Chapter Nine

Night has faded into the lightening of the cavern, early morning comes and goes. Drek arrives first to the council doors, hoping to catch Alyssa here since she hasn't returned to their rooms. The Illithid arrive soon after, and Drek is glad Alyssa made them wear the mind protecting stones. It's a long wait as the other councilors arrive, the Elementals standing stoically on either side of the door. Silvermoon and Darkmaw are last to arrive, running down the halls as if late, but slowing as they see the doors have not even opened. Confusion sets in, then concern as the time ticks by. Tension thickens the air, like a rare storm that rages through the Underdark, scouring the rocks clean of life.

Concerned murmurs fade to silence as Sarrok walks solemnly down the hall to unlock the doors, dressed all in black with no adornments at all. The meaning is not lost on the members, and Drek hides his smug smirk. Sarrok opens the doors and allows them all to step inside, closing the doors behind him and locking them. The news would be hard, but the response could be fatal. He stands in the middle of the horseshoe table and waits for them all to seat themselves, then he clears his throat, "As I'm sure you've gathered, Empress Yuki is d-" He chokes on the word and almost loses his composure. After a slow breath, he gathers himself, "Dead. She was assassinated last night."

Most of the council sits in stunned silence, many looking shocked, while some show fear, knowing that the drow would have been most likely to assassinate the Empress and take over. Nobody missed Alyssa's absence, and the implication is dire for those that stood against her. They did not expect Raphael to step out from behind the throne, using the door to Yuki's quarters. He stands tall and proud, wearing all black as well. His skin is pale, his eyes red and sleepless. He stands beside the throne, with one powerful hand resting atop the rainbow crystal arm. Sarrok continues sadly, showing a hint of the emotion eating him up inside, "On her deathbed, she spoke the vows of marriage to ensure her people are cared for."

Raphael stares at each councilor in turn. The Illithid and Elementals are too alien to understand their expressions. Silvermoon turns to Darkmaw and weeps on his shoulder, making him pause and wonder what Yuki meant to her. Horroul passes his hand suspiciously over his eyes, while his apprentice looks down at the floor, his shoulders heaving slightly. The driders alone are impassive, while Drek stares at Raphael as if he shouldn't even be standing here. At that last, Raphael's eyes grow hard and cold and he snarls at the dark elf, tossing Alyssa's severed head onto the table before him. He recoils instantly, toppling his chair as he tries to get away from the empty, staring eyes of his sister and mistress. The driders step back as well, hissing at the barbaric display. Raphael only glares at the three, "Alyssa tried to take the empire into her own hands. She found it too hard to handle. Anyone else wish to try?" His hard green eyes swept over the other councilors, but he sees no defiance among the others.

Drek finally gets a hold of his tongue and sets his hate-filled yellow eyes on Raphael, "Why should we follow you? You're nothing but a savage! You killed an innocent woman and for all, we know you killed the Empress as well!" His hands shake with rage, and Nephanee stares in open shock at Drek's outburst.

To the shock of all, Raphael sneers coldly at Drek, "You want to accuse me of murdering my bride. I suppose where you come from, it's common." The look of acceptance in the drow's eyes proves his point, "Where I come from, your mate is your other half, there is no other. There never will be another." The deep pain flashes briefly over his face and he turns to sit purposefully on the throne, looking more tired by the minute, "As for Alyssa, she came into my own rooms with drider and shadow assassins. She attacked Yuki in my very presence." His eyes burn with rage at the memories, "Every single one of them died." He turns that rage on Drek, "Give me one good fucking reason not to wipe out your entire race, elf." He spits that last word like venom, "Yours and those damned spiders you so closely resemble."

Drek bristles at the threat, impulsive and hot-headed without Alyssa's cold presence, "You can't! The laws forbid warring among the Empire! We hold powerful armies that patrol the edges of the Empire, our lands and the others! You destroy us and you leave yourself open for attack from anywhere!"

Nephanee chitters softly, the threat hitting home, "There issss no reassson for threatsssss, Emperor. We cannot control how many of our kind become asssssasssssinssss. It issss a lucrative professssion, and many are good at it."

