A Foot Too Big.

Eleanor's POV.

It was quiet today in the farmhouse. April, Raph and I were in the living room, trying to think about what to do today. Leo and Casey are somewhere else. And Mikey and Donnie were in the barn. Donnie didn't say.

Oh, speak of the devil. Donnie and Mikey had just walked into the living room. Donnie had a smile on his face, and holding a small box. He gave it to April and asked her to open it.

April opened the box to reveal it was a music box with a photo of him on the lid. Aawww.

April looked at Donnie with an uneasy smile, "Wow, that is just super neat. Thanks so much, Donnie!" Donnie smiled, but April set the music box on the table, "Well, got to go! Got some, uh, training to do. Thanks again, Donnie!"

And with that, she left the room in a hurry. Donnie's smile faded and he sulked.

Mikey peeked up from the couch, "I can't even imagine how you're feeling right now."

"Devastated." Donnie answered.

Mikey snapped his fingers and shouted, "Aw, man! I was totally gonna say 'devastated'!" He leaned over to Donnie and shakes his shoulders, "I should've just went for it. I got to learn to trust my instincts!" Donnie pushed him back, "I mean... That's rough, bro."

Donnie let go of Mikey and Mikey fell off the couch with a faceplant.

"Smooth move, genius." Raph spoke up from the doorway, "It's never gonna happen, Donnie. We're Mutants. She's a girl. You're a giant talking turtle." He entered the living room, "The sooner you get used to it, the better."

That didn't help with Donnie's confidence, as his head sunk lower into his shoulders.

I decided to speak up, "I still think he has a chance." I looked at Donnie, "Take a girl's advise, Don. Give April some time. She'll come to you."

Donnie looked at me and smiled, "Thanks, Ellie."

I smiled back with a nod.

Raph gave me a look, then returned to Donnie with a smile, "You know what you need? Huh? Huh, buddy? You know what you need?"

"You to leave?" Donnie answered.

"A little forest ninja training! Sounds like fun, right? Right? Ha!" Raph answered, putting his arm over his younger brother's shoulders.

Donnie moaned.

With that, the boys and I left the farmhouse and started training in the open field. Leo was watching from the top of the hill. Donnie and Mikey were really rusty since we got here.

Mikey charged toward Raph, but Raph threw him into Donnie and I.

"Aw, you guys are rustier than the Titanic's butt!" Raph told his brothers, as he aimed for a drop-kick.

Mikey and Donnie quickly reacted, "No, we're-" And ran into a couple of trees. I just flipped back and aimed for a palm-strike, but Raph blocked it.

Raph relaxed and stood straight, "You're not in the city anymore. You need to get used to this new environment. No buildings, no subways."

Mikey and Donnie sat up. Raph threatened to hit Mikey and Mikey ran into the tree again.

"Lots of trees." Raph finished.

Mikey sighed in pain, "Ugh, tell me about it."

Raph turned to Leo and asked, "Well, what do you think?"

Leo looked around in thought, then answered with a smile, "Turtle hunt."

Raph and I smiled, "Turtle hunt."

"Turtle hunt?" Mikey and Donnie exclaimed.

"You gonna help out, Leo?" Raph asked.

Leo smiled, "Yeah, I-." He took a step, but the moment his bad foot touched the ground, he winced. Leo's smile fell, "Sorry. I guess I'm still not up to it." He turned and assured, "Enjoy your little hunt, guys."

With that, he walked back to the farmhouse. My heart ached seeing Leo like this.

Donatello's POV.

"Dude!" Mikey exclaimed.

"What do you mean by 'turtle hunt'?" I asked Raph.

"You guys are gonna head into the forest. I'll give you a five minute head start, then I hunt you down." Raph asked as he stretched, "If you can't stay hidden for at least an hour, you'll have to..." He thought for a second, "Clean out the chicken coop."

I quickly shook his head, "No way!"

"Not the chicken coop, man!" Mikey protested.

"It smells like cheese fossils!" I argued.

Mikey shook, "It's got spiders so big, they play the banjo!"

I noticed Ellie wasn't arguing. She was staring where Leo was watching, with a sad look on her face. She's zoned-out again.

What's going on in her head? It's starting to worry me.

But, I returned to the matter at hand and shouted at Raph, "We can't clean that thing!"

"Then get moving." Raph told him.

With that said, I grabbed Ellie's hand, snapping her back to reality, then she, Mikey and I dashed into the forest.

