No more time for meandering

That evening before suppertime Tri and Nubs went out to watch the construction of Forest.

As they sat and watched the strange and mystical construction Nubs ate some dandilions he had picked along the way.

"Tri." Nubs said as he finished his dandilions.

"Hmm?" The Mutant Margay Cub turned her head

"Do you remember..." Nubs gulped down the last of the flowers "...What it was like being a Normal Animal?"

"Actually Nubs." Tri pulled her knees close "...I never was a normal animal...I was born a Mutant, my Mama and Papa they were once normal animals, but they never said anything to me about what it was like before they...Died."

Nubs didn't have any idea what to say in response so he quietly sucked his finger and turned to look at the construction.

"Ever since Eleanor adopted me." Tri sighed as she looked at the evening sky "The other Yucatan Cubs...Who were born in the same lab I was...Don't look at me the same anymore, sometimes they call me 'The Princess' sometimes they call me worse things...But you..." She turned and looked at Nubs "You're different. You've been the best friend I've had my entire life!"

Nubs smiled. Then he saw something hangin from a nearby tree

"What's that?" He asked

"That." Tri looked where he was looking "That's a swing. You sit in it."

They walked over to the swing. Nubs began to sit in it but his heavy Rhino Body was too large to fit in it. So he quickly got out.

"How about I'll sit in it." Tri demonstrated by sitting herself down "And you push me."

"Push you?" Nubs cocked his head

"That's how you play with the swing!" Tri chirped "Someone sits in the swing and someone either pushes them or you push yourself by swinging your legs."

Nubs started pushing, barely pushing at first because he wasn't sure how much strengh was needed, but very quickly got got into the literal swing of things and with his massive mucscles was the best swing pusher anyone could wish for.

Tri laughed and laughed as he kicked out her legs with glee! She saw the Normal Birds flying towards the setting sun and for a moment she dreamed she was flying with the angels in Heaven!

Then she swung backwards...And Nubs suddenly wasn't behind her.

Tri opened her eyes and looked around. "Nubs?" She mewed Nubs was no where to be seen.

She got off the swing. She looked behind the tree "Nubs?" She called

His scent was hanging around but it was becoming fainter by the minute, Tri was beginning to panic.

The Turtles were once again eating Pizza for supper in the lair, feeling refelctive after the whole thing with Bluey when Olive came racing in.

"Guys! Guys! She panted "Something's happened!"

"Happened?" Leo asked

"Come..." Olive gulped "...Come to the Bureau! No time for questions."

At the Bureau lobby Nim and Chloe were weeping, both the Mutant Rat and Mutant Lynx was covering her face with her hands.

Hank sat despondantly, with Earl and Wyatt sitting beside him in an attempt to console him.

And Knuckles! Leo had never seen the Mutant Jackrabbit like this. He his in a corner, hiding his face by covering it with his long ears.

"Karai..." Leo stepped forward "What the shell happened?"

Karai turned to Tri "Why don't you give your side of the story first?" She didn't seem harsh with the Mutant Cub only emotionally crushed

Tri stepped forward

"Nubs and me went to Forest..." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand "...And Nubs saw a swing and we started...I sat in the swing and Nubs pushed me...We were having so much fun..."

Don looked at Mikey both felt a tightening of the throat, something had happened and it wasn't pleasent.

Tri continued "...Then one moment he isn't behind me anymore...I can't find him anywhere...He didn't even leave any tracks!"

Karai sighed "Within the same hour this happened...We got this."

She looked away in shame as she handed Leo the ransom note, it was the steretypical ransom note written with letters cut out from magazines...

It read

My Dear Karai

I have got the Mutant Rhino Calf for I was the one who Mutated him.

You have 48 Hours to return my Weapons to me so we can all be one happy family

If they are not returned to me in 48 Hours you will never see that Calf again.

With Love

Constantine Savage.

Reading that note particurally the 'One Happy Family' line Leo bit his lip so hard a drop of blood fell upon the note.

"We're getting him back." Leo said firmly

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