I'm sorry I took this long to post after such a sucky cliffhanger. I really wanted to get it right and that meant pouring a lot more hours than normal into my writing. I hope you all think it was worth the wait!

A huge thanks to my amazing beta, Kathy. She is the best xo

Disclaimer: Only Scarlett and Kin are mine.

Previously in Scarverse...

"Scarlett stop!" Mikey popped up in front of her with palms held out. She slid to a halt and met his eyes unflinchingly. "What's going on? Why are you…ack!" Once again Scarlett was on the attack, she leapt at Mikey with clawed fingers swiping at his face. He jerked his head back just in time to avoid wickedly sharp fingernails and she hissed in frustration even as she kept coming at him.

...flash...

My eyes tracked past the man and my gaze met that of the girl standing a few paces behind the scientist. A smirk twisted her lips as she flicked her eyes over me. She stood with a wide, proud stance. One hand on her cocked hip and the other swinging lazily past the hilt of some kind of sheathed blade that was strapped to her thigh. This girl didn't smell like she was fearful, she smelled like fear itself. I felt my lips peel back in a snarl. Her eyes narrowed warningly, I bristled in response, tail swishing in agitation. I hated the barrier between us. It kept me from slashing, tearing and tasting blood. Her blood.

...flash...

Using the street light to gain momentum Leo flung himself towards the nearest mutant, the lion, and delivered a solid two footed blow across it's face before flipping back out of reach. The feline roared in pain, staggering a little before giving chase. The eldest turtle continued retreating, using cars like stepping stones as the giant cat gained ground.

...flash...

I cupped his jaw in my hands, his stubble prickling at my palms, and lifted his face to mine so I could search his eyes again. "I want to take you with me Kin but you've got to help me." My chest tightened when he still didn't respond. Tears stung at the back of my eyelids, I couldn't just leave him here. I dropped to a crouch in front of him and brushed a golden piece of hair from his forehead, smoothing it back then running my fingertips to the back of his neck. The familiar shape of the Kraang mind control device was there welded into his skin. I gripped it with my fingertips and gave it a gentle tug, testing it's hold. One of Kin's hands suddenly gripped my forearm startling me. My eyes shot back to his and in the golden depths I was sure I saw a flash of something. "Kin?"

...now...

Donnie was just about to turn back from his search when the t-phone on his belt vibrated. He plucked it from its holster and glanced down at the screen, a wry grimace twisting his mouth when he saw Leo's caller ID staring back at him. Of course we could have just called him he thought with a mental forehead slap.

He swiped the 'answer' icon then held it to his ear, "Hey Leo, where are..."

"Donnie we got a situation!"

He flinched and jerked the phone back from his ear as his brother hollered down the line, nearly busting his eardrum. At the same time dread formed a small knot in his belly. Leo never yelled, yet his frantic voice continued to pour from the tiny speaker loud enough that Donnie could hear him clearly from the length of his outstretched arm.

"Karai, oh shell, Karai is Sensei! You and Raph better get back here right now. She's going to kill her!"

"Hold on, calm down." Donnie attempted a soothing tone even as his own heart rate kicked up at the barely masked panic in Leo's voice. "What do you mean? Who's going to kill her?"

"Scarlett, she went after Karai. Karai is Sensei Donnie, she's Sensei! I can't believe I only just figured it out."

The penny dropped with an almost audible boom inside his brain and Donnie suddenly understood what his brother was trying to say. Karai was Sensei.

Donnie broke into a run, phone still pressed to his ear. "Where are they?"

"They've gone over the side of the building, we can't follow them. It's a sheer drop down to street level and there are too many people down there. Mikey and I are going to try and find another way but..."

"Where Leo?" Donny barked.

"East of where we started." Leo's voice became firm, "Two buildings over."

"I'll be right there." Not bothering to put his phone back in his belt, or even hang it up, Donnie kicked his speed up a few notches until he was all out sprinting.

As soon as the lip of the roof slipped out from beneath me and I felt gravity grab a greedy hold of me, I acted on instinct, twisting midair to reach for the side of the building that was already slipping past at an alarming rate. Sensei's elbow glanced off my cheekbone but then there was a weird zipping sound and she was yanked away. When she vanished I snarled in desperation, everything in me screamed that I couldn't let her leave but there was absolutely nothing I could do about it while I was in free fall.