Raphael turns his hate-filled glare at her, "You're willing to disassociate yourself from the Drow? To never allow them access to your assassins again? No more trade, or even assistance for them?"

Nephanee pauses under that glare, her mind working as fast as it can. Drek glares at her as well and she knows the trap is set well. "We cannot, assss we and the drow depend on eachother. Lloth would be furioussss if we abandon Her children over ssssssomething ssssso petty."

Raphael nods slightly, taking a moment to think about her words, "Leave. The drow and driders are no longer members of this council. I want all of your kind out of the palace and city by dimlight. Anyone that remains will become my target practice." He turns to the rest of the council, "The rest of you have one week to leave. After that, I will hold a mourning period of one month. When I have finally sent my…" He pauses, suddenly the tears threaten to flow, but he clenches his fists tightly and barrels on, "My wife to the heavens, we will discuss this habit of poisons and assassinations, and what the new punishments will be. One month after the end of my mourning period, the Drow and Drider may send one envoy of each race to petition reacceptance into the council, under new laws." He doesn't even listen to the uproar of the councilors, each one trying to get a word in. He merely raises his hand for silence, and it is given, "Leave. This meeting is over and will be the last until my mourning is finished."

The councilors file out of the room nervously, Drek storming out with Alyssa's head cradled in his arms. Silvermoon places a cool hand on his shoulder, her grey eyes speaking understanding though she says not a word. After a moment, she leaves with Darkmaw, his arm light on her shoulders. The driders are last to leave, eyeing Raphael with new respect, and no little fear. This new emperor is violent, unstable, and immune to their poisons. They are quick to gather their people together.

When the doors close and lock once more, Raphael sags in the throne, wishing it had a back to rest against. Sarrok rests his warm hand on his shoulder and gives it a small squeeze, "You did well. Yuki would be proud of you."

Raphael nods slowly, rubbing his brow ridges in frustration, "How did she do this every day? Deal with their whining, backstabbing, and lies?"

Sarrok shrugs, glancing back at the closed door, "I think she tried to see the good in everyone like she saw the good in you."

Raphael rubs his stinging eyes, "Go on without me. I need some time to think."

The larger dragonkin nods and he slips out quietly, leaving Raph in the empty chamber. Alone, the tears finally fall, and he stays there for a few hours, unwilling to go back to his brothers until he's more stable.

In the suite, Splinter and Donnie stay hidden away in Splinter's room, while Leo paces the length of the room, exactly forty-eight steps from one side to the other. Mikey had left early that morning with Silvermoon to check out the tunnel and see if they could get back to the surface. She had returned without him, bringing much-needed supplies for Donnie. Leo was worried about Mikey, but Silvermoon assured him that the turtle was fine, and she had to make her own appearance at the meeting.

It was also dangerous with all the assassins still around, though Raphael had assured him that he'd deal with it. Not that he looked like he could deal with anything right now. Leo turns on his heel, wearing a line in the floor with his pacing. He stops only when Raphael steps through the door, looking strained, tense, and so pale, "We have one month. The sooner we get this done, the better."

Leo sighs deeply and finally sinks down on the bench by the wall, they had cleaned up the place, but no one felt comfortable relaxing in the friendly circle of couches, or at the newly replaced table, "We could have backed you up. You didn't have to go alone."

Raph shrugs and his eyes drift to Splinter's door. Leo already knows what's on his brother's mind, "They're still locked in there. Donnie's never done anything this complicated before, so it'll take time. You gave them that." Leo tries to give his brother hope, but the bleak look in his eyes shows that he's already given up.

Raphael takes off his shirt and drops it on the floor, "I'm going to wash up, I smell like drow." He rolls his broad shoulders, the tension making them tighten up, then he heads to his own room to soak off the day.

Leo shakes his head, glaring after his brother before walking to Splinter's room. He steps in quietly, the scent of death thick in here. Lying on the bed with the blankets up to her chin rests Yuki, only her arm is outside of the covers so Donnie can monitor the IV drip as well as her vitals. Splinter rises to greet his eldest, "How are you holding up, my son?"