Once we were deep enough in the forest, Mikey exclaimed, "How do we hide in the woods, anyway? There's no doors!"

I rubbed my chin in thought. A leaf floated in front of my face. I looked up and an idea hit me, "Ah! We could climb a tree."

Mikey looked at the trees and pointed out, "That's the first place he's gonna look." Then he asked me, "Could we burrow? Do Turtles burrow in the wild?"

"I don't know. I've never been in the wild before." I answered in frustration, then asked, "Have you?"

Mikey thought for a second, then asked, "Does Jersey count?"

I looked around and noticed someone was missing. A certain Alligator Lizard. "Where's Ellie?" I asked.

Then a loud roar echoed through the forest and startled us.

"What the heck was that?" Mikey asked.

In fear, I grabbed Mikey's shoulders and asked, "It's got to be Raph messing with us! Right?"

"We got to hide, now!" He shouted.

With that, Mikey and I climbed a tree as fast as I could. Once everything quieted and calmed down, something finally came to me.

I sighed, "Aw, we are so cleaning that coop. Raph's gonna find us up here in, like, five seconds."

Mikey looked up and gulped, "I don't think so."

"Why not?" I asked him.

I followed his gaze and saw that we weren't alone on the tree. A tall beast stood on a branch above us. It growled at us.

Mikey gulped again, "Um... Hi?"

It jumped down toward us. Mikey and I jumped down and avoided the beast's landing. Once we were at the right distance, Mikey and I drew our weapons. We finally got a good look at the beast.

It was around 8 to 9 foot tall. Humanoid in form and covered in dark brown fur. Blue eyes.

The beast growled and grabbed a nearby tree. Then used it as a staff.

"What is it? Some kind of monkey man?" Mikey asked me.

"It looks like the mythical sasquatch." I answered, "Bigfoot!"

Bigfoot whacked Mikey and I into a far tree. I recovered and gasped, "He's too big." Mikey and I got back to our feet and I shouted, "Run!"

With that, Mikey and I ran through the forest, running from the large sasquatch. As we ran, Mikey and I found Raph.

Raph saw us and sighed, "Come on, you're not even trying to hide!"

"Bigfoot!" Mikey and I shouted, as we ran past him.

Raph turned to us, "Yeah, right. If you think you're gonna get out of cleaning that coop by..." I turned him around to show him we weren't lying about Bigfoot.

Raph smiled and drew his sais, "Looks like we're gonna get some real training."

Bigfoot roared and my brothers and I charged into battle with it, "Booyakasha!"

The sasquatch was able to knock me and Mikey out of the fight and it was only Raph left standing. Bigfoot looked at Raph and noticed his sais. It grabbed a couple of branches and clashed with Raph.

After a few seconds of staring, Bigfoot was able knock Raph's sais out of his hands. "Bigfoot got some skills." Raph exclaimed.

Bigfoot attacked Raph, but Raph kept his distance. Mikey jumped onto its shoulders, but Bigfoot walked toward a branch and knocked Mikey off.

Eleanor's POV.

I jumped out of my hiding place and grabbed Bigfoot's forearm. Bigfoot winced and tried to shake me off. She gave me a look of fear and pain. I noticed and looked at her arm.

"Hey, are you..." I asked.

Bigfoot's face told me everything. She wasn't fighting because she was angry at us. She's hurt and scared.

She threw me into Donnie. Raph and Mikey continued to fight Bigfoot.

Donnie looked at me, "Ellie? Where did you come from?"

"Up there." I answered, pointing to the tree above us.

"How did we not see you?" He asked me, surprised I was able to hide so well in the forest.

Bigfoot grabbed Mikey's face. Raph was about to attack, but I shouted, "Stop!"

Raph, Donnie and Bigfoot stopped and looked at me.

"Guys, she's hurt! I don't think she wants to fight us. I think she's just scared." I explained, getting back to my feet.

Bigfoot looked at me and breathed in a deep growly voice, "Scared."

"He can talk?" Raph asked with a raised brow.

Donnie got back to his feet and got a better look at Bigfoot, "Look at that sagittal crest."

I nodded, "She could be a Paranthropus Robustus, a hominid long thought extinct."

"Can't breathe!" Mikey shouted in muffled up sounds, pointing to his head, which Bigfoot still had a hold of.

I walked up to Bigfoot. She tensed as I approached her. "It's okay. Easy, now. We can fix your arm, if you let us." I assured her. Bigfoot looked her injured right arm. "It's alright. We want to help." I assured.