My fingers grasped frantically at the bricks as they flashed past, fingertips scrabbling uselessly at the hard surface. The wind was lifting my hair to whip it across my face and my stomach rose into my throat as I plummeted towards the street. There were no fire escapes to catch me, not so much as a window sill, and the first pulse of fear pushed past the mindless rage that had driven me over the edge. If I didn't find a way to slow down the pavement below was going to do the job for me.

A burning pain began to throb through the ends of my fingers as I continued to clutch at the wall with increasing panic. At first I thought it was my skin peeling away but then the feeling sharpened into points and I felt the bones in my hands crunch. Small fragments of mortar and brick began to pepper my cheeks, I turned my head and clenched my eyes shut to avoid them. A few moments later I realised that the dizzying speed of my fall was slowing to something less terrifying and I opened my eyes again to see that the street below was no longer hurtling towards me. Somehow I was managing to hold onto the wall.

My newly found purchase came at a price though, my hands were on fire. Pretty soon I couldn't stand the agony anymore and let go. Again I picked up speed but it was short lived as I landed feet first on something hard that let out the solid sound of metal crunching. My knees buckled from the impact causing me to lose my balance and bounce to the side. Another short fall then the wind driven from me as I hit the concrete. Around me startled gasps and a few screams sounded and I lifted my head to see I'd landed right in the middle of a busy sidewalk. Somehow I'd made it to street level without ending up as a splatter on the sidewalk or taking out any of the pedestrians who were now gathered around, gaping at me in shock.

I groaned, pushing my hair out of my face as I struggled to rise to a sitting position. Immediately a hand under my elbow helped me to my feet. A face hovered nearby, asking me if I was okay. I blinked around fuzzily but didn't recognise anyone in the sea of faces. I shrugged off the steadying hold and staggered a few steps to the side. Sensei, where was she?

Pain still pulsed and throbbed through my fingers. Grudgingly I gave them my attention, gingerly holding them out so I could get a look at the damage. I frowned, at the same time another round of gasps went through the gathering crowd and they shuffled back from me. Not that I blamed them. Long claws were sprouting from my nail beds. They were black, wickedly sharp and curved like a cat's. The pads on each of my fingers were ripped and bloody yet the talons hardly seemed to be scuffed. They looked absolutely deadly and more than capable of digging into solid brick.

I tipped my head back, looking up at the edge of a metal awning only a few feet above me. The middle of it was heavily dented and I realised that it was what had broken the last of my fall. Curiosity drove me to take a couple of unsteady steps backwards until my heels rested on the curb, the new angle allowed me to see that down the side of the building above me were two sets of long, deep claw marks that dragged down the lower half of the building. I'd slowed my fall by clawing the wall. I dropped my head to stare at my hands again, disbelief warring with my anger. I'd slowed my fall by clawing the wall.

"...she okay..?"

"...believe she fell so far..."

"...call an ambulance..?"

Jumbled conversations came into focus. My head twisted back and forth but I couldn't pick out any individuals, just a sea of wide eyes and moving mouths that surrounded me on all sides. I could feel my lips peeling back from my teeth again as a new kind of discomfort spiked through me. These people were looking at me like I was some kind of freak, I could smell their fear quickly sharpening into something even more unpleasant.

"...scared the crap outta me..!"

"...police are on their way..."

"...what is that on her hands..."

An itchy feeling was building at the nape of my neck, adding to my anxiety. I whirled around one more time, searching for a gap I could slip through to escape. The throng of people shifted and suddenly I caught a glimpse of her. Immediately I realised that the prickly feeling was coming from her gaze as she watched me from the other side of the street. As soon as our eyes met she turned and melted into the shadows of the building.

A snarl pushed its way out from somewhere deep inside me. By the time it exited my mouth it was a furious roar, I felt it rippling and straining at my vocal chords. I bounded forward, pushing my way through the spectators so abruptly none of them had time to move. A few went crashing to the ground and others shouted but I was already past, sprinted across the street and into the traffic.

