They had vetoed Leo and Mikey flying, since they would be picked up by radar within the city limits and would make a very odd flying creature if anyone happened to look up. Plus, he was the only one who knew where the house was, and he didn't want to give Don the directions in case they got into trouble. So, Leo drove, seeing as no one else knew where they were going. He didn't stop, even when eight hours had gone by, until Mikey complained that he had to visit the little turtles room. Then, grudgingly, Leo pulled over in a dense clump of bushes and Mikey ran off, swiftly followed by Raph and Don.
"I can't believe this," Leo said when they came back. "It's been only eight hours since we left home."
"I drank a lotta water," Mikey squeaked, seeking comfort in Leo's wing even as the turtle drove. "Besides, you can't stay mad at me." He made his best "puppy-dog" eyes and Leo sighed happily.
"No, I can't," Leo allowed, his wing unfolding fully as he let Mikey snuggle into him for warmth and comfort. Don and Raph snickered behind him, and Mikey cast a glance over at his brothers with a smirk.
"Of course not," Mikey said happily. "You know why? My Kavara can't resist his Kalian's pout." He turned watery eyes on Leo, who sighed and sped up slightly in preparation to pass a large truck.
"And said "Kavara" had better obey the speed limit unless we want a cop on our tail," Donnie scolded.
Leo passed the truck anyway, saying, "Donnie, it's the freeway. How much trouble can we get into?"
"Huh. Good point," Raph said distractedly. He was fingering his bandana tail in a nervous way, and Leo looked directly at him by way of mirror, sending him a mental pulse that told his brother their leader was always there for him, if he needed help.
"By the way," Leo drawled a few minutes later, "we're almost there." Raph and Donnie moved to the windows, looking for the signs or such. Leo turned off at an almost-unmarked exit.
"Where are we going?" Don asked.
"National Forest," Leo said, not deigning to say more. "We'll be there in an hour; Beth got the keys to the one in the very interior. It's very nice and we have it for a whole month if we want"
"Still," Raph said, looking at the scenery out his window, "I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Aw, is Raphie scared?" Mikey teased, huddling into Leo's wing even as Raph turned to pummel him in spite of Leo's close proximity. "Poor wittle Waphie."
"I'm going to hurt you as soon as your guardian leaves," Raph promised quietly. However, he knew he wouldn't do it, since he might lose himself and bite his little brother.
"Ha! No you won't; you might bite me!"
Immediately, Mikey realized what he had said was wrong, and Raph and Leo stiffened simultaneously. Leo's wing slapped Mikey hard while Raph turned away and Donnie hugged him gently.
"Sorry," Mikey whispered, sounding truly heartbroken. Raph nodded acceptance and Master Splinter was silent, sitting quietly in the back of the truck.
Raph was silent, and Don just held onto him comfortingly. Leo hugged Mikey and whispered to him, telling him how hard it was to change, and how painful it could be. Mike listened carefully, wondering if Raph would take on a "Kalian" of his own as Leo had. Mikey thought Leo had chosen him because he acted so innocent, he was fun to be with and could lift anyone's spirit with a smile, and because Mikey was the total opposite of Leo, and opposites attract.
When they arrived, the mood had lightened a little more, and Mikey was smiling happily, though he treaded carefully around moody Raphael. Leo flung his wings up to block the view out the windshield and forced them to close their eyes tightly and pull their bandanas around to cover them just in case. Then he led his brothers out, while Master Splinter followed, keeping his eyes shut out of courtesy to Leo's immense pride at finding them a place to hide out for a while.
"Alright, welcome to our home for the next month," Leo crowed, pulling their bandanas around in the same instant.
"Whoa!" Don cried, looking at the huge manor. Raph cursed and was whacked by Leo's wing and Master Splinter's walking stick. Mikey gasped happily and pulled Leo to him absently, hugging his brother around the waist.
It stood four stories tall, and was about a thousand square feet on the base alone. The front porch was large and had a few two- or three-seat-er swings. The outside was carved mahogany, Brazilian hard wood, and other expensive materials. Gold flakes speckled over the doorway on the sign saying, "Oak Forest Manor".
Leo led them inside, putting his small bag on the bench in the large mud room. He flipped some switches, punched a few buttons, and opened the door into the main room. An elegant flourish to bow his brothers into the room, and Leo was smiling brightly as his brothers looked around with amazement.
