A/N: Just another reload, pay it no mind.
11.
Bima was about to head to Canada's nearest border, when her head suddenly snapped to the left. She hissed in surprise and stopped her ascent, instead changing into a steep dive. It was all Raph could do to keep from shouting in shock.
"Are you out of your mind?! What are you doing? I thought we was headin' north!" he yelled mentally.
The turquoise water of Lake Ontario kept coming faster. Unless you want unneeded eyes on you, you'll keep quiet, she hissed.
"At the speed you're goin' we're gonna get crushed!"
Nuh-uh! The dragon banked hard to the right before smacking the water and landed with all the grace of a swan. Before Raph could take a breath, she went under, paddling swiftly to the bottom. Bubbles escaped his mouth one by one until he was absolutely sure he would drown on the back of a crazed ancient reptile. It was beautiful under here, he had to admit, but he wasn't looking forward to drowning.
"I'm gonna have last say before I die of water in my lungs," he snarled weakly as she grabbed the waterweeds with her claws. "You're a two-faced, reptilian, long-eared, old scaly relic!" Darkness was about to take his mind when he found he could breath as easily as if in the air. "What the heck…?"
Bima glanced backwards through the liquid at the bemused turtle, smiling. I'm lucky I remembered my secret ability before long. As long as you stay on me, you can inhale air from the water as if you had gills.
"Well, it would've been useful if you'd used that at the warehouse," he muttered darkly.
However, with the names you called me, I think I should leave you here.
"Do it, and I'll stab yer hide with my trusty sai."
Go ahead and try it, hairless wonder.
"Look who's talkin'!"
Guys! Yoohoo? Keilah knocked both their mental heads with her hand, startling them back into reality. I'd like to inform you that a big mutant this way comes. Actually, I'm not entirely sure what it is, but take a look.
Raphael turned around slowly and came face to face with a small plesiosaur. He just froze in shock. It paddled gently toward him with its large flippers and gazed intelligently into his eyes. About four feet long in length, it had sharp predator teeth for catching fish and other delicacies. It's eyes were a bright yellow, slitted and wide for looking around underwater.
"Oh my cod." Under the circumstances, the expression fit rather well. Otherwise, Bima might have burst out laughing.
The plesiosaur (it made Raph jump) chuckled softly. "Strange company you keep these days, Bimarousa." Both passengers on the water-breathing dragon stared, trying not to laugh out loud.
Bimarousa? That's a new one. What's next? Bimatussle? Keilah roared, tears running down her now red cheeks. Bima blushed out of complete embarrassment and hid her head in the mud like an ostrich.
Raph attempted to poke the tiny dinosaur, but it slipped gracefully away. "I thought the dinos were extinct."
"All the landwellers died. They didn't know how to swim."
"Come again?"
"Oh, about 4,00 years ago, this huge flood came. Huge. As in, cover Mount Everest huge. I stayed hidden in the depths of the sea, but my buddies claim to have seen a big boat full of animals. I didn't believe them of course. Not too long ago, I found my way into this paradise."
"So, you're sayin' all that Bible hooey is true?"
"I guess."
Raph snorted and decided to drop the subject. "You're 4,000 years old, eh? Wow, and I thought Bima was ancient." The dragon yanked her head out of the mud and scowled, giving the turtle a sharp rap on the beak. He rubbed it and grumbled something.
The plesiosaur bowed in the only way one can in water. "It was nice to chat, Bimarousa, but I must go catch my dinner. Farewell!" He propelled himself like an arrow, shooting away from the group of misfits.
Raph tapped Bima on the neck. "So, exactly what were you so worried about on the surface?"
The dragon began sloshing slowly through the water. Nosy fishermen. They're really abundant in these parts.
"Oh, is that all?" He smirked.
Shut up, beak boy.
Leo had no notion of where he was. At one moment, it seemed to him that he was dead. Pain told him otherwise. Darkness had filled his vision for nearly half an hour, as that was when he would guess he woke up. His right arm appeared to have a deep gash in it near the shoulder, and the blood flow was kept at bay with his hand blocking the laceration. Other cuts riddled his battered body in several places. He blinked and struggled hard against the large slab that pushed on his back. If he hadn't a shell, it would've crushed him by now.
The nearly unconscious turtle gritted his teeth wearily and gently pulled his bloody hand away from the gash. He was well aware that if he lost too much blood, he'd either faint or die buried in his own home. He refused to let it happen. Growling weakly, Leo groped around and found a comfortably long pipe with which to lever the big piece of sewer cement off him. He gave an exerted grunt as he pushed the grievance with his improvised weapon. With a soft groan of defeat, it flipped over and slammed into the ground, inches from him injured arm.
Leonardo stood shakily and bumped his head when he was no more than four feet up. He snarled something that would've shocked his brothers if they'd been there and probed the ceiling with his pipe, right arm dangling uselessly by his side. It wouldn't give, no matter how hard he pushed. Sighing, he fell back into a crawling position, flinching as a dull throb of pain came from his right arm. About three feet from his waking destination, he bumped into the wall with his beak. Rubbing it crossly, he pressed his ear to the obstacle and was surprised to hear a barely recognizable whimper on the other side.