Leo looks away from Yuki, her snow-white scales tarnished with black as the poison runs through her, "Not well, but better than Raphael, sensei. I'm not sure what to do or even say to him…"

Splinter moves to his son, patting his cheek warmly, "Your brother has suffered a defeat like none other. He is a proud warrior like you are, but he carries his pain deep in his heart so none may see it. I will speak with him. Donatello has need of you."

Leo shudders slightly, but he nods, "I'm worried about Mikey too, sensei. He hasn't returned, though Silvermoon has been and gone."

Splinter nods in understanding, a shudder climbing up his spine, "I can hope that he has kept his head… Even I am wary of the serpents, though Sarrok seems to trust them. I will check on him." He gives Leo's shoulder a gentle squeeze, "You do not have to do this…"

Leo looks back at Yuki, "Ya, I do. I promised my brother that we'd all keep her safe." He gives Splinter a faint smile, but it fades as soon as he walks towards Donnie. He knows what will come now, and he's not sure which is worse, the knowing and expecting it, or the not knowing and getting hit hard.

He lies beside Yuki on the bed and Donnie gives him a sympathetic smile, "Sorry Leo… Raph is still weak, and Mikey hasn't come back yet."

Leo nods, "Don't worry about it, Donnie. I'd take my turn anyway. I just hope this helps." Leo had only been half conscious when Donnie rigged up a blood transfusion for Yuki, but it was weird. Raphael was the first to take the risk, refusing to let anyone else try it. Donnie pumped Yuki's poisoned blood into him, and with another set, pumped Raphael's blood into her. The pain in her eyes had eased immensely, but Raphael… The screams kept everyone up until Raphael was too hoarse to scream anymore… then the silence was worse.

Donnie checks his needles, Silvermoon had brought him all the medical supplies he could want for this, so maybe this time won't be so bad. He slips the first needle into Leo's arm, finding an artery to pump blood into Yuki's vein in her arm. Then he sets up the exchange, Yuki's artery pumping into Leo's vein to balance the blood pressure and keep a flow going. He shakes his head at his brother's bravery, but then, Leo was out of it when they started this. He missed the tears on Raphael's cheeks, the pleading look in his eyes.

Donnie blinks a few times to get that image from his mind, and puts a hand on Leo's shoulder, "Are you ready?"

Leo swallows hard and gives a nod, knowing the faint pain of the needles is nothing to what will come next.

Donnie takes a slow breath, then opens the valves to begin the transfusions. He wasn't even sure it was possible last night, and barely hobbled together something that would work with Raphael. With the supplies Silvermoon brought, he had started the research on Yuki's blood and to his surprise; he found that the mutagen in their own blood changed to make it compatible with any other blood type. It had filtered the poison from Yuki's blood, but it took a lot to completely cure her. Well, they had three turtles, and now they had time. Raphael's recklessness bought her that when he refused to stop the transfusion despite the pain.

Leo groans in pain as the poison hits his system, feeling like a faint burning and spreading like wildfire as it reaches his chest. He clenches his jaw together, swearing not to scream. Hadn't Raphael cleaned out nearly half the poison in her body? Wouldn't this be easier to handle? A raging fire feels like it's going to burst from his chest, then it rises to his head and extends into his limbs. His hands clench on the blankets, shaking with the effort not to scream, but it's futile. Every moment feels like a burning eternity, and the scream rips from his throat.

Raphael rests in the hot bath, his head propped on the edge with a washcloth over his eyes. He couldn't bear this weight on his chest, feeling like the entire cavern collapsed on him. He cries under the guise of relaxing, but when the door opens and closes, he tries to calm down before taking the rag off his eyes. Seeing Splinter kneel down by his head causes a new wave of pain and anxiety to hit him, making his heart ache deeply, "Master… is she…?

Splinter rests a hand on his head gently, "She lives still. Leo is… helping her…"

Raph catches the wince in his father's eyes and he begins to climb from his bath, angry at himself now, "Damnit! Why didn't he tell me!? He doesn't have to, I'll take it again!"