"Holy-"
"Raph!" Leo snapped humorously. "Come on, no cussing. Let's unpack the truck." Don stood for a moment, staring at the ornate decorations around them. The walls were brilliantly polished woods blending into a beautiful masterpiece that made it seem as though they were outside, and windows that looked directly into the yawning patch of forest beyond them. There were doors leading to other rooms, and a grand staircase like in the movies.
Soon, their stuff was in the living room, and Raph was looking anxiously for a room. Leo showed them around, made sure the hot tub was good and warm for relaxing, and doled out rooms. He and Mikey slept in the suite meant for a pair of friends, while Raph and Donnie took over the smaller one. Leo had tried to insist they take the larger one, but Don would have none of such "nonsense".
Raph was indisposed to care; he just dumped his stuff in a room and went to bed, feeling tired and cranky. Don took his temperature and pulse while he was out, and was a little worried. His temperature was as high as Leo with warm-blooded features, which meant that the hothead had a fever.
"Leo, why don't you talk to him a bit?" Don suggested when he and Leo passed in the hall. "He's scared of this; he wants to know more about the changes, what they're like."
"I will, I promise. But right now, he needs your calm support, Donnie. He needs someone to help him control that temper."
"Is that why you chose Mikey? You needed someone to help you accept and love these changes?" Don asked, gesturing towards Leo's wings.
"I guess. Remember, I got the instincts of a race that takes protecting its young very, very seriously. And… Mike's such a youngster at heart… Hey, if Raph does look to you like I do to Mikey, talk to Kalian for advice. He's helped me a whole bunch."
"I will, Leo, thanks." Don went off to search for the orange-banded turtle as Leo knocked on the door to Raph's room.
"Raph?" Leo asked, opening the door a crack. Ever since he'd stepped in unannounced and nearly ended up with a tossed Sai in his arm, Leo had learned to knock. Of course, since he was only seven at the time, he'd learned early, which was only for the better.
"Ugh…" Raph groaned from inside. Leo came in and found Raph stretched out on his plastron, his hands clenching his sheets painfully.
"Raph, you okay?" Leo asked, sitting gently on the bed next to him and resting a calm hand on his shell.
"Peachy," the hurting turtle said, true to form. "A little under the weather."
"Yeah, you're hurting badly and you don't want anyone to know," Leo interpreted. "What's it feel like?"
"Like something's trying to break free of my shell," Raph moaned, burying his face in the pillow. "Ow!"
"Hm. That's what it felt like when my wings grew in. I wonder if you're growing your own pair."
"Yours came in so less painlessly," Raph complained. "And quickly."
"Yeah, well mine was more of a mind matter. Your's is physical," Leo surmised, rubbing Raph's shell comfortingly. "I'll get Donnie to give you some pain killers."
Leo was about to get up when Raph's shell cracked and Raph let out a small yelp of pain. He cursed and clenched his fists as Leo sat down by him again.
Don came in and found Leo at a loss, but not willing to leave Raphael's side to get Donnie. The braniac was immediately concerned and took Leo's place as the blue-wearing turtle stepped out to seek Mikey and keep him from raiding the fridge.
"Raph, what's hurting?" Don asked, carefully touching the cracks in his hero's shell.
"Oooh… Right where you're touching," Raph gasped, kicking out slightly. "Leo thinks I'm growing a pair of wings."
"Possible, since this is in the same place as his. However, I don't see anything, and Leo's came in rather quickly. I'll give you a shot of morphine and let you sleep a bit. Morphine's the best thing right now," Don said when Raph started to argue.
"Wow." Mikey whistled as he peeked into Raph's bedroom a few hours later. The small turtle looked up at his Kavara and smiled. "Are ya jealous?"
"What? Mikey, no," Leo insisted. He watched Raph sleep, the little buds of wings poking through his shell. Don was on the bed next to him, sleeping fitfully.
"Come on. It's your bed time, Kalian," Leo teased, pulling Mike away.
"Yes, Kavara," Mikey answered sarcastically, wrapping himself in Leo's wing. "Sleepy…" he pretended to fall asleep and fell backward into his brother's wing, hoping to get a free ride into the room.
"Hmph. Freeloader," Leo grumbled happily, adjusting his wing angle to form a "seat" for Mikey.
"Murph," Mikey said in retaliation.