Bigfoot extended her arm to me. I took a gentle grip and looked at the wound. A patch of fur was cut clean off, exposing skin and two deep cuts. I knew these marks. But, that's not possible.

"Does your connection with wildlife have any limits?" Raph asked me.

"Donnie, come look at this cut." I called.

Donnie withdrew his staff and looked at Bigfoot's cut. "It's not bad." He assured, then looked at Bigfoot, "But I'd like to take you home, where we can clean it up and bandage it. Is that okay?"

Bigfoot gave us an uncertain look. Then Mikey shouted, "Hello? Anybody?"

Bigfoot let go of Mikey's head and he dropped to the ground.

Raph shook his head, "No way! We can't bring a giant apeman home with us!"

I glared at the hot-headed turtle, "She needs help. We can't leave her out here. What if the wound gets infected?"

Raph folded his arms, "Obvious answer to an obvious question..."

"Of course we can." Donnie answered, then turned to Mikey, "Mikey?"

Mikey recovered and looked at Bigfoot, "Injured woodland creature?" Then answered with a smile, "Bring him home."

I smiled, "Three to one, Raph. Sorry."

Then Donnie turned to Bigfoot, "Hi. I'm Donnie." Then gestured to the rest of us, "This is Raph, this is Ellie, and this is Mikey."

"I..." Bigfoot tried to speak.

"I? Okay, your name is I?" Donnie asked.

"I... No name." Bigfoot answered.

Mikey smiled, "Of course you have a name." Then gestured to her feet, "You're Bigfoot!"

Bigfoot looked at her feet and smiled, "Bigfoot!" She laughed and smiled, "Bigfoot."

"Will you come with us?" Donnie asked.

I sensed something move behind us. I turned, but saw nothing. Bigfoot must've saw it, because she whimpered.

"It's okay, Bigfoot. You're gonna be safe with us." I assured her, as we all started walking to the farmhouse.

"Why would he be scared of us?" Raph asked.

I cautiously looked back and saw a shadow watching us from the trees. The aura of the shadow felt familiar. It couldn't be...

We arrived at the farmhouse. Bigfoot was very cautious, being out in the open. But we assured her nothing bad will happen. Donnie was the first to enter the house.

"Hello? Anybody home? We got company!" He called, as the rest of us entered.

From the top of the stairs, Leo shouted, "What? You can't let anyone in."

Bigfoot tried to enter, but she got her head stuck. Mikey and I tried to help her.

"Why is the doorway full of hair?" Leo asked, as he noticed her.

"And a giant butt?" Casey added.

"Come on, it's okay." Donnie encouraged.

We finally got Bigfoot unstuck and she flew into the foyer.

"It's Bigfoot!" Casey shouted in alarm.

Leo came half-way down the stairs and exclaimed, "You brought Bigfoot home?"

Bigfoot looked at me, "Why everyone know Bigfoot name?"

"Your people are quite well-known." I answered, then introduced, "Bigfoot, this is Leo, Casey, and April."

April noticed Bigfoot's wound, "He's hurt!" Then she ran into the bathroom, "I'll get the first aid kit."

"You can't just bring home Bigfoot!" Leo shouted, with Mikey mocking him.

He noticed and glared at Mikey. Mikey gave him a sheepish chuckle.

"He needs our help. Just until his arm gets better." Donnie argued.

April came down and escorted Bigfoot into the kitchen, "Come on, let's get that wound cleaned up."

"Sure, but when I wanted to have a dog, you guys were like like, 'no way'." Casey complained, as he walked down the stairs.

I folded my arms, "Last time you had a dog, Hockey Puck, you barely looked after him. This is different."

"You guys don't get it." Donnie argued, "Bigfoot is the missing genetic link between humans and the ape. This discovery will change the face of science itself."

"So it's bigger than talking Turtles?" Casey asked, giving Donnie a teasing smirk.

Donnie growled.

I face-palmed, "It's why she's being hunted down by bad people."

"There it is again." Raph spoke up, looking at me, "You keep calling Bigfoot a 'she' and a 'her'. Why do you do that?"

I raised a brow, "You mean you haven't figured it out?" I face-palmed again, "Oh, boy..."

April lead Bigfoot into the living room, so Bigfoot could sit down. She cleaned up the wound and wrapped a bandage around it.

"There you go. Try not to use it too much for the next few days." April told Bigfoot with a smile.

Bigfoot nodded with a smile. Then she turned to me and Donnie, "Bigfoot thank Donnie and Ellie. Ellie very kind lady."

