Here I expand on Humanimal Oracles and how they work, I obviously take some lore from Greek Mythology particularly the Oracle of Delphi and why exactly they inhaled Bay Smoke
Leaf explained more of Snowy's story to the Turtles.
"From an early age Snowy showed immense talent in being able to foresee the future of the Humanimals around her…" Leaf said ruefully "Dad was eager for any edge he could get over the humans…He indulged Snowy, pampered her as much as Slaves can pamper each other, told her tales about how she was better than other Humanimals because of her gift…"
"If there's anything worse than a stage parent…" Mikey said "…It's a stage parent who ignores their kid for another…"
"In encouraging her to be the best Oracle like no one ever was…" Leaf said as she grimaced "…He pushed her into inhaling the smoke of bay leaves…"
"Bay leaves?" Don said "As in…Like the original Greek Oracles did?"
"Indeed." Leaf said
"Bay leaves?" Mikey said "Like what I put in my marinara sauce?"
"You take bay leaves out of the sauce after their done seasoning don't you?" Leaf said
"Yeah…" Mikey said "But that's because they're really tough and gross…"
"Alcohol isn't that harmful in moderation…" Leaf said "…It's drinking to excess that's harmful…You see Bay Leaves can expand an Oracle's Visionary Abilities normally an Oracle's Visions are limited to the people in their lives, family, their neighbors…Their purpose is to be the Village Wise Men and Women for their Communities the one little caveat is they can never see the fate of their parents and any children they might have unless their fates are part of the overall fate of larger group like the entire community in that case it's not about those people specifically the reason for this blind spot is what parent could ever have a child if they could see exactly how their child would die? Sometimes it's better not to know what the future holds and that hope can only exist when there is uncertainty…" Leaf sighed "…However Oracles can still be…Flawed…Like any other mortal creature, and the Oracles or people behind the Oracles realized there is more profit in being able to tell anyone's fortune rather than just one community thus the Bay Leaves which enhances the Psychic beyond their usual limitations…"
"So…It's like them performance enhancing drugs…" Raph said
"Frith Rah!" Leaf exclaimed "That's exactly what it's like! How come I never made that comparison before?"
"Probably because there weren't that many sporting events on Earth in the days before the Humanimal Liberation Movement." Don said as he knew that just before the Humanimal Rebellion most of Humanity (With a few notable exceptions had become so decadent almost all their 'fun' revolved around eating, drinking and…Mating…They were much more like Beasts than the Humanimals they despised so much
"Yes," Leaf said "Of course since the Bay Leaves are for enhancing the mind that's mostly what it effects…And overtime excessive bay leaf inhalation can cause…Bipolar disorder….There is a reason many Oracles in the Myths and Folklore are also insane, one is all those traumatic visions can take a toll on one's sanity which is why many Modern Oracles take Anti-Depressants but inhaling bay leaves makes it worse…Much worse…"
The next morning Ichabod and Marzipan went over to the houses where Caesar and Rye lived. Their adoptive parents were extremely grateful to see them, the two cubs had been terrified for two days with no end in sight! They were constantly hiding under blankets, and too scared to sleep at night.
Ichabod and Marzipan told them what they had learned of the Ghost Dog.
"The Ghost Dog is bound to the Forest…" Ichabod said "…If you don't go into the forest she can't get you."
"And you're gonna get her right?" Rye said "You're gonna get that Ghost Dog so she can never get anyone again."
"Yeah…" Marzipan said "…Don't worry a specialist is coming…You know how you call the exterminator to get rid of pests? Well the Exorcist gets rid of ghosts, they even sound similar!"
"So close your eyes…" Ichabod said soothingly "You're safe here…No one can get you here…"
And so with Rye the Anteater in Ichabod's lap and Caesar the Chimpanzee in Marzipan's lap they stroked and soothed the two Mutant Cubs and with their soothing touches the color instantly came back to the cubs! Caesar's fur became shiny jet black again and Rye's fur returned to its usual gray and black he even got his stripes back!
So Caesar and Rye are no longer traumatized! Anyway I felt real clever in comparing the inhaling bay leaves to performance enhancing drugs probably more felt more clever than it actually was