Raph was pissed.

That goddamned Ogaloga guy or whatever the hell his name was is a pain in Raph's ass. The fact Ogalogo teamed up with the Kraang was a pain in itself. They even found the Lair, for god's sake!

Ogaloga/Ogalogo/Ogalo whatever is gonna pay for what he did, or tried to do, to Raph, his brothers, and his Sensei.

He was currently glaring at this weird-looking sand mutant guy in the cell left of himself, who was slouched against his cell's bars.

"Hey you, weirdo, get me outta here." Raph angrily hissed, because he needed to find his brothers, needed to make sure they were safe.

Needed to know they were still alive.

To be honest, Raph doesn't know what happened. All he knows is that him and his brothers were fighting Ogaloga and the Kraang at the same time. The main focus was Ogaloga, whose plan was to blow himself up, in turn layering NYC in Mutagen and causing all the citizens to mutate. The battle was chaotic, with the Kraang and Ogalo's minions on one side, the Turtles and the Foot on the other. It was so loud, so bright, so hectic that Raph lost sight of his brothers, so intent on survival.

But he heard his brother's screams loud and clear.

He saw Mikey, saw Ogalogo impale him with his long claws, saw Mikey's limp body get thrown away haphazardly.

He saw Donnie, strewn across a car, arms and legs twisting the wrong way as Ogalogo whipped him around moments before.

He saw Leo, terrified, trying to get to his younger brothers before getting smashed by a car, Ogalogo laughing gleefully as he repeatedly slammed the car on top of Leo's body.

He saw Ogalogo lock eyes with him, tilting his head as an animalistic grin formed on his face, stomping his way over to Raph.

He saw red.

He charged at Ogalogo, stabbed, kicked, punched, sliced, did anything and everything that could inflict pain onto Ogalogo, anything that could kill. But Ogalogo was deadlier, grabbing Raph by his throat and slamming him once, twice, three times against the pavement, breaking both his legs, then throwing him into a nearby fire-lit building.

That's all he remembers.

How he got out—no clue. How he survived—no clue. But the point is that he did, and now Raph was going to find Ogaloga and kill him once and for all.

But he needed to get out first.

He doesn't know where he is, but he knows this sand mutant's been here for awhile by overhearing a conversation between an Imp looking thing and a mutant….pole. The pole—a literal steel mutant pole—had a small mouth, one small eye, and six legs—no arms. The Imp was purple, with wings coming out of his pointy ears, ten eyes around his whole bald head, and a long pointy nose. He was at least seven feet tall, almost as tall as the pole, who was at least eight feet tall, and was extremely muscular, but had tiny arms and legs. They were talking about escaping the place, and mentioned the sand mutant—Fork is his name, apparently—who was the first mutant captured and put into this warehouse.

Fork knows the whole place, even had a successful escape attempt, but for reasons unknown came back.

Fork glanced at Raph and sighed.

"Can't help you get out."

Raph glared at him harder.

"'Can't' or 'Won't'?"

"Both. Can't because this place is heavy guarded, won't because I don't want to help you." Fork replied, returning Raph's glare with his red-green glowing eyes.

Raph growled, lurching forward. He slammed into the cell bars closest to Fork's, gripping them so hard his knuckles were turning white.

"Listen here, asshole," Raph gritted out between clenched teeth. "My brothers are out there, in who-knows-what conditions, and I need to find them. You're gonna help me whether you like it or—"

"They're dead."

Silence.

The words cut through Raph's sentence instantaneously, the mutant turtle choking on his next word. He stared wide-eyed at Fork, his mouth slowly closing, brows furrowing.

No.

"I'm sorry."

He's lying.

"There's nothing you could've done."

Rage was simmering deep inside Raph, eating him up, tearing him apart, then spitting him out, broken and guilt-ridden.

More silence, then—

"Nothing I could've done!?" Raph roared, glowering at Fork. "I could've done something if I wasn't here! I could've found them, I could've helped them, I could've protected them!" Raph screamed, kicking the cell bars, hard enough for the bars to shake.

"Don't you ever tell me I couldn't've done something. Because I…I…" Raph stopped, overcome with emotion, slowly sliding down the bars before his knees hit the floor. Putting his head against the abused bars, he closed his eyes.

The rage that was within Raph left as quickly as it came, leaving him with an unexplainable hollow feeling in his chest.

"How do you know, anyways?" Raph muttered.

There was a second of hesitancy before Fork spoke, obviously surprised by Raphael's outburst.