"No problem." Donnie answered.

"You're very welcome." I answered with a smile.

Bigfoot's smile fell, as she explained, "Bad man after Bigfoot. Name 'The Finger'."

"The Finger?" Donnie repeated.

My eyes widen in recognition and memory. I thought I recognised the wound and the aura from the forest. The Finger was hunting Bigfoot down and wounded her with his knife.

Bigfoot nodded, "Very bad mans." But then she smiled, "But Donnie good mans."

Donnie smiled and put his hand over her shoulder, "Aw, thanks, Bigfoot."

I raised a brow, as I sensed a change is Bigfoot's aura. I've seen this change before. With Donnie.

Bigfoot leaned closer to Donnie, "Donnie very good mans. So good. Bigfoot..."

Then she kissed him on the cheek. I covered my muzzle to suppress a laugh.

Bigfoot picked Donnie up and hugged him, "Love Donnie!"

Donnie shook his head and stuttered, "But- But- But-

"Bigfoot am lady!" Bigfoot answered.

Surprised and shocked, Donnie stuttered, "That.. Is... Great?"

"That is great!" Casey shouted.

Then he and Donnie's brothers burst into laughter. The love-triangle became a love-square.

During the rest of the day, Bigfoot started following Donnie everywhere and treating him like he was royalty. Heck, she even offered to help Mikey cook with roadkill.

Meanwhile, I was on the roof, looking out at the forest. I could sense The Finger's aura within the trees. He was waiting. Lurking. Searching.

My train of thought was broken by a familiar deep raspy voice, "Whatcha thinking about, Elle?"

I turned and saw Leo about to sit next to me. I returned my gaze to the forest and answered, "Just stuff."

"Ellie. I know you're a terrible liar." Leo told me, "You've been spacing out more than you usually do." Then he asked, "Tell me what's on your mind."

I looked at the blue-masked turtle. His deep blue eyes screamed worry for my well-being. His aura was a pale orange of worry.

I looked back at the forest and didn't say anything. I want to tell him what's wrong, but I can't. Because I honestly don't know. Have I really been spacing out more than normal? I felt Leo put his hand over mine. I refused to move or flinch.

*The Next Morning, in the Forest...*

Raph rounded Bigfoot, Mikey, Donnie and I into the woods. He was wearing a gas-mask around his neck and holding a plunger.

"Donnie and Mikey need to learn to blend in out here, forest stealth." Raph explained to Bigfoot, "If you're gonna stay with us, at least you can help out. So show them some stuff, okay?" Bigfoot nodded in understanding, "I have to go clean out the tub."

Raph put the mask over his mouth, and made his way back to the farmhouse. Bigfoot turned her attention to Mikey.

Mikey tensed and gulped, "Please don't grab my head again."

Bigfoot picked him up by his shoulders and carried him to a small bush. She put him into the bush, "Blend in."

"I can still see him." Donnie pointed out.

I felt my tail tense up, as I sensed something was watching us. To confirm, I heard a voice whisper, "Mama, looks like Bigfoot got him a couple of little green alien buddies. The Finger is okay with that."

As soon as I heard movement, I turned and caught a group of crossbow arrows with my psychokinesis. The Finger growled at me.

The Finger was a Caucasian American that was on the chubby side. He had dark brown hair, styled in a mohawk, matching mutton-chops that connected into a mustache. An opposible sixth finger on his right hand. He wore a camo vest-coat over a black tank top. Camo pants and cowboy shoes. He wore a quiver on his back. And a tribal necklace with a shrunken head around his neck.

"Finger..." I hissed.

Bigfoot turned, saw him and whimpered in fear. The Finger reloaded the ammo and fired his crossbows at Bigfoot. I quickly pushed her away from the barrage of arrows.

"Bigfoot, run!" I told her.

Bigfoot looked at me, grabbed Mikey, Donnie and myself, and ran.

"You're squishing me!" Mikey complained, as Bigfoot ran into the trees.

Eventually, the barrage of arrows stopped and I heard The Finger curse, "Darn it! Lost 'em, but not for long."

Bigfoot, Donnie, Mikey and I made our way back to the farmhouse. Leo and Raph were in the living room, playing a video game.

Mikey was the first to walk in, smiling, "Oh, man, Bigfoot is amazeballs with the forest stealth stuff!"

Bigfoot, Donnie and I entered, and it looked like Raph was winning the game.

"Bigfoot scared." Bigfoot whimpered.

