Shifting steps in the still sands.

[hiroko]

Along the desert sands of Hueco mundo had it been a silent place-- a dead place. Life to be barren across the waste lands of ever flowing sand. Tears to be plentiful as thoughts of loved ones and past likes where to be mentioned, or when they would surface upon the face of ones memories. As a hollow, such a thing hadn't existed really. For when one had reached the state of a Hollow, their mind would be far near lost, their soul-- to be morphed in ways of only carnage and hate. Being a hollow was a hard life, for one had always hungered, for one had always had to eat something, to devour any form of morsel that had came in eyes site, and Vrai, a Hollow himself fit the picture perfect, only eating the soul of a weak creature an hour or two back.

It was a dark life, it was a horrible life. The days seemed like they never ended, and ones mind had always ached, for thinking had been something that appeared to pain all hollow, if not physically, then mentally. The ever shifting sand of the desert where a thing of distraction though, something hta twould make certain to catch a Hollows attention to make them forget, and the high moon sitting in the still sky to finish the scenery, still was it lonely... oh so lonely. Regret to flash upon ones mind as they would come to think of it all; what could have they done to be a better person, what could have they done to stay alive and become a soul? In Vrai's case? Nothing.

So through the sands would he wonder. A fist to meet with the softened earth first, and then his body to move in an order that would allow walking, such as that of a Gorilla. The bright yellow eyes underneath his eyes to pierce through the darkness as he would walk-- what would he have in store for today?

[Lily]

'The lifeless sands will bring my hunger to a rest'

It was another dark night like always in the never ending sands of Hueco Mundo. Barely any signs of life could be sending through the dunes. One noticeable thing would be a hollow raven the sign for the messenger of death soaring through the air letting her blood red eyes scans the ground for a sign of life. Why was she looking for life... she was hungry.

The only thought that ran through the raven's mind was the fact that she was starving to death. She had eaten so much through the years yet she is starving. As she scanned the sands she saw something come up from the sands. It was a ground of lizard hollows. With this she dived down and fired off to feathers at the group hitting two lizards. As the others tried to burrow down into the sands Lily landed in the sands and gobbled one up. With the others gone she quickly went over to the two pinned down.

The meal was quick and unsatisfying. With this she would think about her hunger which would bring Lily back to the lizards which would give her an idea. The idea was to wait on the lifeless tree near by and wait until they came back. When they did she would attack. So as the plan was done she would fly up to the one dead branch and sit on it. As she waited nothing happened but then something new came into view.

A couple of meters away was an ape type hollow of some sorts. It was huge and way to big for her to eat. With this Lily would wait for him to pass her by and see what would be the outcome. Hopefully for her she would have to fly away from her spot and miss her next meal.

[Mitsuhiro]

Brilliant move, Mitsuhiro…

I found myself in the quartz jungle itself - the endless desert that stretched throughout Heuco Mundo, locked in eternal gloom. I’d come for study, of a sort - I fashioned myself a scientist, and I found no other test subject better than Hollows. The mindless cretins made for great guinea pigs - I hunted them even now, creeping further along into the desert, traveling further and further from the Border Forest, and by extension, Seireitei, the sanctuary for souls.

If I had perhaps achieved Shikai, at the least, then my “trip” might not be so hazardous to my health, but unfortunately, I was hardly even a graduate, just recently attaining the 20th seat in the 1st division. Sure, I had blazed through the academy more expeditiously than any before me, but my ears were still wet and my horns still green… but I knew enough.

Bingo!

The feel of a Hollow is unforgettable. It’s like breathing the putrid stench of death - only transferred from a mere odor into a near tangible ideal. The essence of them… it’s wild and untamed - they leak spiritual pressure like a sieve, with no regard at all to secrecy. No matter - it made tracking them that much easier, and lo and behold, there were two within my sights. One, a towering oaf, and the other small and frail, at least in comparison to the apish behemoth. Perfect.

I veiled my presence as best I could, approaching from the rear - thirty meters separated us…

Let the “studies” begin.

[hiroko]

[Posting Order: I, Megumi, Hiro.]

Eye hole deep in muddy water....

The barbaric creature would turn slightly when it would hear the noise of shifting sands, not shifting sands, but, the noise of sands being kicked up, but by what? The large piercing yellow Oculi of the beast would meet with the small, and frail looking body of a fellow Hollow. The thought of devouring it had been rather strong, though, he would fight the urge to devour the small creature, for now. After all, how much of a meal would such a tiny thing be? Even the souls of small animals had appeared much more appetizing. Vrai would take one deep breath, oh how he loathed being a Hollow! Oh how he loathed his existence as of now; eating the souls of others creatures was a task he hadn't enjoyed, though, he hadn't hated it at the same time.

Though, at the distance at about 30 meters away had their rested a being, one that had appeared rather... sketchy? Vrai himself had been thankful to what ever God had been there to send the frail hollow along, for she had been behind him when she would search for her food, and the curiosity her noise had brought along would leave him to safety. He would ignore the small hollow for now, but, his mind would be sent upon the traveling Shinigami, or, so he would speculate from its vague physical appearance-- what other creature would come here dressed in such strange garbs? Still would the lemon eyes rest, waiting.. watching the movements of the said Shinigami. Would he strike? Would he flee.. he would not know, but, now he would he wait above the still sands... Hunger almost unstoppable.

[Mitsuhiro]

[ Yes, I skipped you Megumi. I would actually like to get this finished so I can move on to other ass kicking. ]

Hmm…

At least one of the Hollow’s maintained some modicum of intelligence - it was smart enough to leave me be - not quite smart enough to flee, however. Perhaps it felt secure due to its massive girth? This was, of course, my first time out in the field - I was excited, to say the least. I planned to make the most of this little venture into Heuco Mundo - it was my business to know Hollow’s, inside and out…

Hopefully, I would get that opportunity here and now.

Since I had already been spotted, I merely trekked forward with a leisurely gate, staying aware of my surroundings - it wouldn’t do to be ambushed by Hollow’s in the middle of their territory. No… it wouldn’t do at all. Even still, there were two of them to my one - already, my tactical training had failed me.

But…

I smiled. Strategy would make up for the tactical disadvantage… or so I hoped.

[Mitsuhiro]

Worthless... perhaps these Hollow's were infected? So docile...

I turned and made my leave. I could do more research at another time.

[ Exit ]