The lightweight of Splinter's hand keeps him in the water, "You are not recovered from last time, Raphael. Leonardo made you a promise, that all of your brothers will work to keep her safe. Allow him to do as he promised." He squeezes Raphael's shoulder lightly, "Leonardo feels responsible for what happened to Yuki. If he had been conscious last night, he would have demanded to be first because he will not admit that Alyssa bested him with swords."

The faint sound of Leo's screams bleed through the doors and Splinter feels his own heart wrench at the sound. Raphael flinches at the remembered pain, the feeling of being roasted alive for the hours they let him stay with her, "Sensei… I don't know if I can do this… not if I lose her…"

Splinter eyes Raph curiously, "What do you mean, my son?"

Raphael takes a slow breath, the tears coming unbidden once more, "I don't know, father. I feel like nothing's important anymore like there's a hole in my chest that will never heal. I'm terrified! I was so scared when I thought I'd lose you, but this… this is worse. I barely know her, but she means so much to me."

Splinter runs his long fingers over Raphael's head, trying to soothe his son, "I believe that with time, she will recover. The poison is strong, but I know you and your brothers' desire to help her is stronger. Have faith in them. Support them through this difficult time, just as they are supporting you."

Raphael frowns deeply, remembering how Leo and Mikey both held his hands as the poison coursed through his body. He gets up slowly and dries off, careful of the new stitches on his thigh, "Thank you Sensei."

Splinter stands as well, glad to see the determination back in his eyes, "I will go to check on Mikey, he hasn't been back yet. Leo worries that Silvermoon may have eaten him."

Raphael gives a ghost of a smirk as he tugs on his loincloth, "Silvermoon is a dangerous woman, mysterious and strange…" The smirk grows slightly, "But my girlfriend can throw lightning bolts." He walks out, not even realizing what he said as he enters Splinters room. He kneels beside Leo and grabs his hand, squeezing it hard, "I'm sorry Leo."

Leo's throat is already sore, his screams gaining that rough quality, but his eyes offer up nothing but gratitude as he squeezes Raph's hand tightly. Raphael's heart breaks all over again at his brother's sacrifice, and it aches to see Yuki so sick. Donnie holds Leo's other hand, and even reaches out for Raph's, "She made it through the night. She'll make it and get better."

Raphael grabs Donnie's hand and squeezes it as well, realizing that he's had to bear through all of this without support, seeing his brothers hurt, hearing them scream… New respect grows for his brothers, and he's very glad to have them by his side.

Mikey had spent half the night with Silvermoon, taking the ropes from the dragonkin up into the tunnel and rigging up ways to climb out. Silvermoon had changed into a huge creamy white cobra and easily slithered up the tunnel, tying the ropes off on makeshift anchors, all the way to the top. Mikey had wanted to ask her questions, but she worked quickly and came back down for the council meeting, needing to appear as clueless as the rest. She had left him working in the tunnel, anchoring the ropes every twenty feet or so and left him to think, something he really hated.

Silvermoon had shown up after the fight. Sarrok had helped Donnie rig up some stuff, making what they didn't have, and Raphael's screams were probably heard throughout the halls. Mikey hammers another anchor in place and hooks the rope through it, shuddering as he remembers the screams… Silvermoon had taken one look at Yuki and what Donnie rigged up, and left. No one could stop her. She returned when they unhooked a barely conscious Raphael from the torture he endured, her arms filled with medical supplies. Donnie looked like a miracle had just happened, and chased them all out to work.

Mikey climbs up the rope, his arms burning from the strain but he's nearly at the top. A soft hiss makes him freeze, and he looks over his shoulder at the half human face of a cobra, "Silvermoon! Dude, don't sneak up on me like that!"

Silvermoon wedges her long tail in the tunnel, "Sorry Mikey. I came to check on your progress."

Mikey stares at her, surprised that she can even speak with a mouth like that, "No worries. Just been thinkin'. I mean, Sarrok said you were allies, but not really friends. So, why help us?"

Silvermoon's bright grey eyes watch him with unnerving intensity, "Sarrok is not our friend. He works with us, and we help him. Yuki is different. She is like a sister." The inner lid slides over her eyes, giving the impression that her eyes are closed, though she can see through the translucent lid, "I don't know how to explain it to you without going into my people's history, and that is something I won't do for an outsider."