"Aw." Leo sighed, as Raph won.

Bigfoot quickly walked to a window and closed the curtains, "Finger bad!"

"Right, fingers are bad." Raph agreed, as he snatched the controller away from Leo. Then asked Donnie, "Hey, Donnie, want to play the winner?"

I shook my head at the two older brothers. Bigfoot looked out the window, whimpering in fear. I put my hand over hers, assuring her that if the Finger does aim to harm her, he'll have to go through me. Bigfoot gave me a thankfull smile.

*Later That Night...*

With everything calmed down, I was on the roof again, keeping watch for anything dangerous. It was quiet, until I heard screaming and the refridgerator was thrown out of the house.

Looks like Bigfoot finally met Ice Cream Kitty. Whoops...

With a sigh, I jumped down from the roof and made my way inside. Donnie dashed past me like he was in a hurry. I looked the other end of the corridor and saw Bigfoot walking off with a sulk.

Her hair was tied in a ponytail and she was wearing eyeshadow and lipstick. She must have asked April for a makeover. I think I need to talk to April about this whole ordeal. It's starting to feel way too familiar.

I walked up the stairs and found April in the bathroom, cleaning up Bigfoot's hair.

I entered and asked, "April, can I talk to you for a minute?" April turned to me, "Alone?"

April nodded, "Sure, Ellie." She closed and locked the door, "What's on your mind?"

I took a deep breath and put my hands together, "Okay, just bare with me." I looked at her dead in the eye, "You know Donnie really likes you, right?"

April stared wide-eyed for a second, then giggled and waved her hand, "Come on, Ellie. You're talking nonsense." Then rubbed her arm, "Besides, it'll never work out. He's a-"

I nodded, "I know, a giant talking turtle. A Mutant." Then shook my head, "But you're not hearing me out." I lightly poked her forehead, "Don't listen to this." Then placed my hand over her heart, "Listen here. What does this tell you?"

April looked at me with uncertainty. I removed my hand and turned to the door, "Think about it, okay?"

I unlocked the door and exit the bathroom. I returned to the roof of the house and watched the stars. Then I heard a loud boom. I sat up and looked out the woods. A body flew into the air and started bouncing off explosions.

I sensed the aura. It was The Finger. I sensed other auras as well. Donnie, Mikey and Bigfoot. Bigfoot must've got caught and Donnie and Mikey must've ran to rescue her.

Then there was a feeling of sadness and regret. Followed by relief and love. After a few minutes, Donnie and Mikey walked out of the woods. I jumped down from the roof to meet up with them.

"Hey, Ellie." Mikey greeted.

"Mikey. Donnie. What happened in there?" I asked.

Donnie rubbed the back of his head, "Where do we start? Bigfoot ran into the woods, because of what Leo joked about. Mikey and I chased after her, but got caught in The Finger's traps."

"Then The Finger was deciding to either pickle or stuff us." Mikey added, "Donnie and I broke free and fought him off. And The Finger found out Bigfoot was a girl."

I smiled and folded my arms, "Let me guess. Finger doesn't hurt girls?"

Donnie nodded, "Yeah. Bigfoot comforted him and they ended up falling for each other."

I nodded in understanding. That actually explains more than they let on. No wonder why Finger stopped hunting me, once he heard my voice.

I put my hand behind my back, "I guess Bigfoot's over you now, eh Donnie?" Then looked at the moon, "It's getting pretty late. Better get some shut-eye."

Donnie and Mikey nodded in agreement and we made our way back to the house.

*The Next Morning...*

April's POV.

I was busy with my morning chore of chopping the firewood.

Until I heard Donnie speak up from behind me, "Hey, April."

I dusted my hands off and turned to him, "What's up, Donnie?"

"I, um..." He stuttered for a second, "Well, I just wanted to let you know I won't be bothering you with music boxes anymore." He sulked for a second, then smiled, "I get it now. Donnie is to April, as Bigfoot was to Donnie."

I looked into Donnie's eyes. He didn't want to say this stuff. But he needed to. There was something in there. Ellie was right. I'm starting to see it.

Donnie looked away and sulked, "I'm just... A Mutant."

I stayed silent for a moment. My heart was telling me to tell him something, but mind was telling me to just leave. Ellie was right. I need to listen to my heart a bot more.

I smiled at the genius Turtle, "You're not just a Mutant, Donnie. You're my Mutant."

I kissed him then made my way to the farmhouse.

The last thing I heard was Donnie sighing, "I understand nothing."