There was a blare of a horn then a yellow flash as a taxi swerved. I put one hand out reflexively and felt cool metal kiss my palm. Behind me tyres squealed, mixing in with more screams from those I'd left behind. I ignored it all. The dark mouth of the alley drew me in and I raced towards it with a mindless fury until it swallowed me whole.

My eyes took a second to adjust to the dim light and I was forced to slow as I searched the narrow length. It didn't take long to spot her. She was waiting for me, poised at the far end of the alley, face expressionless as she studied me. I put on a burst of speed, snarling again as I rushed at her. The surrounding walls bounced the inhuman noise back to me and I barely recognised my own voice.

Sensei didn't even twitch, just watched unflinchingly as I bore down on her.

I'd covered just over half the distance before she finally moved, one hand reaching to her belt in an unhurried gesture. Then she swept her arm up to point at the sky and I saw she held something gun shaped in her hand a second before she pulled the trigger. A small grappling hook arced its way to the roofline and again I heard the zipping sound as she pulled away from me once more. By the time I reached the place where she'd stood she was safely out of reach. I let out a howl of frustration as I watched her gracefully roll over the roofline and out of sight.

The building to my left was riddled with fire escapes. I forced myself to retrace my steps so I could jump to catch the lowest one, heaving myself up and wedging a foot against the bars to gain enough purchase to leap for the next. The repetitiveness of my climb did little to cool the fury that drove me, each new floor adding fuel to my anger. The grunts of effort that spilled from my lips mixed with the clang of metal as I scrabbled my way upward. In record time I rolled over the lip of the roof and sprang straight back into a sprint that saw me leaping across the gap between buildings so that I was back on her trail.

I was expecting to see no sign of her yet it took less than a second for my eyes to lock onto her familiar figure on the far side of the building, half hidden behind the thick leg of a water tower. Warning bells began to ring far back in my head but I ignored them and pushed forward. As soon as she spotted me approaching Sensei turned and ran, her slight shadow flitting in and out of the darkness tauntingly as I dashed after her.

This was a completely new type of rooftop run. Instead of the heady exhilaration of being at the front of the pack I was now the hunter consumed by a driving need to chase down my prey. My feet flew over uneven surfaces, hurdles passed by in blurred flashes that barely registered. I never lost sight of her for longer than a second, my low light vision allowing me to pick out her movements even within the deepest shadows. A savage kind of elation pumped even more energy through my muscles, she was fast but I was faster. I was steadily catching up to her.

I was close enough to pick out her scent on the air when she abruptly turned her body, knees bent as she slid into a controlled sideways skid. At the same time as her feet whispered roughly over the concrete her arm shot out and something flashed as it hurtled through the air towards me. I yelped in surprise, skidding to my own stop as I felt something prick the skin high on the left side of my chest. A cold wave of fear flooded through me when I looked down and saw a small dart jutting from the angled strap that tethered my quiver to my back. Automatically I reached for it, feeling another tiny scrape against my skin as I yanked it from the leather.

I lifted incredulous eyes from the dart and looked straight into Sensei's satisfied expression. She rose from her crouch and slowly sauntered towards me, a smirk tipping her mouth. The hand holding the dart quivered as realisation struck. She lured me away on purpose, made sure I'd followed her as far away from the turtles as possible before she was forced to take me out when I got too close. She'd known I'd chase her, had counted on it in fact, and I'd followed along like a brainless idiot.

Sensei wasn't worried about getting too close anymore. She walked towards me with unhurried steps, confident that her tranquilliser had done the hard work for her and she was now safe to approach. The spot where the needle had grazed me stung beneath the strap and my heart froze in terror when a tremble swept through my arms and legs. I swayed a little on the balls of my feet.

Sensei saw me waver, she halted well out of arm's reach and cocked her head to the side, "Sumi, it's okay." Her voice was soft and soothing. The tenderness I heard there sickened me, it was as if she was talking to a scared, lost pet. "I've come to bring you home."

