Unexpected Mother

Part 32

(April is 30, Leatherhead is 32, turtles are 6, Donnie is 13 and Venus is 5.)

Previously…

Usagi witnessing something unbelievable that happened to his student whom he couldn't explain, is haunted by Leo's words. "They are alive." Double guessing his conclusion to what may have happened to Leo's family, Usagi tells Alopex to stay at Leo's side while he goes back to the farmhouse in search of clues. Fearing his student might be suffering with something that might be the cause of these delusions of his family being alive, Usagi suddenly finds out he wasn't the only one wanting to investigate the farmhouse. The rabbit is now surrounded by the foot clan… And Karai is demanding that Usagi gives her Leonardo.

Usagi POV

"Karai I don't have any clue what you're referring to. I haven't seen my friend Leonardo for years," Usagi lied not taking his hand off the hilt of his blade, which was still not drawn until he must.

The former samurai preferred not to enter combat unless it was necessary. With the odds stacked against him, he figured he would be able to take some of the mutated ninjas down if it came to it.

However, when it was the question of Karai, he felt a bit of a disadvantage compared to her, not over skill, but more towards other things...

The female ninja not pleased with his answer cast her gaze upon him, making him wary.

She was a bird of prey and could use that to her advantage of having not only the ground but the sky as her play ground.

If he could describe her in a few words, Karai reminded him of a harpy with the look of a hawk.

The ninja face that remarkably resembled a human's, indeed had a beak that appeared as some form of armor covering the nose area, which wasn't her mouth. She still had lips under the beak's tip.

Where she used to have hair was now replaced with long feathers, and her extended ears were pointed and the huge human eyes on either side of her beak glowed gold.

Her large wings attached to her back like an angel made it possible for her to have freedom for her arms that were covered with small light brown feathers.

Karai's hands were humanish, with long claw like nails.

Not like most mutants Usagi came across, Karai's body as well kept its features, and could be mistaken being human, with feather covering it in decoration, only showing skin around the stomach that was peaking through her clothes and also her chest area.

When it came to her legs, they were long and slender, with powerful large talon feet that could rip Usagi's flesh if she did strike him.

"Don't lie to me hare!" Karai stepped forward stretching her wings to full length, then tightening them back to her body again.

"I am not lying ninja, and I'm a rabbit not a hare!" Usagi huffed on the insult.

Standing his ground, Usagi watched the hawk who stared at him, reading him, calculating everything about him and this situation.

"I know this is the O'Neil residence and my student April is friends with him. I would figure after everything he would come here eventually, so where is she and Leonardo!" Karai demanded, as Usagi froze not believing what his ears heard.

Did this foot ninja, the same ninja whom his old friend was enemies with stating she was Leo's mother's master?!

The rabbit was still not certain what happened to his best friend or why he insists this April person is his mother, but to find out that same woman was a student of the foot only brought fear to his accusations.

He wondered if the foot did have something to do with the age issue on Leo, if so was Karai now here to collect? Even if that was true, she said April and Leo were friends not mother and child. How much did Karai know about Leo's predicament?

"I do not know who owns this place. I just came here to look for supplies. It appeared to be abandoned; if only I knew you would be here I would never bother."

Sighing Karai drew her blade pointing towards Usagi, "Enough of your lies!"

"Master Usagi!" Leo's voice called out weakly from the tree line.

Upon hearing his student's voice, Usagi's blood ran cold as he cursed under his breath.

Alopex was to keep Leo in the cabin. Why was the foolish child out of bed and here of all places?!

Whipping his head around to see Leo, Usagi's heart race when Karai quickly took flight swooping the child up, landing away from the growling surprised fox and Usagi.

"You are April's child aren't you?" Karai asked softly, seeing the child trembling before her.

"Yes... That is my mom..." Leo answered, hearing his Master protesting in the distance.

"Don't answer her questions my student!" Usagi yelled, drawing his own sword, while he avoided saying Leo's name.

Just as Usagi did such action the other ninja's took action, making a wall before him, hindering the rabbit in able to get to Leo.

Smiling sweetly Karai knelt down looking into Leo's grey eyes, noticing how they reminded her of Leonardo, "Child who is your father?"

"Leatherhead..."

Hearing the alligator's name Karai shook her head, "No, I am not asking you who you call father, but who your real father is? Your blood father."