There was no doubt. It was Mikey. He muttered excitedly and grabbed his pipe, using it to batter a small hole through to the outside world. Light flooded into his chamber through the heavenly escape route. He sat down to regain his breath when Michelangelo's cries were silenced. If Leo'd had ears, they would've perked up.
"Hold it, Mikey. I heard something." Don. The elder turtle in the chamber was sure of it. No other person could sound so calm in such a situation.
Leo almost groaned with annoyance as a mental whisper slid across his mind. I'm sensing weak energy over to your left, Donnie boy. Not another dragon, he moaned inwardly. I've had quite enough of those ancient lizards.
"Told you they weren't dead!" Donatello accused. With some difficulty, Leo was able to see what was going on outside his prison. Don was getting closer, the dragon in his mind poking him in the right direction. "Alright, Saesha, which one is it?"
The shimmering image of a lavender dragon appeared in Leo's fevered mind. I'm not telling you anymore than this: right in front of you, Sir Compass. Don made a screwed face at her name for him.
"Sir compass? Where'd that come from?" he muttered as he stuck a hand through Leo's light source, temporarily darkening the room. The elder turtle gently laid his hand on Donnie's, resulting in a jerk of shock from his brother. "Three fingers.." he mused. It was as if a light bulb went off in his head. "Leo! Oh good gosh, I'm gonna get ya out, don't you worry!" He tugged at the rubble, only to have it stubbornly stay in place.
A hollow thump came to both brothers' ears. "Don? Who'd you find?" Mikey's left leg came into view, and Leonardo noticed, with a small amount of sympathy, that it was in a cast from the bottom of his foot to just above his knee.
Don pulled his hand out and turned to rebuke Mikey with all the worry of a mother hen. "You, Mr. Turtle, are supposed to stay on the table! I intend to keep it that way, so move your shell back to the railroad car!" Michelangelo thumped back to the metal table, murmuring darkly about a certain reptile that refused to answer his question. "If it makes you feel any better about me, I found Leo," he called to the sulking turtle. Mikey turned so Don couldn't see his face immediately brighten at this new information.
What am I, chopped liver? the dragon growled.
"I can do this by myself, Saesha! I..don't..need..your—WHOA!" Don's grip on the hole edges slipped and he ended up falling backwards onto his shell. Saesha began to chuckle as he stood and glared at empty space. "Not funny."
You do need me, no matter how much you try to deny it. Admit your weakness.
Don crossed his arms and muttered something indecipherable that Leo and Mikey couldn't hear, but apparently, Saesha could.
Why you cheeky little…"Don't even bother continuing with that sentence, Saesha. Tatsu Morph!" Leonardo was temporarily blinded as the dragon took shape. Once the light faded, he could easily see she was the runt of the litter.
I heard that, smart one. Leo silently cursed their mind reading ability as she began gouging the walls with her claws. The first thing he saw was the lavender paw adorned with silver claws. He took a quick glance at its configuration. It had three fingers and a thumb like a lion's. The claws were razor sharp, sharp enough to cut granite he would guess. The paw jerked back out for another forceful blow to the barrier.
Phew…almost through, Saesha?
If I was going any faster, your brother would have dust in his eyes.
Leo tried his hand at speaking. "Too late," he croaked. His throat worked furiously to give itself moisture. Water was definently on his list of things to do. Amongst other embarrassing things, he also noticed that he desperately needed to 'pop a squat', as Mikey so eloquently put it.
This is taking too long for my liking. Your brother will never get out at this rate. The hole had been somewhat enlarged by her moving shovels, but Saesha began berating herself out of pure boredom with her task.
Well then put a little effort into it, shrimp boat! Now dig! Don commanded impatiently.
The dragon's next inquiry was directed at Leo. Is he always this grumpy? He seems to need at least two days worth of rest. Leo smiled as she started her next assault on the wall. After a few test strokes with her lethal claws, Saesha commented something in slight satisfaction and practically dove into the pile of rubbish.
Oh dear! Stop, this is too fast! The next noise that poor Donnie made told Saesha and Leo that he had went and hurled into a corner of her mind.
The lavender dragon suddenly tumbled through the roof, landing heavily on her back. Oh, bother! I wouldn't be surprised if I broke a wing! And clean that mess up, Don A. Tello! Gross! She stuck out a slightly pointed tongue as she scrambled to her feet. How would you like it if somebody regurgitated in your mind? Leonardo started to giggle, an activity that stung his gashed arm. Are you laughing at me, young'un? Saesha narrowed her purple eyes to slits as he sniggered.
He coughed suddenly, jiggling his injured arm. "Er, no." She dusted herself off absently and ambled over to the pain shaken turtle. Leo was about to comment on her size when she gave him a knowing death glare that made him think better of it.
Saesha poked his knee with a sharp claw. If we're done silently socializing now, Don tells me he'd like to have a look at your ugly gash…and a urine test.