Home? I shook my head sharply to clear the black dots that fuzzed across my vision. Surprisingly they receded a little and I blinked to bring Sensei back into focus. A low rumble started up in my chest, reverberating lowly through the space between us and laden with menace. A small frown pinched her brow as she studied me, for the first time she seemed unsure. Her eyes swept over my body and she took a small step backwards, one hand falling to her belt.

I flinched at her gesture, my growl increased in volume as my own hand tightened reflexively around the dart cradled in my palm. The end dug into my skin and I paused on the cusp of crushing it, instead unfurling my fist so I could study the small cylinder. The needle on the end of it was sharp but short, designed to puncture only the top layer of its target's skin. My other hand came up to feel the leather strap that criss crossed my chest. It was less than a quarter of an inch thick but, combined with my shirt and bra, it had been plenty to stop the dart from sinking all the way into my flesh. I'd been dosed, but with only a drop instead of the whole lot when it had barely managed to scratch my skin.

A savage smile stretched my lips and I looked up again to see that Sensei had taken a few more paces backwards. The first flash of fear crossed her features when she saw my face and I could only imagine how I must look to her as I glowered at her from under my brow.

"Sumi."

The awful word slipped from her mouth again, sharp and authoritative. A warning for me to stay back.

"That. Is not. My name."

I formed each word clearly through clenched teeth as I let the dart fall to the rooftop then smashed it beneath my shoe. I took a shuffling step forward, inwardly cursing when my knees threatened to buckle. I forced myself to take another step. Then another. All the while keeping eye contact with Sensei as she back-pedalled away from me. She was trying to hide it but she was afraid, I could see it lurking behind her eyes. Could smell it across the distance that separated us.

I quickened my steps as the watery feeling in my legs finally let up a little but it felt like I was slogging through wet sand. Sensei's eyes widened as I started to close the gap between us. Her hand groped again at her belt and emerged in a fist that she kept clenched by her side. The other hand she held out towards me, palm out.

"Yameru!"

Without warning my legs collapsed and I found myself on my knees, hands pressed flat to the rough concrete and head bowed. What the fuck? I climbed back to my feet and lurched forward.

"Yameru!"

I let out a cry when my knees buckled again. I fought the inexplicable impulse to bow my head and instead pushed up from the ground to keep coming forward. Desperation and anger mixed together. She was so close, just another few feet...

"Yameru Sumi! Mi o hikimasu!" Her command hit me like a sledgehammer.

"Arrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!" I howled, clutching at my head as I fought the urge to kneel. Submit. Obey. The breath sawed in and out of my lungs and I felt the almost uncontrollable desire to shift. I wanted to escape, seek refuge in the mindless rage of the leopard. In her form human thoughts were dulled as animal instinct took over.

But I pushed the urge away, instead clenching my hands at my temples. I was going to kill her. And I was going to do it with my bare hands.

The effort it took to straighten and face Sensei again was almost too much. By the time I lowered my hands and lifted my head she'd retreated a few more steps and I forced myself to meet her eyes across the increased distance. Her calm facade was back in place and the blank look she gave me was devoid of any emotion. The tension thrumming from her body gave her away though, she was tensed ready to flee. Well that wasn't going to happen.

"You're dead." I hissed as I bent my knees a little, just enough for my muscles to bunch.

I pushed off from the concrete and launched myself at her. She braced herself, arm guard flashing as she brought her closed fist up towards my face. Something about the way she twisted her arm told me the move wasn't intended as a punch, instinctively I turned my head away and closed my eyes. I was too slow to completely avoid the powder that exploded from her fist though, I felt it enter my left eye and nostril and I let out a curse. I fumbled my landing as an intense burning sensation started in the soft tissues of my face. I bit back a cry of pain, clamped down on my lip so hard I tasted blood. She'd thrown me off yet again and it was enabling her to put more distance between us. I sensed the space beside me emptying as she moved away.

"NO!"

My arm shot out blindly to where I thought she was and immediately my claws sank into something soft. It was Sensei's turn to let out a strangled cry and the sound was music to my ears. I turned, blinking open my right eye while keeping the left tightly shut against the burn, and saw that I was holding her firmly by her upper arm. The same claws that had saved my life now held hers within their grip.

She saw it too, her eyes flashed desperately and she brought up her free hand to deliver a flat palmed strike against the wrist of the hand that held her. My claws dug in harder in response and she hissed before striking my arm again.