Nervously Leo shrugged, unable to answer since he had no clue, "Beats me."

"Karai the child has nothing to do with your quest! Leave him be!" Usagi yelled at the hawk, analyzing his opponents. He had to cut through them without sustaining too much injury or putting Leo or Alopex in danger.

Counting his lucky foot, he was happy that the fox didn't move from her spot, waiting for him to tell her what she could do.

Ignoring the damn hare, Karai gently placed her hand under Leo's chin, raising his face up to their eyes to meet, "Then answer this child, has your mother ever mention Leonardo or his brothers to you?"

Confused Leo blinked at the strange woman, "My name is, Leonardo."

Raph POV

Pressed against the truck's window, Raph watched helplessly, seeing his mother take only not one wolf but three.

In the scuffle between claw and powerful jaws, his mother in her human form was keeping them at bay.

However, the young turtle was no fool he knew if she kept this up, she would start to lose steam. With her previous injuries that haven't healed, she had no chance to win this one on her own.

Even against such odds his mother, his hero, was not letting that stop her.

She was beautiful, powerful and he wanted to protect her for he knew she was also fragile like a glass flower in the fairy tales.

If she breaks, he will never be able to put her back together and in the end lose someone he loves dearly.

The thought of her not in his life was painful and horrifying bringing a thick dark cloud that consumed his very soul.

Seeing this struggle between life and death, Raph continuously had the only question that plagued him, running in his head. What was he to do, is there something he can do to help his mother?

Flashing back to the memories of the lab they escape from, which was under the iron thumb of that despicable man. Something that Bishop said to the child drilled into his brain and it pained him to think it held any truth.

He was weak and only the strong survives in this new world. The weak are no more than pawns for others to play with. These wolves were strong and his family were the pawns that were being sentenced to death, to be their next meal.

Placing his hand on the window seeing his hot breath steam it up, Raph lightly punched it, feeling the frustration growing hotter. He had to do something, anything! Then just be some useless turtle waiting for someone to chew on him…

Suddenly smelling the aroma of fear that he didn't notice until now, the young turtle tilted his head back seeing Mona sitting there with her legs pressed to her chest covering her face with her arms.

She was trembling in pure fear.

The guilt washing over him for forgetting that she was still there, he reached out patting her on the head, seeing her cringed at first then eased up when she realized it was Raph not something that wanted to eat her.

"It's going to be okay Mona," Raph placed a smile on his lip hoping it would fool her and cover his own doubts and fears, "Mom is strong, those wolves have no chance against her."

"What if..." Mona whimpered, then snapped her head up hearing a big huff and grunt behind her.

Catching his attentions too Raph turned his head towards the back row of seats, seeing Mikey's butt in his view as the small turtle's tail wagged.

Grunting more Mikey was trying to climb into the camper trailer through the window in the back of the truck.

Whoever rigged this truck up added the window so someone could easily pass back and forth from the camper and cab without having to resort to stepping outside and going around it.

Unfortunately, Mikey couldn't get the window to open fully making him to have a harder time to squeeze through.

Raising his voice, Raph was shocked and horrified that Mikey was fooling around at a time like this, "What are you doing dumb ass!"

Stopping Mikey's voice echoed from the window, "Raphie because mommy used naughty words doesn't mean you can!"

Rolling his eyes, Raph didn't care he was saying bad words he shouldn't, he only cared to find out what Mikey was doing, "Be quiet! Get out of there, Mom told us to stay put!"

Ignoring his bigger brother's demands Mikey wiggled more huffing and pulling himself forward, with a pop the turtle flung through the window with a crash.

Raph rushed towards his brother, quickly climbing over the seats popping his head through the window, "Mikey are you okay?"

With no answer, Raph flashed a look towards the driver's window still seeing the fight that went on, then he turned his attention towards Mona. "Stay here, crawl under the chair and stay out of sight!"

Not wasting any time Raph squeezed through the window that was locked in place, they must have gotten stuck making this a task even for his small size.

Struggling and wiggling the same manner Mikey did, Raph yelped falling forward, smacking into fortunately a soft mattress but bouncing off it to come in contact with the hard floor.

Moaning in pain feeling the sting on his chin, he rubbed it getting to his feet reminding himself he can't cry.

