Thanks so much to Eridani23, Sapphire93, 54Viruses, BigfootSighted, Jarred706, and winged-monkey for your reviews. I do not own the turtles or other related characters (but Jata and residents are mine). Enjoy!
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Mikey rushed to the edge of the village when he heard Torme returning with the band of Jatans. Master Splinter was still in his tent meditating, and Mikey had gone to see if his older brothers were with the men. Torme was leading the men, speaking quietly with a Jatan Mikey didn't remember seeing before. Don and Raph were walking behind the two, both looking worried. Wait a minute. Where's Leo?
Mikey ran to his brothers, glad to see they were okay. "Bros, you guys had me so worried. We thought you were like in the Forest of Death or something."
"It's called the Silver Forest, Mikey, and we're fine. Where's Master Splinter?" Don replied, the concerned look not leaving his eyes even as he smiled at his little brother. Now Mikey was really worried about Leo.
"He's in his tent meditating. Um, guys, where's Leo?" Before his brothers could answer Torme turned and addressed them.
"Haki and I must report to my father. Michelangelo-san, I suggest you take your brothers to your tents and do the same." Mikey nodded and began walking back to their dwellings, again looking at his brothers.
"We were hoping to find him here with you, but now we can only assume he's in the forest. Haki promised he would put a rescue team together as soon as we got here if anyone was missing, but…." Don's voice trailed off and he looked at the ground, unable to continue. Mikey could feel the color drain from his face as his intelligent brother's words sank in. They have killed many of our warriors and most of our women and have driven us from our home in the Silver Forest, Mikey repeated Kitoma's words to himself. Leo….
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Raph felt his familiar anger build as he approached the small group of tents with his brothers. He knew they should have gone straight into the stupid forest instead of wasting precious time—Leo's time—traipsing all the way to the desert and back. Raph growled subconsciously and placed his hand on the handle of his sai, thinking through everything he would do to the Kartan if they so much as hissed at his brother.
Mikey led them to one of the tents, pushing the flap aside and holding it open for his brothers. Raph ducked in after Donny, seeing Master Splinter kneeling in the center. At first Raph thought he was still meditating, but it quickly became apparent that he was fully alert and waiting for them. The three brothers bowed and knelt in front of their father, dreading telling him what they knew.
"My sons, I am happy to see you well. We have many things to discuss. But where is Leonardo? Did he not return with you?" Splinter said, causing Raph to cringe. He really didn't want to be the one to say anything. Relief and guilt swelled up inside him when Don sighed.
"We think he's in the forest, Master Splinter. There's not really anywhere else he could be. We can only hope he's already out and making his way here," the brainy turtle explained. Raph looked at the ground. Not even Fearless Leader would know to look for us here. He's probably wanderin' around in the stupid forest lookin' fer us, he thought. He refrained from saying anything out loud, however, when he saw the hopeful look on Mikey's face. Keep hopin', Mikey. I'm glad somebody can.
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Don watched Master Splinter closely, trying to read his reaction. The ninja master seemed agitated, evidenced by the twitching of his whiskers and the gentle lashing of his tail. "I see…. I must meditate on the present situation. Raphael, Donatello; you must be tired. Get some rest; I will call you when I…."
Raph slammed his fist on the ground, letting out a loud growl. Don whirled to look at him, startled by his abrupt interruption. "That's your reaction to everything, isn't it Master Splinter? Leo's in trouble—let's meditate! Well I ain't gonna just sit around and wait until Leo shows up. I'm gonna go look for him." Raph stood up and stalked toward the door of the tent, prepared to leave the village in search of his brother.
Don was shocked by his older brother's outburst, but he was even more shocked when Mikey stood up and yelled back, "Raphael, running into the forest and getting yourself into trouble isn't going to help Leo. Master Splinter's right—we need to prepare before we just go rushing off to find him. So you aren't going anywhere until Sensei says so." Two turtles and a rat gaped at Michelangelo, stunned speechless by his uncharacteristic speech. Raph stood staring for a moment before storming out of the tent. Donatello rushed after him, afraid he was going to leave anyway, but was relieved to see him disappear into one of the tents.
Mikey walked up behind Don, a slightly sheepish look on his face. "Mikey, when did you grow up?"
"Oh, I didn't. I just watch Leo when he's on Raph's case. I never thought it would come in handy," Mikey grinned, his normal careless personality back full-force. Don just sighed in mock frustration and also went into his tent.
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The Jatan warrior moved stealthily among the trees, looking out for any of the Kartan. He knew he had heard a fight coming from this direction—perhaps one of his team mates had also survived. He moved slowly around the trunk of one of the silver trees and saw the aftermath of a battle spread before him. Four Kartan lay dead in various spots around the empty space between trees, and among them lay one green creature, the likes of which the warrior had never seen before. He walked carefully toward the green one, wary of any remaining Kartan, and knelt beside his still body.
The green one was obviously a great warrior; he clutched two swords stained with the black blood of the Kartan. The Jatan turned the green one onto his back, examining him for any wounds. His ankle was cut and swollen, the flesh around it black and oozing. His neck had two puncture wounds which were bleeding lazily, and his neck and shoulder were inflamed. The warrior recognized the signs of a Kartan bite all too well. The ankle wound would not prove to be fatal, but the neck wound very well could. The Jatan felt for the green one's pulse; it was weak, but he was still alive. He would have to hurry and try to get him to his village before the poison finished him.
The warrior hoisted the green one onto his back, surprised by his weight. It must be the armor he wears on his back, he thought, making his slow way back to the edge of the forest. Hopefully he could reach his village in time….
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Mikey paced back and forth inside his tent, impatient for word from his sensei. Despite his words to Raph earlier, he was also frustrated with the delay. Haki had offered to take a search party out to look for him—why hadn't Master Splinter accepted? He could meditate while they were looking for Leo. Hours had passed since the rat had sent Mikey and his brother to their tents, and they hadn't heard anything from him. If Leo hadn't been dead before, he very well could be by now. Mikey hastily pushed the thought from his head, determined to remain positive.
Mikey heard a commotion from the edge of the village—it sounded as if someone was returning. He didn't remember anyone leaving other than Torme, and he was already back. Mikey made his way toward the noise, more out of boredom than curiosity. He saw a group of Jatans—Torme and Haki among them, surrounding another native warrior. They were all looking at something on the ground, but Mikey couldn't see what it was. He was about to return to the tents and see if his brothers were awake when Torme called out, "Michelangelo-san! Simari has found your brother!"
Mikey was instantly on the ground at their feet, kneeling next to an unconscious Leonardo. The older turtle was shaking violently and his normally healthy green skin was a sickly pale gray color. "What happened? What's wrong with him?" Mikey shouted, frantically checking to make sure his brother was still alive.
"I found him in the Silver Forest. He killed four of the Kartan but did not escape unharmed. He has worsened severely since I left the forest. I only hope it is not too late," one of the warriors, obviously Simari, said.
"Is there anything you can do? You have to save him," Mikey pleaded, looking around him desperately. Torme placed his hand on his shoulder, looking at the ground.
"I am sorry, Michelangelo-san, but there is nothing our healers can do to fight the effects of the venom. Your brother is…."
"No!" Mikey shouted, scooping Leo into his arms and running as fast he could with his burden back to the tents. "Donny! Donny, it's Leo! Donny!"
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I thought about not ending it here, but the chapter was getting pretty long and I thought I would build the suspense. I thought I'd give you a chance to exercise your "nasty-looking weapons" privileges. My only request is that you let me live, at least until after the next chapter. Thanks for reading. I'll update as soon as I can.