Despite the ache in my joint from her blows I refused to let go. Instead I drew my opposite arm back, elbow high, and Sensei's eyes widened with shock a split second before my fist plowed into her face. There was absolutely no finesse behind the blow. I felt her lips give way to teeth that cut my knuckle to the bone. Her head snapped to the side and I saw an arc of blood splatter to the ground. I held her up by her arm and raised my fist again, waiting for her to lift her head before I delivered another punch that rocked her head violently on her neck and painted the air with a wet thwack of flesh on flesh.

Her movements were groggy, eyes dazed as she lifted her head for the last time and met my narrowed gaze. Blood oozed from her cut lip, smearing across her chin and staining her teeth. I hesitated, arm trembling on the verge of violence as I took in the damage I'd done to her face. The same face that had haunted my dreams over the long months since my escape. A ragged sound somewhere between a snarl and a sob was wrenched from me and I felt the anger resurge even stronger than before.

This time when I hit her I let go of her arm, peeling my claws from her flesh and allowing her to fall to the roof top in a heap. I followed her down to the ground and straddled her, wrapping my hands around her neck before she could bring her arms up to stop me. My fingers overlapped at the back of her neck while my thumbs sank into the soft hollow at the base of her throat. My lips peeled back from my teeth as I bore down. Her eyes were wild with terror as she beat at me, bucking to try and throw me off. Her short nails scored my forearms and pried at my fingers but she wasn't strong enough. Visions of my time under her control flashed through my head and I was dimly aware that I was shouting wordlessly as I throttled her.

"Scarlett!"

Red hazed my vision and blood whooshed in my ears, all I could see was her but still a voice tugged at the edge of my hearing. I pressed down harder, blinking away the tears that burned and blurred in my eyes so that they slipped down my cheeks and dripped off the end of my nose. Sensei's face was mottled, mouth open in a silent scream.

"Scarlett, no!"

The voice was closer, frantic with worry. Was that Leo? Mikey maybe? Other voices joined the first and twisted together meaninglessly until they blended into a rolling gravelly sound that vibrated my eardrums. The roar rose above everything else to crash over me in a wave and I started at how close it was. I turned my head to the side, hands loosening from Sensei's throat as I stared in disbelief.

"Kin?" My voice cracked on his name. I scrambled off Sensei and stood on shaky legs to face the wall of muscle and golden fur that was bearing down on me like a freight train.

"Look out!"

"Hurry up D!"

"I can't make the signal connect any faster Mikey," Donnie snapped without lifting his gaze from his t-phone. His little brother groaned in frustration beside him as they jogged along the roofline but otherwise kept quiet. The device in Donnie's hand flashed and he altered his course accordingly. "This way."

"We'll find them," Leo said lowly as he followed the genius' lead. His panic from before replaced by a stony calm that had re-inserted itself around the same time he was reunited with all of his brothers.

"You better hope it's sooner rather than later," Raph slid the blue banded leader a glance from the side of his eye. "It'd be a real shame if Scar took out your girlfriend."

"Not my girlfriend Raph," Leo said through gritted teeth.

"Really? So you didn't sneak off to spend time alone with her and leave the rest of us to fight her minions then?" Raph scoffed.

"It wasn't like that."

"I'm all ears, what exactly was it like Fearless?"

"Not that," Leo repeated, his cheeks heating with a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

He desperately wanted to tell his brothers the truth but the promise he'd made to Splinter kept his tongue still. He felt Raph's angry gaze burning into the side of his head and knew that there was little chance the other turtle would drop the topic so easily.

And this was before they broke the news to him that Karai was, in fact, Sensei. The Sensei who'd been responsible for Scarlett's mutation and mind control.

Leo had no idea how his hot headed brother would react to the news. Shell, he wasn't even sure how to react to the news himself. His head was spinning with the revelation, questions and consequences mixing together until he felt a little nauseous. Everything in him rebelled at the idea Karai could be so cruel as to kidnap a then fifteen year old girl and mutate her for her own purposes.