Wiping away the tears to be tough Raph looked around the odd place, which was cast in darkness.

He could see to a point, the shapes of how the shadows around him distorted his surroundings, gave him the creeps.

Finally with his eyes adjusting to the dark space, the familiar shell not far from him that he recognized to be Mikey's was visible to him.

A slight relief came to the turtle as he put his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Mikey this isn't safe," Raph pointed out seeing Mikey was staring at a drawer under what looked like a kitchen counter.

"I had to find it Raphie..." Mikey whispered, shuddering with his words.

"Find what?" Raph slowly asked, noticing Mikey didn't dare to open the drawer as the tears filled his eyes.

He was scared, yet it wasn't what was going on outside that he feared, it was what was in the drawer.

Collecting his courage, Raph leaned forward, taking the handle as Mikey suddenly put his hand on top of his.

Mikey looked at his brother sadly, full of regret and fear, "Don't Raphie... If you do, you can never turn back..."

"Mikey. What are you talking about?"

"If you look, you might become him... like Bishop."

The words venomous struck Raph's heart, making his own hand tremble. Why would Mikey say that? What could be in the drawer that would make him like that sicko?

"What is in there Mikey?" Raph nervously asked, not so willing to open it.

"Something that can save Mommy but something that might hurt you," Mikey let go of Raph's hand heading for the window.

"Mikey what is going on with you? Where is this coming from?" Raph took his hand way as well.

Shrugging Mikey didn't say another word crawling back through the window, leaving Raph alone with his questions.

Tilting his head at the drawer once again, his body felt like it was on fire, his mouth was dry and his fear was at its peak.

Mikey did the same thing moments ago in the tree.

When their mother went to the car wreck, Mikey suddenly started to act bizarre, he was terrified sniffing the air and shuddering from it.

He then pulled Raph's armed demanding they go to their mother right away.

Raph of course protested, stating their mother said to stay put, but Mikey wouldn't give.

Frustrated that Raph refused to listen to him, out of the blue Mikey slammed Raph to the tree trunk screaming at Raph. If he refused any longer it would be dire!

After that, Mikey started to ramble a tale that Raph couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

Mikey informed his brother that if they didn't go to their mother, she would die by three monsters and then those monsters will come for them.

Mikey's eyes as Raph shudder at the thought, were wild and serious; something in them made his blood run cold.

That was why they disobey their mother's orders.

Now he was staring at a drawer which will save his mother but damn him...

Stepping away Raph held his sides, he didn't' know what to do, what if he did become like Bishop? Suddenly, a horrifying scream came from outside the truck.

Fearing the worse Raph took the chance, Mikey could be wrong right? He did say 'might' not 'he will'…

Either way he couldn't just sit there when this drawer held something that he could use to save his mother.

Opening the drawer Raph froze seeing the hand gun laying there.

How did Mikey know there was a gun in the trailer?

His hands trembled as he placed one hand on the gun, feeling the metal under his fingertips. The feel of it was familiar to the point he swore he has handled one before, knowing how it worked and how to use it correctly.

Taking it out he checked the clip surprised he was doing this noticing it was empty.

Hearing another cry from outside Raph took a big breath, grabbing some bullets filling the gun up taking the safety trigger off.

Unsure how he instinctively knew what he was doing, Raph ignored the question going for the door in the camper.

He didn't have time to crawl through the window back to the front, and he didn't want to dare to open the truck's doors exposing both Mikey and Mona.

Opening the door cautiously Raph peaked out, noticing the coast was clear.

The small turtle jumped out of the camper, as he did he could hear the scuffling on the other side of the camper coming from the front of the truck.

The smell of fresh blood lingered in the air; some was his mother's the rest was from the wolves.

There was even a hint of death there too, indicating that one wolf was deceased.

Pressing his body against the camper Raph slowly looked around the corner, coming to the realization he was right about smelling death, seeing one wolf lifeless on the ground slashed up by his mother, who was resorting using a chunk of glass as a weapon.

At the moment, April had her back towards him with her attention on the wolf before her as another sneakily rose to its feet behind her getting ready to attack her from behind.

His mother didn't see the other wolf; she must have thought it was down for good.

Part of him wanted to yell at her to warn her, but he had a sickening feeling that consumed him, telling him she would die like Mikey said if this weapon didn't make a play.

