Angel couldn't help that her joints were growing stiff, sitting in this chair for so many long hours.
Aradion kept the ninja at bay by unleashing some of her bottled temper, but that didn't stop them from trying.
She was starting to lose hope when she heard fighting outside, and looked outside.
"RAPH!!!"
Aradion's wildcat fur rippled white, and joy nearly made her heart burst open.
"Angel?!"
Still fighting, Raph turned to see her, and anger fell over his face like a shadow after a moment.
"He hurt you." He growled out.
She felt the slight sting of the bruise on her cheek, and nodded.
"Watch out, Raph!!"
Aradion hissed as the red-banded turtle was outnumbered.
"Hey!! Don't you dare hurt him!!" She warned, Aradion a Clouded Leopard roaring and snarling beside her.
"We're not going to kill him…yet…"
She glared at the Shredder, the intensity having the power to melt iron.
"We want to test something first, of course…"
A large Foot ninja grabbed Aradion around the neck, ignoring the angry daemon's claws, and put on a strange collar.
He started dragging the daemon away, and the link was starting to stretch. She grimaced in pain, and Aradion struggled against the collar.
A jolt of electricity struck him through the collar, and he roared in pain and fury. Angel flinched, trying to hide the pain.
'Aradion!!'
'Angel!!'
It felt like they were slowly pulling her heart out, waiting for her to scream, for her to surrender, for her to break…
'I won't!'
"Are you done yet, girl?"
"I'll rip my heart out first!" She snarled.
"I'll save you the trouble, then…"
A harsh tug, and she could hardly hold in the cry of pain.
Aradion roared, but his fur was dulling, his struggles weakening…he was about to give in…
'Aradion, keep fighting!' She urged.
'I can't…it hurts…'
'I know! I feel it, too! But we'll be okay!'
Aradion's struggles started up again, until it felt like her heart would snap.
'NO!!!'
Aradion became a marten, slipping from the collar, and raced back to her as fast as he could, and warm relief filled her chest as he jumped onto her lap as a wildcat, nuzzling against her chest and licking her cheek, purring and smiling.
She smiled, happy the pain was gone.
"You have a strong will…"
She glared, and Aradion's fur rippled black as he hissed.
"The other…test subjects died or gave in…"
"Others?" Angel questioned in surprised.
"Three others, actually…they haven't been tested, of course…"
She growled softly, and turned to see her brother tied to a pole and gagged.
'He wanted to make Raph watch…he expected to make my brother watch me break…'
'Well, I bet he's disappointed we didn't give him a show.' Aradion thought back sternly, claws digging into her thighs.
'I just hope the others don't get caught in a trap…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darkness fell, and Angel relied on Aradion's wildcat eyes to pierce the gloom.
'I see them!'
She tried not to show that something was different, and scanned the darkness. She saw a shadow move, and followed it with steady eyes.
'They're here…don't be stupid, Mikey…'
They walked into the open, and Aradion hissed.
"IT'S A TRAP-!!!"
She was cut off with a hand over her mouth and someone else grabbing Aradion. The three brothers were caught in a net, which started moving to a pit of spikes.
'Oh shit!'
She bit the hand holding her, and moved her chair back.
Luckily, her swords were on a table behind her, and she grabbed a ninja sword from it's sheathe. She cut through the chains with all the strength she possessed, and stood, throwing her sword.
It cut the rope holding the net up, and it fell as Angel grabbed her blades and Aradion freed himself. She moved forward as Tokka and Rahzar were released, and jumped up, kicking Tokka so hard he flew back.
"Hey, bro! Miss me?" She questioned with a smile at Mikey, who grinned back.
"YEAH I did!!"
She blocked a sword from a Foot ninja, and punched him in the face.
"MAN, it feels good to kick their butts!"
She dodged, lashing out, when she remembered her bound brother. She moved to him, and saw Rahzar about to slash him open with his claws.
'SHIT!!'
She ran as fast as she could, and held up her right arm in defense. His claws ripped through her forearm, but she fought the pain, slashing at the mutants chest and stomach.
She turned to her red-banded brother once the mutant backed off, and cut him free.
She pretended she hadn't noticed her blood dripping heavily to the floor, and said, "Get your sai, Raph."
"Angel…"
She saw guilt, sympathy, flash through his eyes a moment before he pushed it away, nodding. She nodded, and saw Don was gone, too.
"Hurry."
Aradion was a black panther, ripping the ninja to shreds, when Tokka smacked him away. She winced.
"Aradion!"
She saw Don come out with Perry, and Aradion snarled.
"I found a manhole!" She heard Mikey call.
She was by him in a moment, and grinned.
"You're the best youngest brother EVER!!"
She kissed him on the forehead, and lifted the cover.
"Come on, then! We ain't got all day!" She ordered, and glared at Perry as he and Don went first, then Leo and Mikey.
Raph hesitated.
"Go on, Raph. I'm right behind you." She assured.
He jumped down, and she was about to when she heard the Shredder's voice call out.
"You can not hide from me!! I WILL find you!!"
She stuck her tongue out defiantly and jumped down, Aradion right behind her.