On top of all that he was desperately worried about the current danger both Scarlett and Karai were in. It was unclear in his own mind whose safety he was more concerned about, all he knew was that each girl was more than capable of severely injuring the other. Although the unbridled rage he'd seem on Scarlett's face just before she'd toppled Karai from the rooftop whispered that it was more likely to be the kunoichi who was going to come off second best.

"Arrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh"

He was saved from further grilling by his brother when a cry cut the night air, snapping the turtles' heads up as one when they recognised Scarlett's furious, drawn out yell. She was nearby, close enough for them to hear the frustrated anguish in her voice clear as a bell.

Without a word Donnie shoved the phone he'd been using to trace Scar's t-phone back into his belt then drew his bow as he bolted in the direction her voice had come from, the other three hot on his heels. There was another cry of "NO!" that was even closer this time then the horribly familiar dull thwacks of fists hitting flesh.

"Scarlett!" Mikey cried out when they rounded the last corner and the scene finally came into view. Across the far side of the rooftop Scarlett was holding a dazed looking Karai up by her arm, fist raised high for a second before she delivered a punishing blow that sent the other girl crashing to the ground. Everything in Leo clenched in horror. In the moment before she crumpled he'd seen that Karai's face was a bloody mess and the blow Scar had just delivered was powerful enough that it would have come dangerously close to snapping her neck.

Leo shoved his brothers aside as he ran forward, intent on pulling Scarlett away. The younger girl was gasping, ragged sobs ripping from her throat as she fell onto the other girl and straddled her chest. Her hands wrapped around the slender neck, then she was using her entire body weight to push down as she yelled wordlessly.

"Scarlett, no!"

He felt like he was moving in slow motion as he fought his way across the expanse of the rooftop that seemed to stretch out impossibly wide in front of him with Karai and Scarlett on the far side. Fanned out beside him his brothers had the same frantic energy as together they rushed to intervene.

"Guys look!"

Donnie pointed upward and, despite his haste, Leo couldn't help but follow the long line of the brainy turtle's arm to where it stabbed at the darkness. Someone was perched atop one of the high skylights that overshadowed the rooftop. Backlit by the city lights it was impossible to make out their features but Leo was struck with an impression of wide, powerful shoulders as the mystery person rose from their crouch.

The figure had barely stretched to their full height when something about their form rippled. The wide shoulders broadened even further and somehow their torso seemed to lengthen as the sound of ripping and crunching carried on the still air. A bolt of dread pierced him as he realised what he was witnessing. He'd seen Scarlett do this before. Not often, but enough for the memory to be burnt into his brain. Whoever this person was, they were shifting.

"Holy shell, guys I think that's Kin."

Mikey's voice was filled with awe along with a rising panic. Leo immediately realised his brother was right and that the already volatile situation was quickly taking on a whole new level of danger. Seconds later, much faster than anything else he'd ever seen, the outline of the man was replaced by the unmistakable form of a giant lion. As if to affirm his new shape the former human unleashed a roar that had all four turtles flinching away. Leo felt an animalistic urge to retreat into his shell and hide.

"Kin?"

Scarlett's head had whipped around at the lion's roar, eyes huge in her face as her expression twisted into one of painful disbelief. She released Karai without so much as a glance and climbed to her feet, not taking her gaze off the enormous feline for a second. The tear tracks on her cheeks caught the moonlight, shining softly as she lifted her head towards the enormous mutant.

The lion snarled a the sound of her voice and leapt from his perch, the distance covered by a single bound frightening beyond belief. He hit the ground at a full run, paws whispering over the rooftop as he sped towards Scarlett whose expression hardened as her shock fell away and resignation took its place.

"Look out!" Mikey's voice was desperate as he hollered at Scarlett again.

She seemed oblivious to anything but the lion as he bore down on her. "Kin!" she yelled again, hunching her shoulders and bending her knees as though preparing for the impact that was mere moments away.

For one horrible second Leo thought she was going to try and fight the feline that easily came in at five times her size. He knew without a doubt that if she stayed in her human form she'd be dead within a minute. But then Scarlett crouched even further, placing her palms on the ground and braced her feet into a running position as her teeth peeled back from her lips. Black hair sprouted from her skin as her body doubled, then tripled in size and she let out a sharp cry that quickly turned guttural. Scraps that used to be her clothing fell to the ground and the now familiar pops and grinding noises that accompanied her shifting ricocheted off nearby buildings.