Don turned white with embarrassment and rage. Saesha, you dirty little…I don't want a urine test!!!
If he'd been in physical form beside the dragon, oh the beating he would've given! It wasn't often that Don got cheesed off and when he did, it wasn't pretty. This was one of those times. The genius of the family uttered several colorful metaphors that shocked Leo before he remembered doing the same thing while trapped in this prison.
Saehsa clapped a paw over her ear and groaned. Okay, I get it now! Sheesh…I wouldn't be surprised if your brother had an infection by now.
WHICH IS WHY I NEED OUT!!! Don thundered. He tapped his foot in irritation as the dragon stuck a finger into her ear and made a squeaking sound as she strove to hear out of it again.
Darn you, I went deaf! she complained hotly. Next thing I know, I'll be blind and mute as well!
"I, for one, would welcome the mute status," Leo grumbled, shifting his death grip on his arm. If looks could kill, Leo would be out in a millisecond.
Is there even one of you who doesn't wisecrack twenty-four seven?
For the love of Pete…
The dragon scowled. Fine, Mister Sourpants! Tatsu Reverse! The blinding flash lit the chamber once more and Don fell through the improvised skylight, landing on his plastron with a loud 'Oof!'.
Don rose onto his knees and rubbed his purple clothed forehead. "Oh brother, if you ever start flying while transforming back again, I will personally see to your skinning alive," he growled. Leo stood shakily, leaning against the wall for support. He suddenly felt woozy. Don's eyes fell upon him and immediately had the you're-hurt-and-need-dire-assistance-with-walking look.
Hey, if you think I'm bad, wait till one of you gets Iwansi, Saesha remarked, scratching her long ear with a hind leg. A random thought that sprang into Leo's mind was the fact that she looked like a flea-bitten cur dog. She stopped. I heard that Leonerdo. He blushed.
Don grabbed his good arm and steadied him. "Okay, Leo. We're gonna get ya outta here. Do you think you can get out the exit we—er, I mean, Saesha made?" He was about to say 'we' but got a say-it-and-I'll-annoy-you-to-kingdom-come glare from his compatriot. A silent nod was all he got before Leo grunted in pain and leapt for the hole. Don followed soon after, shaking his head at the vicious rebuking he was getting from Saesha.
As soon as Leo hit the floor, Mikey was on him like an anaconda. The hugs were squeezing the breath right out of him. "Oh, Leo! Hey dude! What's cookin'?" His eyes landed on the deep gash that was now seeping blood from the scab reopening, and he cringed. "Man, you get cut with a butcher knife or somethin'?"
Leo gently pushed his younger brother off of him and prepared to flip up. "Nuh-uh, Mikey. Dunno how I got it." Stars danced in his vision and he felt unusually hot. "I need some water before I faint, Mikey." He saluted and ran as best he could with his cast, stubbing it on random pieces of rubble that lay around on his way to the kitchen. Woe to the rocks that got in his way. They were soon sailing all over the place, Mikey's dark mutterings echoing around the lair.
Don caught his older brother just as he began to fall from sheer dehydration and exhaustion. "Whoa, boy! You need that gash fixed, Leo, right after Mikey returns with the water."
I seem to remember that the man caught the woman in a dance. Which one of you is the woman?
She received a bone-chilling glare in return. "You're just off the charts on the annoying meter, aren't you?"
If you think I'm bad, again, wait till you meet Iwansi to judge who's annoying and who isn't.
Michelangelo hopped clumsily over a rusty pipeline that had fallen from the ceiling, spilling a bit of the cupful of water he had. "Gotcha some water, bro! Drink up!" Leo accepted the liquid with unspoken gratitude as he guzzled it down, finally letting a satisfied sigh leave him.
Don appeared from his 'magic closet' with a bottle of opaque liquid and a couple of cotton balls. "Leo, I'm gonna have to clean that wound out, and I'm praying that you'll be at least a little quieter than Mikey here, who could've summoned a S.W.A.T. team." Mikey suddenly became interested in the floor.
Leonardo gritted his teeth and pushed himself into a sitting position on the metal table. "Oh shell, this is gonna hurt…" Don winced in waiting for the pained shriek to follow, but Leo remained silent; the only evidence of a sting were tears. He grimaced as he continued to clean the deep gash. It was large, going from above the elbow to the beginning of his shoulder.
Mikey started giggling for absolutely no reason at all. Leo and Don both exchanged puzzled glances until Saesha appeared in their minds, mimicking Don's every move with an extra swagger.
Leo licked his lips. "Have you guys seen Master Splinter?" The giggling stopped, as did the cleaning activity of his arm.
Don gazed mournfully at the pile of remaining rubble that was still intact from Saesha's imitation of a mole. "No, Leo. We were going to look for him, but I gotta clean and stitch this bad boy before he gets infected. Say, where'd Mikey go?" They looked around for their younger brother. "Not here, obviously."
"Hey, dudes! I found him! I found Master Splinter!"
Don dropped a cotton ball and sprang toward Mikey's voice. "I'm comin'!"