Fu?"[/color] 

Houjin rubbed the back of his neck, [color=f9ad81]"Well you see...he kind of bailed on us."[/color] 

[color=9e0b0f]"What! Are you guys serious about this?"[/color] Zira, the firebender of the Poodle Monkies, said with wide eyes. She couldn't believe that Fu would do something like that.

[color=f9ad81]"Yeah, he got tired of us "holding him back" or something like that. We've found a temporary though, so we can still compete."[/color] He gestured to Mara. 

[color=9e0b0f]"Does she have any experience?"[/color] Zira asked as she finished adjusting her uniform. 

Houjin shrugged, [color=9e0b0f]"She's competing with us tonight, Ukik wants to give her a trial."[/color]

[color=598527]"You fell for those wide eyes again?"[/color] Another member called. [color=598527]"You've always had a soft spot for sad eyes. If I wasn't a man I'd give you some sad eyes for dinner."[/color]

Houjin's cheeks flared as the man laughed. [color=f9ad81]"Haha; very funny."[/color]

[color=8882be]"But it's true. You always fall for the oldest trick in the book~"[/color] Ukik said as she finished adjusting the uniform to better fit Mara. Fu wasn't very tall but he was stocky and the last-minute alterations were a bit clunky but they'd work. [color=8882be]"Good luck to you guys tonight, Zira."[/color] Ukik made a move to get closer to the woman but she stopped midway and pouted. 

[color=9e0b0f]"I'll bend down to hug you then."[/color] Zira laughed. She was a very tall woman, standing a few inches taller than Houjin. The last time that Zira had hugged the smaller woman, Ukik about had a heart attack when Zira had picked her up to her height. 

Houjin gave them all a smile and high fives before watching them walk away. [color=f9ad81]"You guys want to watch their match?"[/color] He asked Mara and Dan. 

[color=f9ad81]"We always like to see how our friends do and they watch us when they can." [/color]Ukik explained as she pulled off her boots to grab a second pair of shoes that were appropriate for the occasion. 

Houjin quickly put on his uniform before being inspected by the waterbender. She made sure that his helmet would be secure and that nothing was out of place. [color=8882be]"You pass."[/color]

[color=f9ad81]"Thanks mom."[/color] Houjin said as he pulled off his helmet. 

[color=8882be]"Remember the last time your helmet wasn't on correctly?"[/color] 

Houjin's helmet had fallen off during a match when a few illegal moves had been used; his jaw had been fractured but if his helmet wouldn't have fallen off then his injury wouldn't have been as bad as it had been. 

[color=f9ad81]"Hey Mara..."[/color] Houjin looked at the blonde girl, curiosity had been getting the better of him, [color=f9ad81]"You know the rules, right? This is our first time competing in a while --"[/color]

[color=8882be]"A lot longer than a while, Houjin!"[/color]

[color=f9ad81]"Fine, in months, we don't want to lose this opportunity because of a few simple mistakes." [/color]

[color=8882be]"Yeah, and we do have an opening for a permanent earthbender so think of this as your try-out."[/color] Ukik added. [color=8882be]"If it gets to be too much then just let us take care of it, alright? We can provide some cover for you."[/color]

Houjin knew that no matter her answer, there was no backing out now.