Kin reached her before she'd completely finished her transformation, his claws extended as he collided with her and sent them both tumbling across the rooftop in a tangle of black and gold fur. Hisses and snarls of pain rent the air as the two felines ripped at each other. The sight of gnashing teeth and swiping paws the size of dinner plates froze the turtles in place and it wasn't until they heard a gurgling cough that they were dragged out of their horrified trance.

The sound of Karai struggling to draw breath was enough to spur Leo into action. "Donnie!" he shouted as he leapt towards the kunoichi who was writhing on the ground as she gasped for air. He fell to his knees beside her, gently helping her to sit up. The right side of her face was a bloody, swollen mess. Both her top and lower lip were split badly and the soft flesh of her throat was already starting to bruise a deep purple. Her right eye was swollen shut, the left glazed as her head flopped on her neck. Leo let out a pained sound, cradling the back of her head to stop it from moving around and causing further injury.

"She needs medical attention."

Leo looked up at the cold tone of his brother's voice. Donatello's eyes were hard and flat as he watched Karai let out a series of sharp, barking coughs. Her slim shoulders shook within the circle of Leo's arms yet not an ounce of compassion showed on the usually soft hearted teen's face. His gaze shifted to Leo, the hand holding his bo staff tightening until his knuckles were pale. "You need to get her to a hospital, or wherever it is her clan goes when they are badly injured."

A flare of anger rose, hot and sharp, at his brother's barely veiled refusal to help Karai. But then he heard the continuing sounds of battle coming from close by, punctuated by Raph and Mikey's yells as they struggled to deal with two enraged mutant felines, and he pushed the feeling back down. Gently he slipped an arm under Karai's legs and lifted her until she was cradled against his chest. Donnie nodded once then turned shell to run back to the ongoing battle, leaving Leo to sprint in the other direction.

One sister fighting to breathe.

One sister fighting her past.

How did everything get this messed up?

Kin's breath was hot on my neck and I only just managed to yank my head back before his jaws clamped around my jugular. My back was pressed flat to the ground as he bore down on me and I felt panic cloud my thoughts as I fought to keep him at a distance. I kicked my hind legs strongly against his weight, raking my back claws down the thick fur on his belly until he pulled away with a hiss.

I followed as he retreated, twisting upright from where he'd almost pinned me against the ground then lashing out at his face with angry swipes. Thin red trails sprang up along his muzzle and he roared before returning the favour. I snarled, crouching and pulling back as pain bloomed along my cheek.

In the brief moment of reprieve I braced myself, tail twitching in agitation as I watched Kin carefully. His powerful haunches bunched and I readied myself for the renewed attack that would come any second. His eyes glowed molten gold as they bore into mine. His muzzle wrinkled, whiskers quivering as his lips pulled back to display a mouthful of wickedly sharp teeth that were stained here and there with red. Evidence of the few times he'd managed to sink his teeth into my hide. My nostrils flared as I breathed in the heavy scent of his anger mixed with the coppery tang of blood.

All around voices swirled but I had no idea what they were saying. They were urgent, loud and fearful as they added to the general frenzy of the situation. I could only focus on Kin as he loomed before me. If I took my eyes off him for even a second then I was dead.

Instead of attacking, Kin let out another angry howl and I caught a flash of green behind him as he half turned. A new wound had opened up on his left flank and I realised that someone else must have joined the fight on my behalf. The turtles...Mikey...Raph and Donnie. The fur prickled along my spine. If they drew Kin's attention he would kill them, they didn't stand a chance against his enormous size and strength. Dread pushed me forward.

I leapt and threw myself across Kin's broad back, claws extending as I sunk them into the muscles of his shoulders. At the same time I opened my jaw wide and tried to clamp my teeth around the base of his neck. His thick mane immediately filled my mouth, effectively stopping me from reaching his skin. I sawed my jaw back and forth in frustration, only stopping when one of my incisors connected with something metal that sent a hard tingle through my jaw. The contact sparked a memory so powerful my whole body froze.