Mikey wedges himself into the tunnel to rest, "Well, if Yuki's like your sister and Raph's my bro, that makes us practically family! You can tell me anything and I won't tell anyone else but my bros."

Silvermoon snickers softly, a breath of a hiss from her lips, "Amusing, and honest, but no. Just know that there is more to this world than mutants, dragons, and humans."

Mikey nods sagely, "No kidding. Elves and dwarves and all kinds of weird stuff living in the dark here. I'm gunna be checking under my bed for those squid faces for weeks!" He brings his hands up and mimics the tentacles with his fingers.

Silvermoon laughs softly at that and nods, "I can relate. The first time I saw them, I nearly killed them, thinking they were monsters."

Mikey looks her over, "Well, I'm a monster too. All my brothers are."

Silvermoon shrugs slightly, "As am I, but you and I are monsters known. The Illithid are monsters I had only heard about, ones that I am supposed to kill on sight. I am glad I refrained and became part of the council."

Mikey rests back on his shell slightly, "I've been wonderin' something. If you like Yuki and all, why did you oppose Raph being with her?"

She tilts her head to the side slightly, "Because I thought I knew what you were. I'm from the surface, I know about the experiments Sacks was doing, and I thought you were just that, experiments gone wrong. I had my own plan in place to keep Yuki safe, though she didn't know it. I admit, I had my own ends in mind, but your brother proved to be more honorable than I gave him credit for."

Mikey nods, "He's a jerk, but he's our jerk, and seriously, he was first to jump into helping Yuki." He gets a sly look in his eyes, "So what's between you and that Darkmaw guy?"

Silvermoon hisses softly, "Nothing you will know about. He is my student."

Mikey grins, "So, once this is all over, how about you and I go out for some pizza? I know this really sweet place."

She stares at him, not sure if she should laugh at his audacity, or hit him for his boldness. "I don't think so. Dates between assassins usually end with someone getting killed."

Mikey frowns at that, "Well… we don't really have to kill anyone. I mean, maybe slaughter the pizza, and drink the soda of our enemies."

Silvermoon laughs at that, "Cute, but no."

Mikey sighs, "Why not?"

She grins, showing a hint of her long fangs folded in her mouth, "Because I'm at least twice your age, and have no interest in dating a dragon."

He growls at that, "Man! But I'm a shadow ninja dragon! I totally kick ass!" He kicks at the tunnel, and suddenly the stone he's braced against crumbles away. Silvermoon's eyes widen as they both begin to slide down the long shaft, though she manages to catch herself on the rope. Mikey slides past her, grasping for a hold, but everything crumbles from under his hands. He yells as he slides down on his shell, his eyes closed tightly against the fact that he's gaining speed. He hits the bottom hard and it shoots him towards the wall, bouncing him off his shell and then he hits the opposite wall hard. He falls to the floor, dazed, hurting, bleeding from hundreds of little cuts, "ooooh now I know how Raph felt…"

Silvermoon slithers down and she settles by his side, looking him over carefully before moving him, "Well, that was exciting. Hold still, I really don't think your arm is supposed to bend that way."

Mikey freezes at those words and he looks down at his forearm. It bends at an angle in the middle of his arm, showing that yes, he broke it. Then the pain hits him and he cringes, "Damnit! Totally not my fuckin' day!"

Silvermoon shrugs, setting his arm easily, making him yell in pain, and wrapping it up tightly against his chest, "Oh, I don't know. I could've eaten you for hitting on me, like your brother Leonardo believes. Or you could've hit something vital with that fall and died on the way down. Personally, I think you lucked out for someone that pissed off the very Earth."

He glares at her, but his words are cut short as Splinter slides down the rope that stretches across the Pool, "What happened?"

Mikey cringes at the whip-like demand in his master's voice, and even Silvermoon slides back slightly. "Sorry sensei, I got mad and ended up falling down the hole… Broke my arm." He glances at Splinter who looks ready to kill someone.

