Silver Acropolis

Chapter 2

The stars were bright that night, whispering down to the earth a language long forgotten in the days of lore. Their twinkling light like laughter asking for those who have been forgotten to come out and play in a world where ice was not cold and snow was sweet as sugar drops.

Michelangelo was careful in his steps, trying not to look up to the sky that beckoned for him to drown within. Everything to him was cold to the point of being warm, as his breath puffed in clouds that were not as white as before. It was getting harder to keep open his eyes as he placed his bagged feet into the pressed holes of the Nightwatcher's path.

He had tried to talk to him earlier, ask where they were headed. He tried what seemed like a life time to strike up a conversation only to be ignored. There was the occasional glance back at him to make sure he was still following, nothing more. So now all he had to listen to was the dead wind and the silent language of the stars that asked him to look up so that he would never have to blink again. So that they could steal away the white of his breath and bring him to that land of warm ice and sugar drop snow.

There was a loud crunch, the sound loud in the dead night of lost souls. He wondered where it had come from when he moved, realizing he had fallen to his knees. Funny, he didn't remember stumbling, nor falling. How did he end up like that?

He tried to push himself up, the cuts on his body already numb as snow and ice bit into him threatening to make more.

Hot gloved hands reached down, tucking under his arms and picking him up. One hand left his side to rest on his shoulder as he tried to steady himself on his feet. Nightwatcher's head moving as to indicate worry for his condition. He tried to smile, to joke it off but all that came from his mouth was a rattled cough, his lungs trying to breath in the warmth that barely radiated from his metal clad companion. The other hand that was on his side moved and shifted to hold him between chest and belly as he doubled over. A comforting pat on the shell and he a rub to his abdomen that helped warm him just enough for him to straighten himself back into standing.

"I'm okay."

The gloved hands left him, the masked face turning away. Metal and leather shifted as Nightwatcher bent down and knelt upon one knee, hands facing back as he presented himself in a silence.

"I'm okay, really. I don't need a piggy-back-" he didn't have enough time to reply when his wrist was grabbed and he was forcefully pulled down upon the back of the Nightwatcher.

Those burning hands grabbed a hold of the back of his knees, as his arms clutched his makeshift blanket around his hero's neck trapping as much heat as possible from the one below him. His eyes drew heavy from the comforting warmth his mind wondering off to thoughts of warm beds, soft pillows and warm cups of hot chocolate.

His mind went to Leo and how he would hover over the tea kettle waiting for the water to heat to just the right temperature before taking it off the burner. Donnie would be ready with cocoa powder already in individual cups. Leo would pour the hot water as he and Donatello held idol conversation about what seemed to be nothing at all. He would be sitting at the table with Raph, both not saying anything, not really doing anything. But Raph would have a bag of marshmallows. The big fat kind that swelled over the edge of the cup when left alone. His older brother would sneak him a few to munch on while the other two were not looking.

Orange was suddenly jerked, blue eyes drowsily opening up. When had he fallen asleep? How long had he been dreaming of memories?

A slow glance around and he could tell it was for a while. They were now in a forest, evergreen trees reaching out their needles to bush against his face in such a soft way that it felt like an encouraging caress. The pines and furs asking for him to fight for consciousness, telling him not to dream until his body was warm so that he knew he would wake the next time he closed his eyes.

He nodded, either to them or himself, he was not sure. All he knew was that he needed to stay awake, keep the stars from whispering and the snow from beckoning.

"I know," he tried to clear the gravel like sound in his voice, but when he spoke again he found that his throat was too frozen to work normally. "I know, you don't care. But I'm just gonna talk, okay?"

There was a nod from his companion. He rested the side of his beak against the back of the Nightwatcher's neck so that he would not have to strain for volume. The pace of the hero faster than when he had first began to sleep, he didn't notice. All he could tell were the shadows of the trees in the thick forest. They were not near Casey's Grandmother's house. The woods there were filled with deciduous plants.

The holds on his knees squeezed, bringing him back from his wondering thoughts. That's right, he had to stay focused, because the last time he let his mind go, he fell asleep. Sleep... enough though inviting at the time, it was not something he needed to indulge in at the moment.

That's right, he needed to keep himself awake, "Um... so, I bet you're wondering how I got there," His body was so cold he was beyond stuttering now, "At that place where the Purple Dragons were."

Mikey tried to take a deep breath, the cold air not so cold any more, but his lungs still laid a protest through a heaving cough. His eyes felt heavy, and stung slightly through every blink as he tried to think of words.

"I... I was heading out over to pick up some pizza. Our friend, April, she was going to let me order them at her place." He frowned a little, "I never got to her apartment... she's probably worried."

He was bounced once more as he was adjusted on the back that was carrying him.

"I remember... I remember that Leo wanted chicken and tomatoes... Donnie... he wanted something called hummus and lots of veggies... Raph," it was so hard to stay awake. "Raphie, wanted... everything except for anchovies. Master Splinter wanted Chinese..."

He tightened his hold around the Nightwatcher, tucking his head down a little. This time his body shivered, but not from the cold. He was scared, scared of closing his eyes and not being able to open them. He wanted to see his family again. He wanted to be picked on by his older brothers, and lectured by his father. But he might not... no, he was going to. He was just a little frightened right now that's all. Nothing more, he could get past this.

All he had to do was keep his eyes open.

He blinked once, trying to find energy to continue to talk.

He blinked twice, trying to remember why he was going out to order out for dinner in the first place.

A third time and he was remembering the faces of his family.

He did not blink a fourth...

To Be Continued...