...the familiar shape of the Kraang mind control device was there welded into his skin. I gripped it with my fingertips and gave it a gentle tug, testing it's hold…

The mind control device, if I could remove it then Kin would be free from Sensei's influence. Clarity struck me with the force of a blow, my whole world narrowed to that one thought. Kin's freedom.

Kin chose that moment to thrash violently and my distraction allowed him to throw me from his back. In a flash he slammed into me with his full body weight, rolling me down onto the ground where his own jaws snapped at my exposed throat once more.

Still my brain clung to the thought stubbornly, leaving me with barely enough room to avoid Kin's wickedly sharp teeth as I twisted beneath him. The mind control device. I had to get it out of him right now.

My muscles shrank beneath the weight of his body, limbs compacting down and losing their strength to hold him away. The rough ground began to scratch and gouge at my back as my fur receded, no longer there to protect me from the abrasive surface. Instead of hisses and growls my voice box emitted human like grunts and sobs as painful contractions morphed my body back into it's usual shape. I was being crushed, my ribcage protesting as the wind was driven from me by the weight of his massive frame.

Gritting my teeth I moved my arms from where they braced against his chest and brought them up to wind around his neck, all the while knowing that what I was doing was insanely dangerous. My fingers combed desperately through his mane, searching at the nape of his neck for the circular metal knob with the flashing light that I knew was hidden there in the tawny depths. His hot breath fanned against my shoulder in the split second before his teeth clamped down into my flesh and I screamed.

"Scarlett!"

Mikey's voice hollered my name once more but I could only draw breath to scream again while my fingers continued to search weakly through the wiry mass of hair. Kin's soft cheek rubbed against my jaw contrasting brutally with the burn of his claws as they ripped across my ribs, holding me still as he bit down harder.

My fingertip grazed against metal and I gasped, fumbling desperately at the edges of the device in an attempt to get a hold. The claws I'd had earlier had retreated with my shift, I couldn't get a hold. My arms were trembling violently with the effort it took to push past the pressure and pain, my hands slipping away only to come back stubbornly to try again without success. The device was wedged too tightly to his skin, I sobbed in frustration.

There was a thudding crack and suddenly Kin was ripped away, his weight lifting off me at the same time his teeth and claws withdrew from my flesh. Free of his heavy weight my lungs filled to capacity then emptied again as I howled. He was leaving. I hadn't even come close to removing the device yet he was leaving. I rolled over, fighting to get to my hands and knees while every inch of me protested viciously. Deep cuts pulled and bled, coating me in sheets of red. My head spun but I lifted it anyway, I needed to see what came next.

Donnie's bow swung again, narrowly missing its target but still driving Kin back a few more steps. Then Raph's sai flashed silver and Kin hissed, one paw clawing at the air angrily. Mikey leapt past his brothers, the blunt handle of his nunchucks covering the approach of his foot which plowed into Kin's side and knocked him back even further. With one last roar Kin retreated fully, whirling to lope off into the darkness rather than face the combined strength of three brothers any longer.

I watched him go and felt a piece of me rip away and leave with him. The strength drained from me until I sank back on my haunches, my bare rump hit the ground a second later then my knees came up to my chest so I could hug them tightly. Kin disappeared into the dark, chased away by my three protectors. I curled in on myself until I was as small as possible, containing the hurt as best I could. Tears dripped from the end of my nose into the small space between my thighs and chest, my ragged breaths echoing in the cave I'd created. I felt the tickle of my hair on my bare back and shoulders but just squeezed my eyes shut, trying as hard as I could to block the outside world which had just been brutally tipped on it's head.

How had everything gotten this messed up?

Oh man, this chapter was brutal to write! 7,000 words of one intense action scene after another infused with a lot of deep anger and repressed emotions. At each point I had to stop and ask myself if I was accurately portraying each character. It was really draining. I had to keep going back to re-read and tweak my wording. Some of it made me really uncomfortable but in the end I think I did a pretty good job. I really hope you liked it and that I captured the nuances of the battle. I'm off to have a cup of tea and a lie down ;)

Please please please review! My heart and soul went into this!