Feline Clash

Disclaimer: I don't own the turtles, and I'm quite sure the cats would be offended if I called them mine, therefore, I am the cats servant.

Chapter Thirteen - Making Friends

Donny smiled, as he leaned back in his chair, " Can we talk?"

Leonard nodded at Donny, he found a place to set the arm load of books he had picked down, then settled into a chair. "What is it that you wish to talk about Donny?"

"There are some things that we saw last night some of the technology the military officials had, that I'd like to know more about. What kind of weapons do they have or would be using, is there anything we can use or do to make the weapons less dangerous to us?"

"Ah, I see" Leonard nodded, "Classified information. The sort of thing we are not to reveal to anyone. Highly dangerous," the cougar curled his lips baring his fangs.

Donny winced slightly, " Leonard, this is different we want to he…"

"Help us?" Leonard cut in then grinned, "I realize that Donny besides, are we not free now, to do as we please. Are we still slaves to bide by our Master's demands, have we not risen and broken the chains that bound us?"

Donny smiled, "So you will tell me."

"Of course, you have given me the books to read. And, could I ask one more thing?" Leonard asked hesitantly.

Donny nodded "Ask, I'll do what I can for you Leonard."

Leonard's mouth twitched, "You can use that computer yes? I would like to know more about using them. I was taught certain things as was needed. But only trained in what was necessary. Raph and Don used to tell me that there was more to do with them, but they used the computers more than I or Michael."

Donny laughed, "I'll show you everything I can, there are many things that you might not have a chance to learn. Not to mention that, depending on where you decide to rest or call home, you may not have much access to computers." Donny warned.

"I realize that," Leonard confessed. "Now the weapons the worst type of weapon is a paralyser it shoots out a ray that basically paralyses the person for a period of time, the amount of time depends on the strength of the ray, the setting."

Donny nodded to show he understood, "But it does wear off right?"

"Eventually yes," the cougar nodded, "usually with no ill effects other then you can feel so achy with all the pins and needles through the whole body. By the time it wears off you feel pretty worn out. They used that one a lot on Raph and he would threaten Don all the time when he came out of it."

Donny blinked, "Why threaten Don?"

Leonard smiled, "Don made it for them, it was one of his inventions. If it hits you any where you just fall to the ground unable to move or do anything."

Donny scowled darkly, that didn't sound good, "Is there any way to counter act the effects?"

"No, I'm afraid not Don wasn't allowed to work something like that into it. The officials felt it did not need any," Leonard coughed slightly, "enhancements. All I know is the best way is not to get hit with it. We've all suffered it once or twice."

" Right can you draw what the weapon looks like?" Donny asked.

"I could yes," Leonard agreed.

Donny turned and got a pad of paper from out of a drawer on the computer desk, he handed it and a pencil to the large feline who immediately began to draw, the pencil looked small in the paw like hand.

In a few minutes Leonard tore off a page showing a detailed picture of the drawing with certain information listed on the page. There was front, side and back view. A notation of scale with a star by it, and a small disclaimer note for the star, - might not be exact to scale but close.

Donny's jaws dropped as he looked at it he, hadn't been expecting something this detailed. Yet thanks to the information now found on the page Donny was certain that he could easily tell when any soldier would be holding that weapon.

"Were you all taught to draw like this?"

Leonard shifted uneasily and nodded slightly, "It was part of our early training to relay certain information. If we didn't get enough stuff into the drawing we were punished. We had to give everything we could." Leonard shuddered slightly, "I recall a snow Leopard one of our group, she had come into heat and had no interest in drawing detailed information, they killed her in front of us."

Leonard gulped swallowing hard.

"Leonard, I'm sorry I …I didn't mean to bring up bad memories." Donny quickly apologised.

Leonard shrugged a little, "The whole place there is a bad memory. I don't want to go back." The cougar clenched his hands into tight balled fists, "they would kill Don and most likely Rayel too. I don't know what they'd do to Michael and I but I am sure they would find some way to keep us their slaves."

Donny reached out and rested a reassuring hand on Leonard's arm, "We don't have to do this now. I don't need to know all the information at once." Donny realized, that getting Leonard to talk about these weapons was difficult for the cougar, it brought back dark memories of being trapped and living in fear, learning to obey orders or die.

Leonard shook his head, "You didn't hurt us, they are only memories and they hurt. But you are trying to assist us for that we shall carry on." The cat declared firmly.

XXX

Leo was out meditating in the meadow, he breathed deeply his senses highly attuned. He could hear the distant call of Mike and Don chasing one another, the gentle whispered wind touching his skin and rustling grass stalks and leaves on the trees, as well as the birds singing and calling. He could smell the grass and dirt under him. He was one with his surroundings, he was one with the peace and tranquility.