"I don't." Fork murmured, matching Raph's tone. "But, I think we both know what's become of both our loved ones, whether we want to or not."

Raph was silent as he tried to fight off his emotions, hands still gripping the bars, head still against the cold, unforgiving bars.

He was surrounded in an all-consuming darkness, alone, without his brothers, and he was…

He was scared.

—-Line Break—

Fork was honestly surprised. He hadn't expected the conversation to not be violent. He had expected the turtle to throw a rock at him or something, cuss him out, try to kill him, stuff like that.

But, he supposed that since the turtle's been here for five or six days, the rage that the turtle may've had was probably spent on those violent attacks on his poor cell bars. Now the mutant just seemed sad, and Fork couldn't blame him one bit.

It was tough, watching your family members die in front you, seeing those bullets tear through their new bodies. So, Fork couldn't be angry. He's been there. They all have.

An hour has passed since Fork's and the turtle's discussion, silence having encompassed them both. The turtle has moved into the corner of his cell, his back to Fork. He re-tied a red bandana from his leg to around his eyes, making him look all ninja-like. Fork, however, is in the same position he's been since he got back from the cafeteria, waiting for the release into the outdoors.

How long that'll be, you ask? Who the hell knows. They let 'em go when they wanna let 'em go.

In the meantime, Fork was playing with the sand that made up his body. At any given time, he can turn into whatever he wants, as long as he has enough sand to do so. The sand gathers around him, contributing to whatever form he is now, and any extra sand just idly swirls around his arms or head. Right now, he was in male human form, so he probably looked like a sand-figure with a dark blue shirt, black jeans, and boots. His face was also sandy, he could completely remove his mouth if he wished (since after all, it was just a hole in the sand). The only exception is his red-green glowing eyes, which can't be hidden by sand nor removed. He may or may not have hair; Blair has said Fork's hair comes and goes.

His sand-ness came in handy when he attempted to escape from the warehouse. All he had to do was bribe the local mutant smuggler with gravel left over from Fork's dinners. What the smuggler, a purple muscular imp named Dexter, did with the gravel was anyone's guess. But, ultimately, Dexter delivered him a bag of sand hidden under a blanket. At the time, the agents didn't check the mutant's cells for contraband. Then, Fork dumped the sand over himself, and with all that extra sand he turned into a long skinny snake and slithered away. The only way for the incorporated sand in Fork's person to dissipate is for it to wash away or get blown away by the wind. Unfortunately, it was raining outside when Fork escaped the building. Most of his sand body was washed away. Fork only had enough to transform into a hamster and run back to his cell. As a precaution, the agents re-sanded him and checked him for injuries.

But since then Fork hasn't had much motivation to try his luck again, and because of his attempted escape the agents now check the mutant's cells, which angered a lot of them (but you can't beat up sand!).

As Fork playfully threw a handful of sand into the air, he couldn't help but look cautiously around the warehouse.

Something was….off.

It was still dark—always dark, impossibly dark—but there was a strange anticipation in the air. Anticipation and some fear, as well.

Something was going to happen. He knew it. The turtle knew it, too, because even he was looking around the place, shoulders tensed, body rigid. Fork's body was relaxed—he was always a chill guy, never got too worked up over things.

But even he was feeling a bit nervous as he brushed the now-fallen sand back to him, and just as he was about to ask the kid if he knew anything, the bell rung.

All the cell doors opened, the agents filing into the halls, escorting the mutants outdoors.

Something was about to blow, but whether it was figuratively or literally, Fork had no clue.

—-Line Break—

Something wasn't right. Something was off. Blair's been here for almost four months, he knows this place, he knows when somethings off. He felt the glaring of mutants towards him, the rage inside them. What could it be? Was it—

Oh god.

Oh no.

Not now, not—god why now!?

Those thoughts raced through Blair's head as he nervously sat in the middle of his cell, his eyes darting in every direction, fearing for the worse.

Did they find him?

They must've found him.

But how!? He was so careful. He wasn't associating with anyone that had been part of the group, he was sure of it!

Was it Fork? No, it can't be Fork. He's too young, they don't accept youngsters.

The glowering of mutants was becoming more intense, there was growling coming from somewhere. Can they see him? But it was dark, can they see in the dark?

He wasn't gonna tell them anything.

Nothing.

It doesn't matter what Ogalo wants—doesn't matter what he's offering. Blair wasn't going to tell him shit.

Blair knew he was getting extra attention, too. First, he had the suspicion when one the hummingbird mutants, a notorious member of the group, was talking quietly with other members, glancing up at Blair every now and then.

