Chapter 1

The Bittersweet Melody

It was a cold morning in the sewers below New York a sign that times where changing. Autumn was giving away to winter a time for the world above to rest before the cycle of the seasons end and starts new again. The winter sun cast its pale yellow rays to the world below entering through the bars of the storm drains. A large brown rat with black and white markings stood below it looking up at the pale sky above. Splinter heaved a sigh feeling a change in the air indicating a storm was to come. He turned away from the rays of the sun, and headed back to the lair where his sons where getting ready to head out with April and Casey. He walked past them his mind elsewhere. About a year has passed since the defeat of the Kraang and the disappearance of the Shredder. Splinter and his sons have been searching for him ever since, but they have found nothing so far. Perhaps the Shredder truly was dead, but a part of Splinter knew he was still out there waiting for a chance to strike.

"Master Splinter," Mikey's voice interrupted his thoughts, "we're heading out now!"

"Alright Michelangelo, be safe and make sure to dress warmly. I sense a storm is coming."

"We will Sensei! Bye!" the young turtle yelled before taking off after his brothers.

Splinter chuckled to himself; he was proud of his sons and how far they have come. Not just in their training, but in life as well. He rejoiced each day at seeing them prosper, but it also brought great sorrow to his heart. Soon he knew that they would go in their own directions, and he was not yet ready to let them go. If he could freeze time just to hold on to them a little longer he would, but he also knew that there comes a time for every parent to let go of their children so they can flourish into confident adults. Splinter sighed heavily before heading into the dojo to meditate he needed to block out the stress that began to clog his mind.

He sat under the large tree, closing his eyes, and letting the silence sooth his wary mind. It did not take him long before the calm took over him relaxing his spirt, body, and mind. A little over an hour had passed, and he was still in this state.

His ears perked up at the soft, sweet sound of a melody. He opened his eyes not seeing anything around him; shaking his head he closes them continuing his meditation when the melody yet again came to him. He listened to it for few seconds trying to pin point its location, but he was not able to.

With a sigh of annoyance Splinter got to his feet and made his way into the living room looking around, but still he did not see anyone standing there. The melody echoed throughout the lair; listening to it more closely he determined that it was somewhere in the sewers. Cautiously, Splinter made his way to the exit perking up his ears to listen. The sound was coming up through the tunnel.

He took in a deep breath ready for anything to come at him in case it was a trap, though deep inside of him he knew it wasn't. Slowly he made his way down the abandoned sub way tunnel keeping his ears perked to make sure he was still fallowing the melody. Several minutes had passed until finally he came upon the source of the tune; a young woman. Her back was turned to him, but Splinter could feel her pain all too well.

She was humming the bittersweet tune in a voice that was so soft and serene that it warmed his fur like the summer sun. He watched as the women cradled something, a child by the sounds of it, in her arms her body shaking with sadness and pain. Splinter took a step near her, but this startled her as she whipped around shocked to see him standing there. She backed up into the wall holding the small bundle close to her chest; though he could sense the fear inside of her she stood tall ready to fight her way past him if need be.

"I'm not going to hurt you." Splinter spoke holding his hands in the air showing that he meant no harm.

The woman looked at him hesitating a bit before removing her hood reviling her soft face. She was clearly not a human, but nor was she a mutant. She was covered in soft, white fur with a silvery-white streak that ran from her nose and up her forehead. Her silky snow, white hair flowed a little past her shoulders. Her ears looked much like those of a wolf, and her large bushy tail was wrapped around her feet like that of a fox. She was dressed in nothing more than rags that hung limp from her body. And lastly were her sky blue eyes that where filled with so much pain and suffering that it broke his heart in two. The sight of her brought him back to the time he had lost his family. He could feel a tear slide down his face; wiping it away he took a step toward her holding out his hand for her to take.

"Come with me. I'll take you somewhere safe." Splinter spoke softly.

She looked at it then at him not sure whether she could trust him or not.

"I promise I will not hurt you or your child." Splinter vowed.