Seeing no way around it, mustering his courage Raph stepped out from behind the camper.

I'm not him... Raph pointed the gun at the unexpected wolf's head.

I'm not him... Raph pulled back the hammer.

I'm not him because I don't choose to hurt others for I have the power to do so! Raph took a breath, holding it to steady his hand.

I choose to protect since I have the power to do so! I'M NOT LIKE HIM! Raph pulled the trigger.

The air polluted by the large bang brought silence to the area as both April and the wolf that were fighting, stopped abruptly, flashing over to the sound, witnessing the other wolf standing there with a bullet wound in its head.

With a thud, the wolf collapsed to the ground, revealing Raph standing there with a gun in hand staring at his mother half mortified.

What had he just done?

The reality of what he had done came to him like a wave, making the young turtle trembled. He killed someone… he took the wolf's life...

Seeing the surprised horrified expression on his mother's face Raph wanted to run and hide. Was this what Mikey was talking about? Does his mother see him as some monster just like Bishop?

Leo's POV

"Leonardo?" the hawk asked curiously, examining those grey eyes.

"Yes..." Leo answered back trembling not liking how she was looking at him.

"Karai leave him alone. He is just a child," Usagi said once again sounding like a broken record, clashing blades with a ninjas that tried to silence him.

"Leonardo, did your mother name you that?" Karai made her face soften, to get the kid not to fear her so much.

"Yes..."

"Tell me child, your brothers," Karai started remembering April was pregnant with four eggs and there were four turtles when she confronted Leatherhead in the sewers during the rain, "What are their names?"

Gulping Leo made himself small looking at his master who was fighting to reach him.

Seeing how this was upsetting the child, Karai swooped the child up again taking to the air.

Instantly Usagi cries could be heard in the distance, as Karai brought Leo somewhere far away from the farm house so the Rabbit couldn't interfere with her investigation.

Landing in a field, Karai let go of the child, who stumbled away from her once his feet met the grass under them, falling to his knees over his haste.

"I want to go back home!" Leo cried, looking around wildly not recognizing the area. It was passed the perimeter that his father made around the farm and was the opposite direction from Usagi's hut.

"Now there is no need for that little one. You will answer my question, and then I will bring you back to your master," Karai sat down, placing her blade far from her side that was still in arm reach yet far enough to ease the boy's mind.

"You promise..." Leo whimpered eyeing the blade.

"Yes. Now, tell me child what is your brother's names?" Karai showed no evidence she noticed how Leo was eyeing her sword.

"Mikey, Raph and Donnie," Leo answered her seeing her raise an eyebrow over the names.

"So other words Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello then? The names you speak off are just their nick names I'm I correct?" Karai leaned forward intrigued, getting a nod from Leo.

"I see... and you have no idea who is your blood father?" Karai asked the question again, placing her focus on the turtle and away from her blade.

"No I don't," Leo huffed a bit annoyed, she asked that question, not understanding why she cared or why she would ask. Why was she asking him these questions, who was she and why did her voice feel familiar?

Sitting back Karai placed her hands firmly on the ground studying the turtle, "Odd thing, back then when I attacked your mother on the bridge, fighting that alligator instead; I never noticed the resemblance or how I see him in you."

"Attacked my mom..." Leo's eyes widened, flash back to the day when it rained and the female ninja who fought his father and was the reason he lost his mother for two years.

Clenching his fist, Leo went or the blade picking it up swiftly aiming at Karai throat.

His hands trembled, and his breathing was unsteady.

His body felt like it was on fire.

He was scared and full of anger hearing she was the one that messed so much up back then. The one that made his brothers and him cry thinking they lost their only mother.

In the mist of his obvious hatred over her, the hawk smiled brightly pressing her lips tightly, "So what are you going to do little turtle? Are you going to kill me? Are you going to cry?"

Taking the blade away with ease Karai stood up tall looming over the young turtle, "You look too much like him… So the question is who are you really child?"

Leo unsure how to answer her could only stand there helpless as the hawk picked him up once more.

Wrapping her arm around Leo's waist ignoring his protests and fighting back, Karai took flight again, "No matter I will find out sooner or later. In the meantime, I will have no choice then to take you little one. This will get either your mother's attention or his if he is truly out there…"