He looked half asleep, sitting there in lotus position. But while he seemed far off, in reality, Leonardo was very present. His senses so alert and keyed to everything around him that there was no chance that he would be taken by surprise.

Leo reached out further and then, he sensed, felt the presence of another being coming closer. The being walked softly and quietly as any ninja, it could have been any of his brothers. But something in the ground itself, told Leo that who ever was approaching had to be big.

'Michael.' Leo thought to himself, 'He can walk on cat feet but he still can't totally hide his bulk, weight and power.' Leo opened his eyes and turned unerringly towards the Tiger.

Michael had an astonished look as if he hadn't been expecting to be caught, but the look was quickly masked. His long tail twitched though revealing his frustration.

"Not many people hear the cat sneaking up on them." Michael commented casually.

"Ninja are not most people," Leo pointed out gently, "the ninja warrior is taught to be at one with their surroundings, to be so familiar with what is suppose to be there, that it is easier to detect what shouldn't be." He smiled, "Meditation helps open the senses, heightens things makes us more aware of the things around us. I could feel you walking, the slight difference in the swish of the grass that was not quite in time with the wind."

Michael wrinkled his muzzle, "You are able to know these things?"

"That and a lot more thanks to my training," Leo replied. "You have a lot of natural instincts which, you can rely on that meditation assists me with. Your eyes, are fully capable of seeing in the dark, you have a good sense of hearing, smell and are able to conceal yourself well a lot of that is pure instinct."

Michael nodded agreement, "It is partially why we were chosen for the program."

"I could teach you more about that stuff, but it isn't what you need to know right now. You need to learn more how to lead the others and be the effective leader without letting your instincts rule you." Leo began, he glanced over at Michael who had shifted his position to stand with arms crossed, a hint of a sneer on his face.

"Michael, if you don't want to listen or choose to accept my help that's fine. But who will you hurt in the end? If you broke free of the tyranny at the military base, then try to force your own rules on them don't you see them rising against you or perhaps just going their own way?" Leo asked.

He knew that it was up to Michael to accept the help or not. "Trust me Michael, your instinct could lead you to kill some one like Don."

Michael growled darkly, his eyes narrowed and the cat's body tensed as his lips curled up showing the sharp white teeth. "It is over it will not happen again."

"Don has forgiven you, it happened it is in the past yes. But what isn't in the past is your instinct and the way you follow it. Not to mention that you saw harsh forms of discipline all around you, you learned one could lead by threat, intimidation and true brute force." Leo accused, "While those attributes might get you through in a battle, it doesn't build trust or confidence. Nor does it help form the strongest bond you can have in any battle that, of knowing your friends will protect your back and not try to stab you in it."

Leo noted that the tiger's ears had flattened against his head, the tail was slapping and moving over the ground in sheer agitation and the growl was growing deeper and more intimidating at the moment.

Leo inwardly gulped, it seemed that Michael was spoiling for a fight, as if determined to put Leo in his place- which was probably under Michael- but Leo could not permit this. He had to take risks and hopefully get the mutant tiger to see that there was another way. The sooner Michael started to act like a true leader- one who could be strong, but inspire confidence, trust and a willingness to do anything for him -not just because he asked and you were afraid of consequences but because you were sure of yourself and your team.

The ninja turtle stood his ground refusing to back down, he stood straighter, meeting the tiger's gaze and holding it in his own. For a moment they stood neither giving in their stance.

Finally, Michael hung his head and shifted his feet backing up a little. Leo did his best not to smile outwardly. "Tell me Michael, do you want to be the sort of leader that others are afraid of, or do you want to be the sort of leader who will be thought of as fair, who has earned respect and trust of those under him?"

Michael shook his head, "I know no other way."

"If you could learn a different way? How can you make a choice if you have only known one thing in your life?" Leo asked, "Sometimes to make a choice you have to have it offered first. I'm offering you a chance to look and do things a different way. You can learn it, and then decide what you want for yourself."

Michael scowled as he puzzled over these words. Then he slowly nodded, "where do I start?"

XXX

Raphael was working on some sai katas in the barn. His weapons flashing as he whirled, kicked and struck at the punching dummy in the corner of the barn. Raph seemed oblivious to the sweat on his face, or the warm closed in stuffy feeling of the barn.

Rayel who had enjoyed some food after her shower had gone up to the hay loft to sleep. The soft sounds of feet falling, the gentle ring of metal now and again, the thud or thunk sound of something hitting or connecting with another item somewhere below roused her from her nap.