As his explanation sinks in, Splinter calms and looks at the bandages, "Thank you for caring for my son, Silvermoon. I admit, I had feared you would harm him, as he can be reckless with others."

Silvermoon bows her head slightly, "He is a pleasure to speak with. Honesty such as his is a rare find. I will finish the last of the anchoring since he has found the most dramatic way to avoid the work."

Mikey stares at her, "Hey! That is not the most dramatic way I could've done it! You should totally see me on my board!"

Splinter sighs with relief and chuckles a little, watching the cobra slide back up the shaft, like a white shadow fading to darkness, "Michelangelo, you are very impulsive. We already have enough wounded."

Mikey chuckles faintly, "Ya, but not enough smiles." He winces as he gets up, looking after the nagah, "Even made her smile and laugh."

Splinter half smiles, wondering how his sons would get along without this little prankster among them. He looks back towards the ledge, his thoughts with Raphael and Leo, then his eyes drop to the pool… a pool of healing… His eyes widen in shock, having completely forgotten about the qualities of the water, "Michelangelo! Soak your arm in the water!"

Mikey stares at his master for a moment, then walks over to the edge of the water, immersing his arm in the water. He doesn't understand his master's request until the pain slowly ebbs. With a deep sigh, he slips fully into the waters and watches with awe as his cuts heal, and he can feel his arm mending, "Dude! The Pool of Healing!"

Splinter stares in awe, then leaps onto the rope, running across to the ledge and disappearing into the darkness.

Donatello isn't sure what he prefers, the screaming, or the silence. Seeing his brother in so much agony makes him want to flee the room, to hide until all this is over. It also makes him want to find a cure for the poison, so they never have to go through this again. So, he sits on a bench at a table, looking at the nature of the poison in Yuki's blood. It attacks her cells like an exotoxin, burning through them at an alarming rate. What keeps the turtles safe are the healing qualities of the mutagen move more swiftly than the destruction of the poison. At the rate they're going, it could take weeks for Yuki to be poison free, and by then, the turtles won't be in any shape to help with moving the Clan out.

Raphael's hand lands on his shoulder lightly, giving it a squeeze, "Have you slept yet?"

Donnie shakes his head, "Not yet. There's still too much to do, she's not out of the woods yet. I just can't figure out how to counter this without our blood."

Splinter slams the doors open, a wild look in his eyes as he glances over Leo, "There is another way! Quickly, come with me!"

Donnie barely registers Splinter's words before he begins to unhook Leo from Yuki. Raphael freezes, watching as Leo's pain filled eyes begin to relax, and Yuki's body tenses with renewed pain, "Wait! What if she dies?"

Splinter waves for Donnie to grab Yuki, "She won't. Bring Leonardo, quickly!"

Raphael scoops up his brother, "Careful with her wings, Donnie, don't step on them."

Donnie shifts his hold on her, carefully folding her wings against his arms and Splinter helps him drape her tail over her legs, then they both follow Splinter out into the hallway.

Splinter freezes as they're confronted by a small army of driders and drow, all prepared to assassinate the new emperor before he can wipe them out. They will not go quietly as he had hoped. Drek's glare holds a light of insanity when he sees Yuki still breathing, "The Empress is alive!" Venom drips from his voice, "We'll have to remedy that."

Raphael begins to lower Leo to the ground so he can fight, but Splinter waves him on, "Go to the Pool and submerge them both! I will hold these beings here."

Raph bows his head slightly, "I'll be back for you, Master. Donnie! Stay right on my shell!" He hefts Leo a bit higher, his shell more outwards now, and he begins to plow through the dark mass of creatures. He can hear Donnie right behind him, with Splinter following briefly. Once through the masses, Raph spares a glance back. Splinter stands alone in the large hallway, a small figure against insurmountable odds, his staff held at his side. Raphael shakes his head, he could almost pity the drow. He leads Donnie through the maze of halls to Yuki's own chambers, a single door is the only way to the pool within the palace. He bursts through the delicate silver etched door and leaps straight off the ledge.

