by 
”This can’t be happening,” Dark Raptor moaned repeatedly. He had blood up his arms to his elbows and more was splattered on his face and chest. The body of a young woman lay on the ground before him. He grabbed her shoulders desperately, pleading that she open her eyes.
Someone placed a hand on his shoulder. He was reluctant to look up, to look away from her face.
“She’s gone,” the voice said softly. He was shocked to hear a trace of joy in the speaker’s voice. He spun around, fist flying toward what he thought would be their face. Toshii blocked the enraged blow easily and offered a compassionate smile. “But you’re alive.”
“You okay?” Toshii looked at him curiously from her seat at the large round table in the middle of the dark room.
Dark Raptor stared blankly at her a moment before smiling and joining her at the table. “I’m fine. Where’s Yoyo?”
“She’s coming!” a small voice cried from the door. A young boy, no more than six years old, stood in the doorway. He looked out of breath though he stood at attention before the group of leader, determination in his face.
“At ease, soldier,” Bano commanded, smiling.
The boy dramatically let out a breath and dropped into a stoop. “The old Kazekage is hobbling this way.”
“Mind your manners,” SSS snapped. The boy promptly stood up tall, evidently hoping to become invisible by being obedient. “Back to training.”
“He was so adorable!” Jan squealed from her place on the table. The black dragon on her head flapped his wings furiously to keep his balance as she swayed to and fro. “I want one.”
“Fascinating group you have here,” Dei commented. She leaned on the table pressed her fingertips together as she stared Jan into silence.
“They are the future of this world. We have to train them young, now,” Yoyo said as she pushed open the door. She did indeed hobble, one leg barely bending as she limped into the room. She gripped a long staff in her right hand; she held her left arm tight to her body. “Times are changing.”
The seven warriors sat at the table and began their annual meeting. Thirty years after the defeat of Q, they were all that remained of the group that had opposed him. The world had been told only half-truths concerning the war. The blame was placed on leadership in Shadow; Q had been made a fallen hero. The warriors’ recovery had been slow; all bore marks of those battles. They were all weary and appeared older than they were. Life had been hard.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Toshii asked. The others in the room watched him silently.
Dark Raptor ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “It’s been thirty years.”
“Thirty years,” Bano said at length. “Thirty years since we found you, the Inferno with no medical training, trying to help injured fighters on the fields after the fighting was all over.”
Jan excitedly grabbed Dark Raptor’s left arm and dragged him onto the table until she could clearly see the badge on his upper arm. “Mr. Head Doctor Man is feeling sad!” she exclaimed as she threw herself on him to give him a great hug.
Yoyo smirked and leaned back in her seat. “The most frightening moment of the whole situation was waking up in a hospital bed and seeing you messing with the IV in my arm, Doctor. My first reaction was that you were a ghost which was scary enough. Worse was realizing you were actually there and acting as my nurse.”
The group laughed and, once Dei called order, returned to the business at hand. Dark Raptor found himself not paying attention and simply enjoyed listening to the banter and arguments that flared from the various sides of the table.
“We’re all alive,” he murmured, leaning back in his chair contentedly.