She stretched and yawned and peeked down the stairwell that went from the main floor to the hay loft, and saw the work out. She jumped slowly cautiously to a rafter beam of the barn and walked along it like a balance beam to where she could observe the work out with out being seen.

Rayel, could sense that he was very much lost in his work out. Some deep instinct called to her to pounce…attack, to feel his blood over her teeth and in her mouth.

Yet, at the same time she was drawn to the skill the turtle displayed in his practice, and his weapons, they intrigued her. Rayel had always preferred the smaller knives and the like. But she had never seen anything like the weapons Raph used.

Rayel was willing to ignore the instincts direction, she was at the moment well fed, and content she really had no desire to battle over something insignificant.

Raph went to sheathe his weapons then whirled letting one fly, the prongs of the weapon dug into the wood of the beam that Rayel was on. "I don't like being spied on."

Rayel hissed in surprise, her ears flattened and her hair raised slightly. Then she cocked her head as she reached for the weapon, her fingers curled around the handle. "Can't a girl watch? I thought guys like to have females ogling their muscles and physique." She said as she leaped from the beam, did a few summersaults and landed on the barn floor in a poise ready to strike.

Raph snorted, "I'm sure Leo would want to be petted that way." He grunted.

Rayel arched her eye brows and laughed at his comment, "I have a feeling we could be considered kindred souls. Both of us like things hot."

Raph blinked wondering if the panther was making a play of some kind for him. He smirked, "You could be a hell of a ninja if ya wanted to kitty."

Rayel curled her lip, "But why would I want to be ninja? I'm a cat and we cats know we are good."

Raph chuckled a little and reached out his hand for his sai.

Rayel smirked and kept it close to herself, "Seems the turtle wants some shiny claws of his own. I've never seen these before," she whispered in a low voice. "Very shiny and very deadly. I like the weight and feel, it feels as if it was made for my hands."

Raph grinned, realizing that Rayel appreciated the weapon, "It's the best weapon around." He insisted, "You want I can show ya how to use them."

Rayel smiled, "You would do that for me?" She wondered sweetly.

"Sure, kitty if ya want." Raph nodded.

"When I learn it, then what will you give me what I want?" Rayel crooned as she made sure to keep the sai well out of Raph's reach.

"Depends on what you want" Raph declared, "I don't promise anything till I know what it is, that I'm promising."

Rayel narrowed her eyes to mere slits she gave a slight nod of her head, "Very wise of you. I want to keep the weapons, once trained I'd like to have them and I doubt I could pick these up somewhere out in the mountains."

Raph scowled, he didn't like to lose weapons, though realistically, he would not be losing the weapons he'd be giving them to a student. Not only that he had other zai at home to choose from so it wasn't that losing this set to Rayel would be that difficult.

Raph's hand shot out and Rayel clutched the sai close spun around, and went to flee. Raph used all of his speed and ninja skill to cut her off, "That ain't yours till ya earn it kitty."

Rayel's eyes glittered in the semi darkness of the barn, "Then you will let me have them?"

"Yup, if ya earned them. Fine weapons gotta be earned." Raph insisted as he forced the weapon free from Rayel's grip.

"My name is Rayel, not kitty." the panther, sniffed in disdain.

Raph shrugged indifferently, "Call it a perk of my training ya. I gotta get something out of this besides training you and losing my weapons."

Rayel tensed suddenly, not feeling so comfortable all of a sudden. She wanted to escape and pull away. Her heart hammered in her rib cage and her tail began to slash showing her unease.

"Hey whats'a matter?" Raph asked backing off slightly. He had seen Rayel enough in her attack moods and bad temper that he wasn't so sure he wanted to challenge her that way…at least not at this particular moment. Rayel he all ready knew could be a mean fighter.

Rayel hissed angrily, "What other perks will you be wanting?"

Raph realized what he had said and how it had to have connected for the panther. Rayel who had been forced into a female form after being a male, and then being forced by one of the military personnel. 'How much ya want to bet that he used the word perks or benefits of the job?' He mentally cursed himself for that.

"Rayel hey, nothing like that I promise. Nothin physical beyond showing you how to use the weapons. Nothing else is expected of you towards me. Hell, I don't even expect ya to be my friend. I just think Kitty, is more feminine then Rayel. You don't want to be called Kitty fine forget it." Raph insisted, keeping his voice as serious as he could.

Rayel took a deep breath, her body trembled but she sensed that he was being sincere. She gave a small grin and did her best to relax "You can call me Kitty."

Raph held out a hand to her, "Come on I'll show ya how to handle the weapons."

TBC