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Chapter 1

Karai POV

I breathe heavily as I stare at the brain worm. I stand up a little and I squish it under my foot. I feel a little disorientated as I try to think properly.

Suddenly, the reality of my situation hits me. I'm free. I'm finally free. My nightmare is finally over. I can go back home to my father! I smile as I gaze down the tunnel. I revert to my mutant form and I slither away as I make my way home. I have to get home! I just have to!

I stop when I come across a crossroad. I realize I've forgotten where the lair was over the past few months. My smile sags a little as I realize I'm completely lost. I'm finally free from Shredder, and the only thing that is keeping me away from home is my lack of memory.

Suddenly, I hear a growl from down the right tunnel and I spot a hole in the ceiling above me that I can hide in. I slide up the hole as the voice of Tigerclaw says, "I know you are here, snake girl. I can smell you, and I know you now have your free will."

I pale as I realize how much danger I'm in. This can't happen! Not when I'm so close to my family! I see him walk under the hole I'm in and pass by. I stay there for several minutes, listening for any sound to indicate he's still nearby. He then says, "Your father wants you back, Karai. You belong to him." Like I'll ever go back to that selfish bastard who murdered my mother! He won't even admit that he's the one responsible for all the pain I've gone through! And the only man I belong to is Hamato Yoshi!

I watch Tigerclaw stop underneath the hole I'm in and an idea comes to my mind, one I don't like, kill Tigerclaw. I think over my decisions. I realize my choices are to kill Tigerclaw so I can get back home, or to get captured and brought back to Shredder who will try to make me kill my family again. In the end, I decide to choose the lesser of two evils. Besides, all I want is to go back to my family!

I drop down on top of Tigerclaw, and I thrash around his body as I try to get a grip on him. I let out a predatory hiss and I snap and sink my fangs into his upper arm. He roars in pain as he throws me off him. I roll on the ground a little before I get up and stare at Tigerclaw. I see him clutch his shoulder as blood seeps out of the bite marks I made. I feel blood drip off my fangs and the metallic taste of blood on my tongue as I stare at what I've done. I can already see the effects of my venom taking effect as he kneels to the ground.

Suddenly, I see him grab a syringe from off his belt and stick it in his arm. I then remember Stockman created an antivenom while I was with Shredder. I slither away from him as he starts to stand up again. His voice echoes across the sewer, "Where do you think you're going serpent girl?" I screech, "I'm going back to my father! My real father! Hamato Yoshi!"

I slither down the tunnels as I hear him chase after me. He yells, "Come back to Shredder, join him willingly, and he'll consider making you human again!" I snap back, "I'd rather stay mutated for the rest of my life, then to go back to that asshole! In fact, who said I want to be human again? I'm a mutant and I'm proud of it!" It's true. I realized over the past few months that my mutation has actually helped me. It allowed me to avoid Shredder and the Kraang after the invasion. Plus, if I was never mutated, my father would have probably drowned in the sewer all those months ago. I'm faster, stronger, and deadlier then I've ever been in my entire life. No, I now know that staying a mutant would be more helpful to me. Besides, my entire family are mutants, so it's only fair that I should be a mutant as well. Tigerclaw snarls, "You're nothing but a freak! Just like your father!" I counter, "Then at least I actually have something in common with him!"

As I turn a corner, I find Tigerclaw in front of me, pointing a tranquilizer gun at me. Thinking fast, I spit my venom in his eyes, blinding him before I turn around and escape. Suddenly, one of his darts hits me in my tail and I hiss in pain as I look at my tail. I curse, "Dammit!" I start to feel a little woozy as the drug kicks in. I nearly close my eyes when I shake my head. I have to get away from Tigerclaw and get back home! The mutant roars, "Come back here, Karai!" Pissed off, I scream, "My name is Miwa! Hamato Miwa!" As of now, I have had enough of the name Karai. As far as I'm concerned, that name is just another lie that Shredder told me. As luck would have it, I soon find a small river like the one I saved my father from months ago. I dive in and swim through a large pipe I find. I smile as I realize I've lost Tigerclaw.

After several minutes, I jump out of the water and take a deep breath. Thanks to my mutation, I'm able to swim very fast and I don't have to resurface very often for a single breath of air. My victory doesn't last long as the tranquilizer starts to get stronger and I start to nod off. I can't fall asleep! Not now! I have to get home! I slither weakly down the sewer as I try to fight of the drug, while quietly saying, "Father.", over and over again, hoping to come across any kind mutant who can help me.