East (solo)

There was only the crunch of sand beneath his feet to keep him company as he walked desert. Stratus looked back over his shoulder. The grand palace of Las Noches was still visible. He was too far away to make out the details, but he could see it. As long as he kept that to his back he could be sure he was going in the right direction. Direction? Stratus snorted. It wasn't often one used that term here in the grand white desert of Hueco Mundo. But this was a special occasion; Moledale had sent him on a mission.

Several hours earlier

They walked the hallways of Las Noches in silence. Just a moment ago he had talked of work to do, but not another word had exited his lips. His patience was wearing thin. He had been gagged upon pointing out the strange spiritual signal of the cloaked figure. There was no doubt it was a shinigami. After running into so many of them, it wasn't too difficult in telling the subtle differences in energy. He would put money on that cloaked person being a shinigami, if he had any, but the question was why were they here. When he tried to voice that question he was hushed again. Apparently they wouldn't be talking. Stratus felt the various energies around them. Although he couldn't see anyone they were surrounded. Fifteen? Twenty? How many of them were hidden in wait. Moledale didn't want what he was being said to be know to any of them. He remembered the arrancar that had approached him outside the meeting room. Absentmindedly he rubbed the spot where he had been stabbed. The hole had closed and the wound beneath the armor itched as it healed. If the man had tried he could have killed him. Just abit more pressure and his heard would be gone. The silence between them was absolute. Stratus and his thoughts of his near death, and Moledale and his need for secrecy. The horse like beast lead the way as they made their exodus of the dangerous environment. The minutes stretched on and on as they walked. As they neared the exit the spiritual signals around them dropped in number. One by one there were fewer and fewer observers. Less ten of them now. But still Moledale was quiet. He looked around for a few seconds as the moved through the large double doors back into the desert. They continued pas the doors for quite abit before Moledale stopped walking.
"Got something special planned for you boy." he said softly as close as they were his voice didn't carry far. "From here we'll part ways. I need you to go East. There's someone.....something you need to see."
"Go East? Which way is East?" Stratus confusion was obvious as he spun in place. "What do I need to see? Can't you just tell me?"
The other one shook his head. "You have questions right?" Stratus nodded. "Good, then go East." Moledale pointed his horn to the right. "East." he said with and air of finality. "Go there and you'll get your answers. And if you're lucky more questions as well. Go East boy."

Back to the present

Stratus stood atop a large sand dune looking back the way he came. Most of his tracks had faded. Las Noches was nothing more than a white dot now on the horizon. Why was he doing this? Moledale had given him a vague task and he had gone without much debate. Why? He could go back, but something told him not to. There was a curiosity of the whole matter. The meeting, the cloaked figure, and the promise of answers all danced in his head. East. The truth lay out there. Turning back the looked forward once again. Nothing but blank desert with a black sky above him. He shook his head and continued on his journey. It was odd for a hollow to trust, and here he was trusting Moledale. A self proclaimed spy. Perhaps Stratus was a fool.

Stratus had been to the human desert before. Compared to that he Hueco Mundo he'd rather be there. Sure it was hot with sun bearing down upon you, but it was more interesting than the current monotony. He had lost sight of Las Noches. The huge structure no longer visible he doubted if he was truly heading the right way. The only thing for him to gauge direction was the foot prints he had left behind him. How accurate could that be? What are the chances he'd been walking in a straight line? He groaned and looked at the empty sands. This was definitely worst than the human desert. Honestly he wouldn't mind the extreme heat and cold at this point. Anything would be welcome to this utter boredom. Shaking his head he took one more look behind him "East...."

How many hours had passed since he started. Without changes to the sky or weather it was hard to keep track of time. It was mind numbing for Stratus. He tried is best to keep himself entertained. One such entertainment was thoughts of what he would do to Moledale when he got back. Killing him would be too easy. As he walked he tried to devise clever and painful tortures to exact upon the other hollow. So far he'd gotten thirteen, he wanted at least twenty. Around this time he got the brilliant idea to start running. Walking was getting him nowhere fast, running might help things. While he moved across the sand at a good pace not much had changed. One thing did change; he got tired. Sweat formed as he pushed himself to move faster. A cloud of smoke marked his path across the sands. Finally his breathing became too labored and he slowed down, and then came to a stop. Once more Stratus turned around to check his progress. He had cut a path across the dunes at near lighting speed, but he still was no closer to his destination. Now that he thought about it, he didn't even know what the destination was. "Maybe I should just head back." He sighed dropping into a sitting position while he caught his breath. All that running and the mission itself had him feeling stupid. There was a loud screech startling him from his thoughts. He jumped to his feet and spun in place scanning the horizon for the threat. Too late he looked skyward as a shadow expanded over him.