Chapter Two
After lunch, the grown-ups gathered in the Farmhouse dining room to speak about the kid's request to go Camping.
"I think it's a good idea." Michelangelo said, "The kids are all up for it, and as Master Splinter said, we're not in Chicago or New York, and we're quite far from other humans here in the country!"
"True that!" April agreed "Even when we when camping together before the kids arrived, no other humans came near!"
Mona was still a little worried.
"I'm sorry," she said "I'm just…"
"It is understandable, my daughter." Splinter soothed placing his furry paw on Mona's hand.
"I'm an agreement with Mona." Raphael said, "Pandora is still young, even though she'll be thirteen in the autumn."
"She's your little girl!" Donatello agreed "And she's growing up so fast!"
"Don't remind me!" Raphael sighed rubbing his head sadly "She's not gonna be our Little Geisha soon."
"I can say the same about the twins." Sephie sighed "they're growing up so fast, they're learning every day."
Tyroth nodded.
"Freya is so determined to be like me," he said, "She keeps saying she wants to be a Viking Warrior."
"Basically, a female version of you Big T!" Michelangelo chuckled.
"That's my little Valkyrie!" Tyroth smiled "I'm glad I inspire her, but I do worry for her sometimes."
"I'm just as concerned for Kemeko." Leonardo confessed "I mean, I know she's growing up to be a strong and clever girl, and she too wishes to be a ninja, but I still fear for her safety, especially after all the promises I made to Karai."
"We all promised Karai to keep Kemeko safe." Donatello clarified "Well, I know you take it more personally Leo, being Kemeko's Godfather and now adopted father."
"My children." Splinter cut in, "As much as you are concerned about the safety of the grandchildren, we must embrace the fact they feel ready to start exploring without our watchful eyes on them all the time."
"I can give you our promise that wherever they go for their Camping trip here, as long as they don't stray too far from the grounds of the Farmhouse, they'll be fine!" Casey said, "I used to go Camping around the woods here when I was a boy, either with my parents, or alone, well, I was 14 when I went camping alone for the first time."
"And Pandora's only 12." Mona reminded them.
"But still!" April smiled "The children will be a hundred per cent safe here, as long as they stay within the safe borders of the Farmhouse grounds."
"That soothes my concerns." Sephie said "If April and Casey say it's alright, then I'm satisfied!"
She looked at her husband who pondered for a moment, then he nodded his head.
"I concur." He agreed, then looked at Mona, Raphael, and Leonardo.
"Now over to you three." He said to which the three mutants looked at each other.
They were concerned, but they trusted April and Casey's word about the grounds and woodland around the farmhouse being safe, and they did want Kemeko and Pandora to have the chance to explore and have some independence.
They also wanted to know that they could trust the girls as well, Mona gave a small smile at her mate and adopted brother.
"They need some freedom to be kids." She said, "And enjoy some safe adventures, who would want to deny them that?"
Raphael and Leonardo looked at each other then back at Mona and the others. Small smiles gracing their faces.
Back in the garden, the kids were waiting to hear from the grown-ups.
"Aww man, what's taking so long?" Pandora groaned as she picked the petals off a daisy in boredom "They should have made a decision by know!"
Freya nodded in agreement as she lay on her back staring at the blue sky above.
"Patience Pandora." Kemeko said who was sitting cross legged with her eyes closed "Our family are only thinking of our welfare."
"And our safety." Loki added who was picking at the grass and saw a colourful furry caterpillar crawling near him.
"Cool!" he picked up the furry caterpillar to analyse it.
"We can take care of ourselves!" Pandora scoffed folding her arms "After all the training we've been doing!"
She then turned to the Geckolings.
"And with the twins' magic and firepower, no-one would mess with us!" she added.
Freya gave a smirk as she heard that.
"Hmm, that is true!" she said, "I'm only just managing to master my magic and firepower!"
She looked across to Loki who was holding out his finger with the caterpillar on it.
"Loki!" she said, "Put it down!"
Loki looked at his sister and raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" he asked, "I'm just looking at it! It's fascinating!"
"It's a living thing!" Freya said, "It belongs in nature, not on your finger!"
Kemeko turned and picked up the caterpillar from Loki's finger before placing it on a leaf of a nearby bush.
"Oi!" Loki protested to which Kemeko was about to speak when the doors of the farmhouse opened, and the children turned to see the grown-ups walk outside.
All the kids stood to attention, both excited but also worried.
"We've had a serious talk about allowing you to go Camping." Monalisa said as she looked at Pandora.
Pandora's eyes lit up in hope and she crossed her fingers.
"Yeah?" The Geckolings asked still holding their thumbs.
"And we've decided." Said Tyroth with a smirk as he looked at his children "That you may go camping!"
The children cheered loudly in excitment.
"Oh yeah!" the Geckolings high fived.
"Awesome!" Pandora shouted punching the air.
Kemeko just smiled and hugged Leonardo who knelt to her level as she walked up to him.
"You're growing up Lotus Blossom." Leonardo said kissing Kemeko's forehead "And you along with your cousins want to experience adventures, so I believe you should be allowed to have some fun! And have a chance to enjoy yourself without me watching you all the time!"
Kemeko hugged Leonardo again.
"Thanks dad!" she smiled "I love you!"
"But kids!" Tyroth interrupted and the children looked at him.
"We need to have a talk with you about where you can go and rules that apply to your little trip okay?"
The children looked serious then nodded.
"Okay." They said together.
"Then come inside." Splinter said, "And we shall help you prepare for your little adventure as well as help you pack and prepare."
The children agreed, and they looked at each other excited as they walked into the farmhouse.
"This is gonna be great!" Loki cheered as he flapped his wings to fly ahead with his father.
So the grown-ups have decided that the kids should be allowed to have a little adventure alone! Even if it is an unsupervised camping trip!
But still, the kids need to learn some safety rules and what they can and can't do out there!