April shifted a bit, and drummed her fingers lightly on her knee. She knew she was supposed to be meditating, but a question resounded and roared loudly in her head, that she could not clear it away. Splinter's ears twitched as April let out a small sigh, without opening his eyes he inquired in a hushed tone, "What troubles you, April?"
"There's something I've been meaning to ask you." April began not sure where to go from there, she fidgeted in her place again and wrung her hands in her lap. Splinter opened his eyes and turned to her with an inquisitive look. April took a deep breath and finished, "What is it you see in me that reminds you of Miwa?"
Splinter straightened his neck and closed his eyes again, a small smile on his face. "You share many traits with my daughter. " Splinter explained calmly, his voice soft and lulling, the way that made April feel happy and relaxed, no matter how hectic the day had been. "Some of the most prominent being your combat abilities, clear perception, and quick learning capabilities."
April felt her face heat up as she blushed from the praise. Splinter turned to look April in the eye again, this time laying a paw on her shoulder, and resumed, "You both are fueled by a determined fire, burning deep within your soul. You both live with an unbridled passion, and both stand tall for what you believe in."
April's smile widened to a proud grin as Splinter chuckled lightly. April's eyes flickered to the picture of Splinter and his family, an image captured so long ago, April thought of it as a different lifetime. Splinter stood and walked to the portrait, motioning for April to follow him. Splinter ran his finger down the edge of the frame, "Physically speaking, you and Miwa are both strong, healthy, and beautiful." April could not help but giggle at the order of Splinter's words. "Emotionally, you have both been through so much hardship and pain. Yet you both stand tall, like a pot from the kiln, the fires have only made you tougher, and your colors brighter and shimmering."
"And, most importantly," Splinter began, as he cupped April's face with both his paws, April looked up into Splinter's affectionate brown eyes, "You are both my daughters, and I care about you both, very much." April felt tears pricking up in her eyes, suddenly her vision was blurred by the flow of the salt riddled water.
April buried her face in Splinter's chest and wrapped her arms tightly around her surrogate father's middle, "I care about you, too." She managed to choke out, before sobs wracked her body and she found herself crying into Splinter's fur, pouring out all the sorrows and trials of the past year. She'd been a captive, a target, and an experiment. She'd lost her father twice, and had no mother.
But through all this, April had gained another place to find love, in the welcoming arms of her newly extended family.
