Moonlight
By Skeletoncrew
Disclaimer: All TMNT characters belong to Mirage Publishing.
Michaelangelo smiled when he saw the moonlight seeping in through the bars of the grate ahead. As he approached he could smell the fresh air blowing in from the park. It was a gorgeous night! With the moon as full and bright as it was he'd have no trouble sketching the scenery. He paused a moment to listen for movement, and hearing none, proceeded to loosen the bolts that held the grate in place. Michaelangelo began to sing quietly as he worked. "It's a marvelous night for a moon dance, a fantabulous night to make romance… There! Got it!"
Leaning out of the large drainpipe he carefully set aside the grate. As he prepared to step down to the ground he heard a sharp sound followed by a yelp of pain and froze. A gunshot! The Ninja Turtle was uncertain what to do. Someone nearby was in trouble, but guns were something best avoided at all costs. His heart raced as he strained to determine how far off the shot had come from. He could hear shouting off to the left.
"After it! It ran into the trees! Don't lose it!"
"Whaddya think I'm blind? I saw it. Don't worry, it ain't gonna get very far!"
Michaelangelo was reaching down to pull the grate back up when he saw the dog limp into view. Panting hard, it paused about 12 feet from the drainpipe and looked back in the direction the voices had come from. It was a large dog with a full silvery coat. Michaelangelo's face darkened with anger as he noticed the blood running down its rear leg. He made up his mind. He had to help.
He whistled lowly and the dog started. It turned its gaze towards him and began to step away as if uncertain of what to do. Michaelangelo then called out in a gentle voice, "Come here boy! I won't hurt you. You'll be safe in here!"
At a sound from the underbrush, the dog took one more look back at the trees and then bolted into the drainpipe and past the crouching turtle. Moving quickly Michaelangelo hopped out of the pipe and scuffed up the ground to conceal any tracks and then proceeded to replace the grate. No sooner had he done so than two rough looking men burst into the small clearing. He silently moved farther back into the pipe, crouching down to let the shadows conceal him. The men stopped in the clearing and began to argue.
"Damn it! Where'd it go? 'Don't worry, it ain't gonna get very far,' my ass!"
"Calm down, I want that pelt as much as you! Its probably already dead, we just have to find it."
Michaelangelo let out a deep breath as the two would-be hunters moved off into the trees on the other side of the pipe. They had never even bothered to look his way. Michaelangelo rose from his crouch and looked around. The dog was laying a few feet farther down, staring at him intently. He had the feeling that it was trying to make up its mind about him. "Its okay boy. Those bad men are gone now and I won't hurt you."
Moving closer to the dog, Michaelangelo held his hand out for it to sniff. It rose and started to back away, so he quit moving and crouched down again. "Hey, its alright. My name is Mike and if it means anything to you, those jerks probably would have shot me too if they'd seen me. So, you see? We're on the same side. I'd like to help you if you'll let me."
Michaelangelo held still as the dog stepped awkwardly forward and sniffed his hand. Seemingly satisfied it sat and gazed into his eyes. He moved his hand up to its head and ran it slowly down its back. He carefully felt down to where blood matted the soft fur. Whimpering, the dog leaned forwards and licked Michaelangelo's face. Smiling, he spoke, "Sorry, I know it hurts. I'm afraid I can't exactly take you to a vet; but if you'll let me, I'll take you home and see what I can do about your leg."
Gathering the dog in his arms, Michaelangelo rose and set out for home. As he walked he thought to himself, "I wonder if Splinter will let me keep him? I've never had a pet dog before." He smiled at the prospect.
By Skeletoncrew
Disclaimer: All TMNT characters belong to Mirage Publishing.
Michaelangelo smiled when he saw the moonlight seeping in through the bars of the grate ahead. As he approached he could smell the fresh air blowing in from the park. It was a gorgeous night! With the moon as full and bright as it was he'd have no trouble sketching the scenery. He paused a moment to listen for movement, and hearing none, proceeded to loosen the bolts that held the grate in place. Michaelangelo began to sing quietly as he worked. "It's a marvelous night for a moon dance, a fantabulous night to make romance… There! Got it!"
Leaning out of the large drainpipe he carefully set aside the grate. As he prepared to step down to the ground he heard a sharp sound followed by a yelp of pain and froze. A gunshot! The Ninja Turtle was uncertain what to do. Someone nearby was in trouble, but guns were something best avoided at all costs. His heart raced as he strained to determine how far off the shot had come from. He could hear shouting off to the left.
"After it! It ran into the trees! Don't lose it!"
"Whaddya think I'm blind? I saw it. Don't worry, it ain't gonna get very far!"
Michaelangelo was reaching down to pull the grate back up when he saw the dog limp into view. Panting hard, it paused about 12 feet from the drainpipe and looked back in the direction the voices had come from. It was a large dog with a full silvery coat. Michaelangelo's face darkened with anger as he noticed the blood running down its rear leg. He made up his mind. He had to help.
He whistled lowly and the dog started. It turned its gaze towards him and began to step away as if uncertain of what to do. Michaelangelo then called out in a gentle voice, "Come here boy! I won't hurt you. You'll be safe in here!"
At a sound from the underbrush, the dog took one more look back at the trees and then bolted into the drainpipe and past the crouching turtle. Moving quickly Michaelangelo hopped out of the pipe and scuffed up the ground to conceal any tracks and then proceeded to replace the grate. No sooner had he done so than two rough looking men burst into the small clearing. He silently moved farther back into the pipe, crouching down to let the shadows conceal him. The men stopped in the clearing and began to argue.
"Damn it! Where'd it go? 'Don't worry, it ain't gonna get very far,' my ass!"
"Calm down, I want that pelt as much as you! Its probably already dead, we just have to find it."
Michaelangelo let out a deep breath as the two would-be hunters moved off into the trees on the other side of the pipe. They had never even bothered to look his way. Michaelangelo rose from his crouch and looked around. The dog was laying a few feet farther down, staring at him intently. He had the feeling that it was trying to make up its mind about him. "Its okay boy. Those bad men are gone now and I won't hurt you."
Moving closer to the dog, Michaelangelo held his hand out for it to sniff. It rose and started to back away, so he quit moving and crouched down again. "Hey, its alright. My name is Mike and if it means anything to you, those jerks probably would have shot me too if they'd seen me. So, you see? We're on the same side. I'd like to help you if you'll let me."
Michaelangelo held still as the dog stepped awkwardly forward and sniffed his hand. Seemingly satisfied it sat and gazed into his eyes. He moved his hand up to its head and ran it slowly down its back. He carefully felt down to where blood matted the soft fur. Whimpering, the dog leaned forwards and licked Michaelangelo's face. Smiling, he spoke, "Sorry, I know it hurts. I'm afraid I can't exactly take you to a vet; but if you'll let me, I'll take you home and see what I can do about your leg."
Gathering the dog in his arms, Michaelangelo rose and set out for home. As he walked he thought to himself, "I wonder if Splinter will let me keep him? I've never had a pet dog before." He smiled at the prospect.