I Never Thought I'd Be Here...
The tavern was dirty and dark. It smelled of unwashed bodies, spilled ale, and overcooked food. Exactly the sort of place that Donatello had never pictured himself in. And yet here he was. Seated at a table near the back, trying to make himself 'one with the shadows' that permeated the edges of the room, but there all the same. He took a bite of whatever was in the bowl in front of him, ignoring the flavor. Leo was out there somewhere in the crowded room, discreetly digging up information. It was the same as it had been at every town and tavern since they left April's. They were trying to find out where Raph might be or at least where people were looking for him. So far everything had led them to the area between this town and the last they had visited. Don looked up hopefully as Leo sat down at the table.
"I couldn't find anything." Leonardo said with a satisfied smile.
Don raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand what's so great about that. What are we going to do now?"
"No, you see no one in here would tell me anything about Raph other than things that are common knowledge." Leo explained "There were wild rumors and stories everywhere but here. It means we're on the right track. Why would the people here clam up unless they've got something to hide?"
Don leaned forward. "You think they might be protecting him?"
"It makes sense. There are lots of reasons why a small town like this would want to keep rumors to a minimum. Particularly to bounty hunters like us." Leo replied, referring to the pretense they were traveling under.
"So, what do we do now?" Don asked, a smile beginning to spread across his face.
"Now we start looking for real."
Neither noticed the waitress watching them leave.
Michelangelo had never before seen anything like this. He had lived on a farm for the majority of his life. Until he began roaming with the troupe, he had never seen larger than a small farming village. Even after, they tended to steer clear of anyplace big enough to be called a city. 'Too many soldiers.' Martin had said. 'Settled folks don't look too kindly upon wanderers.' Arturo had explained. 'They think we're all cutthroats and pickpockets.'
And so Michelangelo stared at his new surroundings, eyes wide. The troupe had traveled through several small villages and farming communities (all appeared more prosperous than those they had left behind on the other side of the mountains) and now they were walking down the streets of a large city, on their way to a nobleman's house. Mikey didn't know whether to be excited or petrified. The only noblemen he knew of had been responsible for taking his family from him. A nobleman had been the reason that he'd been alone, and cold, and hungry for so many months before finding the troupe. His father was likely locked up in some nobleman's prison. And he still didn't even know why. The thought cemented the decision in his brain. Going to this 'Sir Leatherhead's house was dangerous.
Beside him, Renet sensed his growing unease. "Is everything okay, Mikey?" she asked.
"Is this really the best idea? I mean, what if this 'Sir Leatherhead' guy is all buddy buddy with Lord Oroku? Arturo did say that he was an ambassador or something, right? Maybe I should just stay out here." Michelangelo slowed his pace as he talked and had come to a full stop by the time he was done speaking.
Renet smiled and grabbed his arm, pulling him along. "You'll be totally fine. Sir Leatherhead is an ambassador to all over, not just to Lord Oroku. He was the one who negotiated the prisoner exchange after the Triceraton War. He's, like, a hero."
Mikey was still reluctant, but allowed himself to be persuaded. He still walked through the doors of Sir Leatherhead's home with the feeling that he wouldn't be walking back out.
Leonardo and Donatello were cautious as they made their way to the inn in the quickly fading light of dusk. It was their goal to get a good night's sleep and set out early in the morning to begin searching the surrounding countryside for any sign of Raphael. Preoccupied with his hopes of finding his brother, Leonardo noticed the shadowy form skulking in the alley beside the inn too late. An arm reached out and yanked Donatello into the alley before either could do anything to prevent it. Leo's knife was out a split second later and his hand rested on the hilt of his sword as he demanded "Let him go! Now."
"I don't think you're in a position to be making demands." A feminine voice replied. "Drop your weapons. I don't want to hurt him."
Leo glared at the woman who was holding a knife to his brother's throat. For a moment there was silence. And then it was broken by the thud of his knife hitting the dirt. "What do you want?" he asked tersely. "We have few belongings and even less money. We're hardly worth robbing."
"I'm not here to rob you." The woman said, releasing Donatello and shoving him back at Leo. "I'm here to warn you."
Leo was a bit preoccupied with checking to make sure that Donatello was uninjured, but Don was more curious. "Warn us about what?" he asked.
