Chapter 3: Sink Or Swim

Raphael and his friends wandered for three days straight with hardly any rest. Soon they arrived at a raging river. Raph looked around at his brothers and friends and saw that everyone was worn out.

"Let's rest here for a while." He panted. As soon as those words left his mouth everyone collapsed with sighs of relief.

"I'll scout the area just to make sure it's safe." Spike said before quickly running off somewhere.

"So where are we going?" Nero asked after he caught his breath. Raph and Donnie looked at each other for a moment before turning to Mikey, who was completely tuned out.

"Uh Mikey, ya OK bro?" Raph asked as he waved hand in front of his youngest brother's face. Suddenly Mikey raised a finger and pointed to the mountain range miles away from them.

"That's where we need to go." He stated firmly.

"Claw Tooth Mountain?" Donnie asked in confusion.

"You know about that place Donnie?" Fuoco asked.

"Yeah, our tribe use to go there every winter but they stopped visiting it when Chief Capo was about Gio's age." Donnie explained.

"How come they stopped visiting Claw Tooth Mountain?" Bolla asked.

"Sadly, the Storytellers of our tribe didn't know the reason, but they think it was because the tribe grew to big and apparently there wasn't enough room for everyone."

Suddenly Spike came running back, out of breath.

"There's a Jaguar lose in the area!" He exclaimed.

"Well, we're dead." Nero sighed in defeat.

"What do we do now Raph?" Mikey asked fearfully.

"Look, in Owsla we were taught that an Enemy can't track yer scent in water. So get in that river and start swimmin'!" Raph ordered.

"Great. Go with Raph, Mikey and Donnie. See the world. Drown." Nero muttered as he, Fuoco, Bolla and Spike jumped into the cold river and started swimming. Gio started to shake in fear as he watched the others swim across. Gio couldn't swim.

"I-I don't think I can Raph." He whimpered.

"He won't make it Raphie!" Mikey said. Raph looked around for an answer.

"Hey guys I got an idea! Come and take a look at this!" Donatello explained and showed them a log.

"It floats." Michelangelo smiled when he realized what his older brother was planning.

"Gio grab onto the log. Mikey, Raph, push it out. Hurry!" Donnie ordered.

By now they could all hear the Jaguar's footsteps closing in on them. It wouldn't be long before the big cat picked up their scent. All three of them obeyed without question. Gio grabbed hold of the log and Raph and Mikey pushed it along the river. Gio looked back just in time to see the Jaguar racing towards Donnie!

"DONNIE BEHIND YOU!" He cried. Donnie looked behind him and saw the Jaguar running right at him. Donnie quickly jumped into the river. The Jaguar managed to scratch his shoulder. Luckily for them all the Jaguar didn't follow them into the water and went off the find easier prey...


"Ya OK bro?" Raphael asked as Bolla treated the claw mark on Donatello's shoulder.

"Yeah, it's just a scratch." He winced slightly as Bolla pressed some leaves against the wound.

"These leaves will help stop the wound from getting infected." Bolla explained. Once Bolla gave Donnie's wound the all clear Spike spoke up.

"Right we better get to where ever it is we're going." He ordered and started moving.

"No." Raph stated firmly.

"Why not? If we go now we'll make it to Claw Tooth Mountain by noon tomorrow."

"No Spike, we ta rest. Gettin' across that river took a lot out of us. We'll rest in tha mango trees. They'll give us some cover and the smell will cover up our scent."

"Is it just me or is Raph starting to sound like a chief?" Fuoco mumbled to his best friend as they all began to climb the mango trees.

"Yeah, 'Chief Raphael' has a nice ring to it." Nero grinned back...