Fodder for the Flame (ICHIGO/DRAGON)

The pain never went away to the Dragon. Shards of shattered weaponry, some of which were Zanpakutou, lay embedded deep beneath her protective scales, always grinding against her insides with every step or move she took and leaving her in constant agony. Not only that, but she couldn't regenerate as well as other Hollows. Her defensive strength was her scales and the acidic effluvia that ate most things up before they even touched her. But some things were just too much even for her.

The Dragon sat while flexing her one remaining wing. Flapping it against the air, she tested its remaining strength. Pitiful. Not that she needed the other one in order to fly, but she was constantly being reminded by the phantom pains of what she once had not too long ago. Perhaps if she feasted on enough food to evolve once more, she could potentially have her wing back. Maybe this time the power she'd earn would be the most basic of regeneration like other Hollows. But there wasn't any food around. None that she could reasonably eat, at least. Woe was she with none of her own kind to feast upon like the cannibal corpse-covered rotbeast she was. The Dragon curled up in a ball with her one wing folding back into position at her side where it usually rested. What a shame this day was...

This was the last brief period before everything began in earnest. But even now, Ichigo simply wandered the sands without any immediate destination in mind. After all, the location of the Rings of the Dead could still be nearly anywhere. Any place in all the realms needed to be checked at least once, and so he traveled freely. The other reason, of course, was to find those that might have been willing and able to assist him in one way or another.

That tremendous spiritual presence he could feel coming along seemed just fine, in that regard. One way or another, anyway. Ichigo stepped through the sand with his sword over his shoulder, approaching the tremendous hollow without the faintest degree of hesitation. It seemed the beast had been wounded. That likely meant a grudge.

"Can you speak?"

Ichigo knew he might as well lead with that question before anything else.

The Dragon could easily feel that spiritual pressure approaching from a mile away. It was massive, bigger than hers, even. People like these only came once in a century for her, so as long as it wasn't hostile, then...

Her gaze turned casually towards Ichigo. Even if he was above her on the food chain, she wasn't at all going to fear death this late into her life.

"Unfortunately." Was all she said as her gaze raked over this... thing. Another Arrancar, a de-evolution of their kind in her eyes despite apparently being the opposite. The fact he was even bothering with her was surprising, especially given the fact he seemed to want something from her. At least, that's what others usually did when they spoke. "To what do I owe this... occurrence?"

That was her honest to god most genuine attempt to be civil. Ever.

"That's a fair response."

Ichigo had to concede there was some value to be found in the idea of a life without language, the simple existence of animals. But that was hardly the life of a hollow, now was it? Regardless, he wasn't here to ruminate on that kind of nonsense.

"I just happened across you. But, since you can speak, I'll ask your thoughts on the shinigami."

There wasn't any real reason to be coy about the matter. Diplomacy was pointless, as far as Ichigo was concerned.

The Dragon's eyes narrowed as the stranger asked her such a stupid question. Under more favorable circumstances, she'd even have ridiculed him for it. Right now, though, she really didn't want to be someone else's food. Assuming she was anything to this man.

"Nothing that any other Hollow wouldn't." The great rotted beast admitted. She had no strong feelings towards them one way or the other. "Food is food. I eat them to get stronger just as I do my own kind. You know how it is, little one." But that didn't really answer any of her questions, and she figured in the course of typical conversation that it was her turn to ask.

"Asking such a question to any of your fellow Hollows would net you the same answer, and I doubt you're too stupid to realize that having gotten this far in your evolution. Either you've suddenly formed a sense of morality and are asking me to judge me as friend or foe, or you want something from me." It was a fair guess in her book. She just hoped it was the latter, though she supposed the moment the former didn't make sense when the man could clearly cut her down with his spiritual pressure alone. Still, she liked to think. It made her feel good about herself.

"Somewhere in between. The shinigami are in my way, and I intend to get them out of my way. A lot of hollows will be going to Soul Society soon."

It was a pretty direct way of describing what was happening, and it avoided mentioning any of his particular reasons for going. But, really, did that matter? Everyone in this invading force had their own reasons to go. This wasn't any different, even if he had to imagine that a hollow of this size and scope would likely have straightforward reasons to want less shinigami in the world.

"There'll be plenty to eat your fill on there, if you're interested."

"Will they now...?" The Dragon mused softly, her rotted voice clearly amused with the idea. "A direct attack, a hunt, if you will. Against a common prey..."

It was obvious that she was intrigued, but it was honestly for more reasons than just food. Whatever this arrancar wanted likely wasn't normal. Probably not food as, for as far as the dragon was aware, he was already at the peak of evolution for their kind. Was it revenge, then? Maybe pure malice? Territory, even?

"Give me a time and a place to be and you'll have my assistance. If I am to be a distraction along with the 'others' that you mentioned, then I shall be content in my role. A mutual distraction that allows us all to accomplish what we desire. However, I shall be there to feast as you have offered. I will not intervene should you find yourself in dire straits. As long as you understand that much, then we have an agreement."