"Bounty hunting in this area can prove hazardous to one's health. What I've just done is tame compared to the welcome what awaits you if you actually intend to hunt Casey Jones and Raphael." The woman said.
"Thanks for the warning, but I'm afraid we'll just have to risk it." Leo said as he helped Donatello to his feet.
The woman snorted. "Then you're either very brave or very stupid. My vote sways toward the latter."
Again Leo glared at the shadows. "What business is it of yours what we do with our lives?" he asked.
She laughed outright. "I'm not worried about you! But if you don't want to listen to a stranger looking to save you some trouble, then fine. It's no skin off my nose."
"Come on Leo. This isn't going to help us find Raph." Don said quietly, trying to pull him towards the inn.
"I should say not!" the woman said, the mirth still in her voice "Though you'd better hope he doesn't find you, if the last few hunters are anything to judge by."
"I think we may meet a different fate. Although, again, I don't see how that is any of your business. Good evening." Leo replied tensely. "You're right Don, let's go." He said and they moved on, leaving the woman standing in the alleyway.
Another shadow materialized from the darkness behind her.
"You were right. I'll go find him." Was all her unseen companion said before going his own way. Lisa smiled to herself.
'Two down, one to go.' She thought. 'Congratulations, Raph.'
Mikey bounced back and forth, rocking on his heels nervously. He looked at the walls of the courtyard and back at the gate, wondering how fast he could get to any of them.
"Would you stop that!" Renet said, placing a hand on his shoulder and holding him still. "You're, like, making me nervous with all your fidgeting!"
Mikey smiled sheepishly. "Sorry." He apologized. Then went back to scribbling in the dust with his toes until the door to the main house opened.
'This is it.' He thought. 'No going back now.' He was expecting any number of terrible things in the next ten minutes. What he did not expect was a table laden with food, a humongous crocodile standing at the head of it with a warm smile on his face.
"Welcome to my home." The nobleman rumbled. His smile widened upon seeing Arturo. "My friend, it has been a long time."
Mikey's jaw nearly hit the floor when Arturo reached over to shake the man's hand with a toothy smile of his own.
"Too long, friend. I trust you are staying clear of dark alleys?"
Sir Leatherhead laughed. "Indeed I am! It would do little good for diplomacy for an ambassador to involve himself in brawls in the streets."
Arturo laughed this time. "Then it is doubly good that I was there! Now we mustn't keep you from your feast, but if you'd let us use a bit of your lands outside the city walls to pitch our tents, my troupe and I would be grateful."
"Ah, but my friend, I have no other guests. You are welcome to use any of my lands on one condition." The ambassador said. "You must all share a meal with me."
Arturo smirked. "You drive a hard bargain, ambassador. But we agree to your terms."
It was nearly dawn and Raph was tired. He glared at Lisa, who was fast asleep against the wall behind him. He shifted his position to give him a better view out the window and the dust he stirred up tickled his nose.
"AchHoo!" He sneezed and glared at Lisa again. "I could have slept in my own bed tonight, instead of traipsing all over the place and crawling through an attic to get a view of an inn." He muttered under his breath. "This had better be worth it."
"It will be." Lisa muttered, rolling over and wrapping her cloak around her. "Just keep watching the place."
"How do I even know what I'm looking for?" Raph asked, more than a little annoyed. He had intended to accompany Casey on another supply run to the orphanage today, but now he doubted that he'd get back in time.
"You'll know." Lisa said cryptically. Just like the last time he'd asked. Raph snorted, but went back to watching the inn.
Just as the sun peeked over the horizon, the front door of the inn opened. When he saw just who walked out that door, Raph was dumbstruck. He leaned forward, soaking in the sight of the two turtles walking down the street and turning onto the road out of town. He sat back, a wide grin on his face and looked over at Lisa who had a smile forming on hers. On impulse, he scooped her into a bone-crushing hug. "Thank you." He said, sniffling... from the dust.
"I gotta go!" he exclaimed, still grinning, and bolted.
Thanks for reading! I hope that my little story has been entertaining thus far. It's what I aim for.
Have nice day! :) Feedback is not required, but appreciated nonetheless.
