It was the most frightening sound he had ever heard in his life.
It takes him literally seconds to close the distance, despite the many obstacles that laid in his path before jumping into the ice freezing river. But he had none to spare, the violent torrent of water flow leading to an iron grate barely a few feet away and much to small for him to pass through.
But not small enough for a 4 year old child.
He manages to snag the boys foot just as he himself crashes into the metal bars before fighting against the current to reach shore.
The boy is trembling out of shock and cold, retching violently to cough up the mouthfuls of dirty sewer water he'd swallowed in his panic. The look he gives the large rat is still frozen in unspeakable terror and he can barely manage to breathe. But Splinter has never felt more relieved in his life even as the bone chilling scream that had pierced the air moments before is still ringing in his ears. Somehow he knows he'll never forget it.
"It's alright" he whispers, pressing the shaking mass tightly against his chest. "It's alright. You are safe"
There's a muffled sniff followed by a full blown sob that shudders through his sons miniature form.
Splinter responds by pulling him closer, engulfing him in warmth and a thousand apologies and promises and with one specifically kept to himself. To never again allow his son to experience such fear as long as he lives.
"You are safe Michelangelo, you are safe"