Uryuu scowled out the window at the figures slowly making their way towards the bridge leading off the castle grounds, wondering what the hell Euden and the others thought they were doing; if they couldn’t even last a single day while waiting for Urahara to return with news, then— then everything Urahara was trying to do was pointless!

(*Maybe they’re just going to explore the forest?*) Ichigo suggested.

Uryuu pursed his lips. (*That could be, but what if it isn’t?*) he asked, then paused, considered how he’d first seen Urahara, then added, (*What if they run into whatever made Urahara-san need to pull out his mask?*)

(*Ya really think we could do jack shit ‘gainst something like that?*) Shiro asked incredulously. (*I’m all for beatin’ the shit outta bastards that think they’re big dogs, but ain’t it jes’ a lil outta our reach if Urahara needed his mask?*)

(*We wouldn’t know until we tried,*) Uryuu replied archly, before shrugging slightly and leaning against the window frame, gaze tracking the figures as they started across the bridge. (*Realistically… you’re correct. But if whatever-it-was is still out there, us jumping in might be the difference between their survival or death.*)

Ichigo’s presence settled across his mind, like an arm slung over his shoulders, and he said, (*Then we follow them. Shouldn’t be too hard, right?*)

Uryuu rolled his eyes at Ichigo’s question, even as he carefully pried the window open and hopped up onto the sill. (*Would have been easier before my reiryoku practically tripled, but sure, we can tail them. And maybe get caught by them. And maybe run into Midgardsormr again. And maybe—*)

(*Well if you’re afraid—*)

(*Oh shut up,*) Uryuu muttered, cutting Ichigo off before his friend could finish his sentence. Before he could rethink his decision, Uryuu tucked as much of his power inside as he could and then leapt forward in a burst of hirenkyaku, darting after Euden and the others.

(He needed to be cautious.)

(The power that came most easily to his call was also the power that Midgardsormr lived and breathed.)

(It was probably wishful thinking that he could avoid Midgardsormr’s attention, but maybe… maybe the dragon would humor him?)

(Maybe if it seemed like he wanted to stay hidden, the dragon wouldn’t mention him to the others?)

Luckily, the forest was relatively thick, and it was easy to follow after Euden and his companions without being seen, especially once Ranzal led them off the thin trail and into the forest proper.

(*What in the world are they doing?*) Uryuu grouched as he darted up into a tree and glanced ahead, searching for anything that could have caught Ranzal’s eye; there was nothing visible, though, just an endless expanse of trees that continued on as far as he could see. (*Isn’t this like… the worst thing you could ever do?*) he couldn’t help but ask as he trailed after the group.

(*Ranzal seems to know survival skills, at least,*) Zangetsu pointed out as he directed their attention to the way Ranzal was leaving small marks behind as he led the group through the trees. (*Still, you are correct: it isn’t the wisest idea to take people unfamiliar with wilderness survival into an unknown territory, unless you’re trying to quickly familiarize them with wilderness survival the hard way.*)

Uryuu snorted softly at Zangetsu’s words, then froze as Cleo’s head tilted slightly towards him with a furrow between her brows. He took a shallow breath. Another. Assessed the area and darted away in a hasty burst of hirenkyaku. Ducked his head out around the trunk of his new perch—

“Cleo? Ya spot something?” Ranzal asked as he paused to look back.

She hummed and fiddled with the rod she was carrying, head still tilted up towards the area that Uryuu had been hiding in before. “I thought I had,” she answered after a moment, “but perhaps not.”

“Huh, well, best keep an eye out. Fiends can be tricky sometimes,” Ranzal said, then gestured the group on. “Let’s see what’s deeper in, eh?”

Uryuu waited until the group was well past him before darting after them again, taking more care to be quiet as he went; he didn’t want to be spotted after all, he just… wanted to make sure they were okay. That Urahara didn’t come back to find his efforts wasted because these… these fools couldn’t stay in the relative safety of the gigantic, run-down, unexplored castle and its grounds.

Except what followed was some of the most boring ‘exploration’ Uryuu had ever heard of: the group trekked through the trees, occasionally ran into a fiend or two to kill, and otherwise just… chattered. Euden and Zethia talked about their home and their siblings, Ranzal occasionally broke in with some rowdy, likely exaggerated tale, Elisanne added some of her own stories, and Cleo spoke about the forest whenever the others asked. It was… simple. Cheerful. Mundane in a way that Uryuu never expected it to be.

(And interesting, though he’d never admit that aloud.)

It was enough that he even started to relax, drifting away from the others to explore the forest a bit on his own; the deeper they went, the more obvious it became that this wasn’t just a forest, with all the usual… forest… things — trees, creeks, small clearings, etc — but also a place that had once held much more than a single castle.

Ruins, vast and sprawling, were tucked away in hidden spots, sheltered from view by gigantic trees and small dips in terrain. Uryuu could practically feel the power radiating from them, different in each one, and he had to wonder what the ruins had originally been used for: homes? Hidden bases? Ritual locations? Dragon dens?

Whatever they’d once been, they were currently crawling with the weird creatures that Ranzal called ‘fiends’; Uryuu had no idea how strong the things were compared to what he was accustomed to fighting, but the sheer number that he could spot at each place was… daunting. So no matter how curious he was, he didn’t dare enter the sprawling ruins, not on his own, but… but maybe he could convince Urahara to come with him at some point? Maybe Urahara would be interested in seeing what the ruins contained?

(Maybe there’d be a way for them to leave this world…?)

(No, it didn’t matter.)

(Urahara said he had a way to leave, said he’d take Uryuu with him, so that… that was enough.)

Uryuu shook his head and pulled his attention away from the latest ruin, turning his senses back towards the others, just to check—

Power — Midgardsormr’s power — burst into being with an infuriated roar, shaking the trees and sending little fiends scrambling back into the shelter of the ruins.

Uryuu swallowed. Squared his shoulders. Summoned his bow—

And ran towards Midgardsormr’s cry.