They never did that.

He had had an idea, a thought, when he was starting to be watched, his movements documented. His schedule, who he talked too, what he did.

They only did that when they had a target.

He was certain when he saw the group's symbol, a round circle with a dead rat in the middle with the groups insignia, 'Despondent Trepidation' written above, it was painted on the floor of Blair's cell—how they did that, he didn't know.

Didn't want to know.

Didn't want to die.

But how did they know about him? Only the high-ranking members knew who he was—what he's done.

But the good thing—which is hardly a good thing, in all honesty—is that they need him. They won't kill him because they need him. What they are after is hidden, (It's hidden); only Blair knows where.

They won't find it.

They won't.

They….no, they won't.

His trembling was now starting to get noticeable, but was unseen by the agent that was escorting him outdoors.

Where was Fork? He needed to make sure Fork wasn't a target—he needed to stay away from Fork.

Was that a good idea? Yes. It has to be.

He wasn't paying attention to where his agent was leading him. It was too dark, and anyways, they take different routes every time, so there was no point in remembering.

Soon, too soon, they were outdoors.

All of them.

Every mutant in the warehouse, all five hundred of them, were let outdoors. Monitored, yes, but that didn't stop the threats, the whisperings, the beatings.

How this many mutants are in the warehouse, Blair has no clue. He thinks the warehouse is split up into four sections; that's the rumor. Is it true? Possibly. Probably. Who knows. Who cares. He doesn't, he only cares about Fork.

As he was released from the agents tight grip on his fluffy back, he scanned the outdoors. Him and Fork never tried to hang out together outdoors, it was too risky. He did, however, see the mutant turtle, whose face was full of shock as he took in the sight before him.

The turtle passed him, muttering, "Gotta get out of here."

Blair couldn't disagree more.

Going outdoors was dangerous. They would find Blair there, torture him, demand to know the location of Ogalo's greatest weapon against the Kraang. He was safer in the hands of the government, at least they protected him somewhat.

No, he did not need to be released, he needed to be kept here, in safety. Or, relative safety, anyway.

Hopping rather quickly, he made a beeline for the forest part of the cage they were in. Because that's what it was; they were surrounded by twenty foot tall walls, lined on the top by agents, so many agents. The outdoor cage was split into two biomes: the field to the left, the forest to the right. Most of the mutants went to the left, skittish ones went to the right. The outdoor cage was a circle at least ten miles wide, so huge that the only way for the agents to wrangle the mutants back indoors is by fireworks, gas, guns, and smoke bombs (Which, quite frankly, always hurt like hell). The agents, however, had strict no-kill orders, except for emergency situations.

Blair glanced around as he ran-hopped. He wasn't even going to try to describe all the mutants in the area; some were ten feet tall, some were five feet, some were animals, others were abominations. The tallest mutant here was a nineteen foot tall mutant by the name Hung. Hung was one of those abominations. He was a huge centipede, his legs in the thousands, no arms in sight, but here's the kicker: he's vertical. The front part of him stood straight up, the back staying down. His two eyes are huge, his pincers constantly hitting together, making a sharp clicking noise. He had a mouth, located somewhere on his person, and he could speak, but barely. He crawls up the wall, and when he gets too far, the agents shoot him, and he goes down again.

The thing is, though, Hung's part of the group. The group that Blair associated with in his human form, and the group that's now (clearly) out to get him: 'Indicibili'.

Translated 'Unspeakable' in English, Indicibili works with Ogalo, the group's new leader. Before, it was a human guy named Markel, but he was killed by the members and replaced with Ogalo after Markel refused to work with Ogalo. The members are now mutants, and their goal is to capture Blair.

Ironically, Blair was friends with Hung, the likes of whom Blair went to for advice and comfort before he met Fork. But, after finding Indicibili's symbol on one of Hung's legs, Blair quickly shut him out. It was a stroke of luck that Blair even saw the symbol, since Hung has so many legs.

The reason why Hung is such a problem now is because of Hung's height, he can see the whole outdoor cage clearly. It doesn't help that Blair is the whitest mutant in the whole warehouse, his fur glowing when the sun hits it just right.

And just before Blair stepped into the forest, he saw Hung staring at him, frozen. Hung let out a shriek and then—

And then he burrowed into the ground, towards Blair.

"Shit!" Blair shouted just as he reached the tree line. He darted inside, dodging all the skittish mutants, before finding a small ditch. But, goddamn it, he realizes that because of the 'boing' noise that sounds when he hops, Hung can hear it. Or feel it, Blair doesn't know how vibrations work.