She pondered his offer for a few more minutes before placing her hand in his. Splinter smiled wrapping his fingers around it, and led her back to the lair. However, they were stopped by a very large, dark, shadowy creature with piercing red slits for eyes. Splinter growled holding out his arm in front of her determined to keep her safe from the shadowy monster. The creature stood up looming over them by several feet its ugly, long tongue rolling out of its mouth and licked its entire head before returning back to where it belonged. The creature let out a terrifying wail that seemed to shake the entire tunnel before lunging at Splinter with razor sharp claws.

The rat just managed to dodge the attack, but ended up getting hit by the back of the creature's hand which sent him into the wall. He rubbed his head as pain throbbed through it, but he got to his feet ready for the next attack. The monster swiped again, but this time Splinter was ready; he jumped out of the way as its claws dug into the cement of the tunnel. While it struggled to get itself free Splinter lunged at it kicking it backwards. It landed several feet away from him stunned, but still it managed to get to its feet shaking its head angrily. It let out wail of fury before charging at Splinter who stood his ground. Once it was close enough he leaped into the air landing on its head with such force that the monster was drove into the ground. He jumped back to his original position in front of the woman waiting to see if the thing would get back up, but it did not move. Splinter sighed in relief and turned back to the woman and her baby. She smiled up at him her blue eyes filled with gratitude. He returned the smile, but it soon faded as he saw the look of horror on her face. Quickly, she gave him her baby and pushed him away.

It happened so fast, the monster's claws ripped through her flesh like a newly sharpened blade though meet.

"No!" Splinter screamed in horror as he watched her fall to the ground motionless.

The baby in his arms was wailing loudly, but it did not break through to him. He looked at the women who lay in a pool of her own blood. Rage flickered through his veins like fire, setting the child down; he got to his feet and ran at the monster. He was blinded by his fury as the scene replayed in his mind over and over again. He beat the monster back sending it several feet away from them; with his hands in fists he made his way to the monster that was getting up ready for another attack. Splinter stopped when he spotted a wire sparking as electricity burned through it. Careful not to electrocute himself he picked it up grasping it firmly in his hand as he waited for the monster to come at him. It screeched and ran at him ready to rip the rat apart, but instead it was greeted by the wire that shot an electrical current through its body. Splinter bared his teeth as he watched the creature fall to the ground dead twitching as the last of its nerves died.

Dropping the wire he ran back to the woman without giving the monster a second look. He skidded to a halt in front of her; she had dragged herself over to her baby who lay crying on the ground where Splinter had placed her. She pulled her bundle over to her, and began to hum the bittersweet melody to sooth her crying child. Her voice was so weak, but yet it was still so beautiful. He fell to his knees in front of them; her voice was getting weaker by the second, but still she pushed on the tune. Her voice became softer and softer until eventually it stopped all together.

Splinter was shaking violently with grief as he placed two fingers on her neck to find a pulse, but there was nothing she was already gone. Tears rolled down his face as grief overwhelmed him, but the soft crying of her baby brought him out of his trance. The little kit was crying for her mother. He knew that she needed someone who could care for her, and he knew in his heart that it had to be him. He picked up the little girl whose wails were getting louder by the second.

"Shh little one it will be alright. I promise." Splinter whispered softly, but still her wailing continued.

He looked down at the fiery orange kit, as tears began to fall from his eyes. He slowly began to hum the tune that still echoed in his mind; her cries began to quiet down until eventually they stopped. Splinter kept humming as the child began to fall asleep in his arms. As she finally drifted off to sleep her could no longer hold back the sorrow that built up inside of him. His body shook with silent sobs as he hummed the beautiful melody.

Splinter looked down at the kit who was now sound asleep in his arms; giving a small smile as the child slept he shakily got to his feet, and headed back to the lair. He would come back before nightfall and give the woman a proper burial, but first he needed to take care of the little orange kit that needed him now more than ever.

"I will take care of you little one," he whispered, "I promise to do whatever it takes to keep you safe…to keep my daughter safe."