~~~
Tamarensa leaned against Medusa, asleep. Tamarensa had always thought of Medusa as a mother, and Medusa had treated Tamarensa like her daughter.
Iki, of course, was still a bit hateful toward Medusa. He, like Tamarensa, was a die-hard follower of the ways of the Shinigami Slayers.
Medusa shifted a bit, brushing some of her medium long brown hair from her eyes. She would never tell Iki or Tamarensa this, of course, but she was starting to wonder if the Soul Society was as terrible as their leader had said. They all seemed so dedicated. Even that man; She despised him for the days of torture, but she could sense the pain in his voice.
She sat there, stroking Tamarensa’s soft hair, before drifting off herself
~~~
The 13th Squad Captain, San, as he was called, sat upon one of the gates, smoking his usual cigarette, and scratching his neck.
“Well, this is bull.” He rubbed his scalp. “It’s friggin hot.”
He looked out on the horizon, and thought he saw some movement in the distance.
He looked harder, and it seemed as if the trees were moving, as if a great army was advancing toward the Soul Society.
He stood, to get a better look…and, sure enough, something was coming. “****”.
He turned and ran.
~~~
Golde was still sitting at his desk. He had nothing. No plan. No headquarters. No real information. At this point, the entire Soul Society was a sitting duck.
Then, a familiar foot burst through the door.
“Dammit San!” Golde turned from his desk, just as a hand shoved Golde’s head toward the window.
“Look dammit.”
Golde turned his eyes toward the window, and his expression instantly changed from anger to surprise. “What the…”
”We need everyone ready, now Golde.”
~~~
Just fifteen minutes later, a majority of the Captains had been gathered in front of the South Gate, where, only a few hundred feet into the woods, something was coming.
“We’re not going to lie, we have no idea what this is,” said San, facing the other Captains. “But, we believe it is a full-scale invasion. We know, or rather, think we know, that only 6 members are left in this, “Organization” (Air quotes) but, let’s not underestimate them, even if there is a small chance of them overtaking us, there’s still a chance, and there’s the risk of casualties. So, prepare yourselves, all of you, for the fight of your lives.”
~~~
Medusa awoke with a start. She carefully rose, trying her best not to awaken Tamarensa, and moved to the bars.
“It’s almost time,” She said, a tear forming in her eye.