And just as Blair threw himself into the ditch, the ground behind him exploded. Whipping around in shock, Blair saw as Hung flew through the ground, high in the sky. There were panicked shouts from the agents, and gun fire erupted. Sirens started blaring, mutants started to sprint away from the area. But, when Hung landed, he didn't attack Blair. Instead, he leaned over Blair, like he was protecting him, but from what—

The sky turned yellow, just for a minute.

There was a long 'BOOM' and when Blair darted around Hung, he realized:

The warehouse exploded.

There was screaming, crying, more sirens, more panicked shouts.

A huge cloud of black smoke billowed into the air, and debris flew towards the mutants. Some mutants were impaled, others were crushed. Some were burned from the explosion, and Blair saw bloody bodies strewn about the ground, thrown by the blast.

Fork. Where—where was Fork?

But as Blair looked around, he heard a low clicking coming from his left, and he whipped towards Hung as Hung reared back, about to strike—

Something hit Blair, hard, and Blair had the wind knocked out from him as he was picked up by someone. There were loud noises and an angry roar, as helicopters attempted to subdue Hung. But Blair had his own issues because someone he didn't know was carrying him off.

That someone—who obviously wasn't Fork, he noticed—carried him away from the danger. They were sprinting, through the rubble, through the screaming, while Blair wheezed pitifully, the pain in his chest burning as he tried to get air into his screaming lungs. Blair didn't know what position he was in; up, down, sideways, he didn't care. He just wanted to get out of there.

Soon, the screaming faded away, as did the shots and the cries. The person that picked him up stopped, breathing heavily. He placed him down on the ground, and when Blair looked up at him, he was shocked.

It was the mutant turtle.

The turtle was hurt. Long open gashes decorated his arms, and there was blood all over him. He looked terrified, acid green eyes wide, bending, hands on his knees. But the turtle locked eyes with Blair, and nodded towards him.

"You alright?" The turtle asked between breaths.

"Y-Yeah. Thanks," Blair replied, voice cracking. "Do you know where Fork is?"

The turtle looked behind himself. "Don't know. I didn't see him at all; I heard him calling for you, though." The turtle replied, straightening. He looked around, then back at Blair. "Sorry."

Blair stared at the turtle, frozen.

Indicibili were going to find him. They were going to torture him. And Blair was starting to panic.

After a minute, the turtle regained his breath. "Since you seem okay, I'm just gonna leave you here. I think you're safe here, anyways, 'cause I went pretty far. I don't see many people around here, so you don't seem to need to hide too much. I gotta go and find my brothers, good luck." He said, nodding at Blair once more before jogging away.

He—the turtle can't leave him. He can't defend himself, he's just a stupid sheep!

"W-Wait!" Blair shouted, hopping after him. The turtle glanced behind himself, irritation slightly showing.

"What?"

"Can I come with you? There're people after me, and I need to stay with someone." Blair hastily said, scanning the street they were in.

The turtle sighed. "I'm sorry, but I gotta look for my brothers. I can't have you getting in the way."

"But I—"

"No." The turtle almost yelled, cutting Blair off. Just as the turtle was about to jog away again, Blair blurted out the best thing he could say that would stop the turtle.

"I know where your brothers are!" Blair shouted. It was a lie, a total lie, but it worked.

The turtle abruptly stopped, turning towards Blair sharply. "What did you say?"

Blair caught up to him, slightly panting from the effort.

"I know where your bothers are. Or, I know where they most likely are. I know New York City like the back of my hand, and I know some people who can point us in the right direction."

"Why should I trust you?" Turtle gritted out, glaring at Blair.

"Because I'm the only mutant you've got, kid."

The turtle's face twisted from confusion. "The hell does that mean?"

Blair sighed impatiently, scanning the street again. "Look, you've only been here for a bit, but the mutants here are extremely dangerous. If they didn't know you before, they ain't gonna talk to you at all now. They're extremely suspicious of people, and I'm well-known. I have an interesting reputation." Blair impatiently stated, holding the turtle's gaze.

The turtle was silent a minute, before sighing and shaking his head. "Fine. But, you better know what you're doing, and you better not be lying, sheep." The turtle snapped before continuing his walk. Blair hopped beside him, biting his lip.

Did he just make a huge mistake?

No, this was good. He'll find Fork, and he'll find the turtle's brother, all while being protected.

Hopefully, things won't go to shit.