Splinter stands proudly in the middle of the hallway, no longer the feeble rodent that leaned on his staff for support. The driders are the first to test him, three charging him while the rest climb up the walls to chase the turtles and their precious cargo. Splinter's staff spins too fast for the eye to follow as he knocks the first drider into the top few on the wall, causing them all to fall. He does the same on the other side, and with a roundhouse kick, he sends the third back into the drows.

Darkness falls on the hallway, similar to what Alyssa summoned in the suite, and now Splinter is prepared for it. He closes his eyes, beating back the driders around him before they can even recover from the darkness. The battered bodies fly from the darkness, hitting the walls and sinking to the floor. Drek screams in anger, foam flecking his lips. The drow and what's left of the driders charge into the darkness, and Splinter takes full advantage of it. He begins to strike at those too close together, forcing them to fight each other. Without a strong leader, they don't have a chance. The drow are warier of this tactic, and the driders soon leave the darkness, hissing with frustration as most bear wounds from their own kind.

He plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse as he adjusts for their new tactics. Driders climb onto the walls and ceiling, trying to sneak past in the darkness, but Splinter hears them easily and leaps up to knock them all down. He defends his line viciously from drow and drider alike, refusing to budge until the darkness vanishes. At his feet, his final opponent, Drek, lies unconscious, a large lump on his skull showing Splinter's accuracy.

Raphael yells as he launches off the ledge and falls into the deep, cool water, Donatello leaping in after him with a nervous curse. He feels the waters close in all around him, and the feeling of tranquility cuts through his anger and fear like a sword. Leo drifts from his relaxed arms, his pained groans fading to sighs.

Donnie lands with Yuki held tight to his chest, worried that the impact could hurt her further. He's surprised as the worry suddenly eases, and more so, his headache from all the screaming and lack of sleep. Slowly his aching muscles relax, letting Yuki drift from his careless arms.

Raph turns his attention from Leo to Yuki, reaching out his hand to grab hers so he can pull her close. The lines of pain on her face ease, and the black and sickly green hues fade from under her snow-white scales. He breathes a sigh of relief when her deep blue eyes flutter open, "mmm… Raphael?" Her brows furrow with confusion, seeing him blurred among nothing but rainbow lights, "Am I… dead?"

Raphael smirks softly and brushes his thumb along her cheek, making her eyes drift closed briefly, "No. You're alive and safe."

Donnie pulls his arm from the water, watching it flow over his scales with a fascination, "This is an amazing reaction! There must be a large amount of magnesium and lithium sodium in the water." He closes his eyes and drifts in the cool water, feeling peaceful and even rested, "We need a pool like this at the lair."

Raph grins at Donnie's reaction, yanking Yuki into his arms and hugging her tightly, "Make it, genius. I'm sure you can."

Yuki hugs him back, wrapping her wings around his shell, "I was so scared, Raphael… I truly thought I was going to die and all I could think of was never seeing you again."

His heart melts at her words and every moment of pain becomes worth it tenfold, "I won't let you go that easily." He kisses her forehead lightly, "I have to go. Master Splinter needs our help. Stay here and rest, you've been through a lot. Leo will stay and keep you safe."

Leo smirks, floating like a log on his back, "I'm not going anywhere, I need this."

Donnie chuckles, and swims to the edge with Raphael, both climbing out and climbing back up the rope to disappear into the hallways.

Mikey peeks out from the tunnel, his eyes curious until he spots Leo and Yuki, "DUDE! Isn't that the best surfin' ever?"

Leo grins and nods, resting as much as he can, "Yup, glad you didn't get eaten."

Donnie and Raph race through the hallways, hoping they're not too late to help their master. As they turn the last corner, they skid to a stop, eyes wide as they take in the scene. Splinter sits cross-legged on the floor by a large pile of bodies, drider, and drow alike. Whenever someone moves, he smacks them quite soundly. His dark eyes sparkle with amusement, "There you are! I hope perhaps you could fetch a guard to take away these trouble makers. I fear if I leave, they will scurry into the shadows like roaches."

The grin on Raph's face couldn't get any bigger. Donnie nods and heads back down the hall to find the elite guard, most having been reassigned to the hatchery in fear of retaliation.