I don't own anything except the OCs and the plot of this fic
Mikey jerked awake, shivering despite the blanket one of his brothers had draped over him. The couch creaked as he sat up and squinted; light from Donatello's lab spilled into the living room. Every now and then he could see figures moving across the doorway as snatches of conversation drifted out.
His body protested as he got up, numerous bruises and bandages telling the story of their fight with the harpies. He lingered in the doorway and watched his brothers, who for a moment failed to notice his presence.
Donatello was sitting at his workbench working on some new piece of equipment, his injured leg wrapped and elevated on a nearby stool. Mikey shuddered at the memory of the harpy's talon slicing deeply into his brother's calf and thigh as they grappled. Having received the brunt of the harpies' assault, he also sported a broken clavicle that confined one of his arms to a sling. But the worst of all were the scratches that snaked up and around his neck, hidden by more bandages. Donny had managed to fight back fiercely enough that the lacerations weren't fatal, but if they hadn't gotten to him in time...
Leonardo and Raphael ran back and forth bringing him various items from around the lab. They sported multiple lacerations across their arms and upper torsos, received when they had rescued Donatello.
Raphael noticed him first and with a grunt gestured for him to enter. His brother deposited several bundles of wire next to Donatello, who didn't even glance up as he reached for them.
Mikey eyed this newest contraption, which seemed to be an elaborate shoulder pad. He picked up a piece of paper sitting on the workbench and studied the rough sketch.
"Armor?" His eyes widened as he comprehended Donatello's design. "Do you really think that'll stop them?"
Donatello looked up now and frowned. "The harpies are unfortunately equally deadly with both long range and close combat. And while I don't think this will completely negate their attacks, hopefully this will make them think twice about fighting hand to hand."
With a flick of his screwdriver the shoulder pad became alive; a high pitch hum vibrated through it loud enough that Mikey took a cautious step backwards. Setting it down, Donatello tossed a spare screw at the armor, causing it to spark with electricity at the contact.
"Uh, neat idea Donny….but how do you keep it from zapping us, too?'
Donatello turned the device off, allowing Mikey to relax and peer closer at it. "Heavy insulation should protect us from the discharge. Just don't go running into each other while you're wearing these."
"How long will it take you to make a complete set?" Leonardo picked up the shoulder pad and put it on, moving his arm through various ranges of motion.
"A few days, maybe two if I pull some all-nighters." Donatello shifted and winced.
Their father padded into the lab, the steady tap of his cane the only announcement of his entry. He came to stand beside his most injured son, passing him a cup of tea and a bottle of Tylenol. Donny received these with a small smile and nod of thanks.
Splinter did not return the smile. He patted Donatello on the shoulder softly, but his eyes had a certain hardness to them as they rested on his leg.
"Please do not overexert yourself, Donatello. You need rest for your wounds to heal properly."
Donny mumbled a noncommittal reply, throwing back the Tylenol with a gulp of tea. Before Michelangelo could ask if it hurt to take a shot of hot tea, Splinter turned to him.
"Michelangelo, I need to speak with you. Privately."
For a moment, Mikey's mouth opened as if to make an excuse. But something in the way his sensei looked at him made his stomach tighten. So he kept quiet and meekly followed Splinter to his study.
Father and son knelt facing one another, saying nothing for several minutes. The only light in the room came from several candles scattered about. Michelangelo stared at the ground, watching the shadows flicker and shift. As he did, he remembered the last time he and Alex spoke alone.
"Sometimes in the shadows I can almost see her"
He shivered, his blood going cold at the memory.
"Michelangelo."
Splinter's voice is so quiet he almost didn't hear him. His father's expression was shrouded in the dim light, but even with that Mikey could make out the pain in his features.
"My son, my heart aches for you and your friend. The world has been neither kind nor fair to you or your siblings, and I am all too aware how precious you hold your friendships to be."
Mikey said nothing, his eyes drifting back to the floor. His hands betrayed him, though, balling into fists to hide their trembling.
"And at the same time, as a parent I cannot begin to tell you the horror of watching another's child be the victim of such a nightmare. If there was anything I could do to save your friend, I would gladly do it."
If . The word hung in the arm, oppressive and condemning his friend.
"Master Splinter," He willed his voice to stay steady. "There's still hope. Donny still thinks that-"
"Donatello could have died in that forest." His father's voice is still calm, but the hardness in his eyes now crept into his words. He said this not as an accusation, but as a simple, undeniable fact. And it is the truth of these words that killed whatever Mikey was about to say. The harpies obviously meant to kill them that night, and would have succeeded with his brother if they hadn't been close enough to save him.
"Michelangelo, you and your brothers are my children. I will not place anyone's life above yours, not even your friend's."
The door flew open at this. Mikey spun around, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. Raphael stomped in, having abandoned his spot next to Leonardo and Donatello, who remained peering from out in the hall.
Apparently, they still hadn't outgrown their childhood habit of eavesdropping.
"Well," His brother began, placing a hand on Michelangelo's shoulder that was supposed to be comforting but instead felt like a vice clamp. "I guess it's lucky that it ain't gonna come to that, sensei."
Splinter stiffened at this interruption. "Raphael," His tone carried a warning that went ignored.
"You're right: those rats with wings have tried to kill us, and each time we've sent their feathered asses packin'." He didn't falter in the face of his father's disapproval. "I'm not gonna live forever; somethin's gotta take me out someday. But I'll be damned if it's an overgrown, Hot Topic pigeon."
An involuntary laugh escaped Mikey, short and laced with tears that finally dropped down his face. Raphael pretended not to notice.
"And they've got another thing comin' if they think I'd let them take my brothers from me. So," He released Mikey's aching shoulder and pointed to Donatello, who was now standing in the doorway, supported by Leonardo. "instead of wasting our breath on things that aren't gonna happen, we need to focus on our original plan: take out this-this-whatever she's called."
"Crone of War." Donatello interjected.
Raphael waved his hand impatiently. "I don't really give a damn what she calls herself. Point is, everything you've read says we get rid of her, we get rid of the curse."
"So simple." Leonardo replied dryly, but Raphael grinned in response.
"But it is." Michelangelo finally found his voice again. "In the end, we've beaten every monster and bad guy we ever came up against." He was on his feet now. "We just have to do what we always do-"
Splinter's cane came down between him and Raphael, the noise not particularly loud but silencing him all the same. His eyes fell first to Michelangelo, holding him with a gaze that forbade any further discussion. It moved to each of his brothers, who remained quiet but met his eyes steadily.
His father settled back onto his heels, drawing in a slow, deep breath before answering his sons. "Donatello, your injuries make it impossible for you to leave the lair for the foreseeable future. Michelangelo, you will also remain here."
Mikey dared not argue, but this decree stung, especially when Splinter continued.
"I'm sorry my son, but I cannot allow your feelings for Alex to put you or your brothers in harm's way. Leonardo and Raphael, you will continue this path together. Your determination to see this through is admirable, however-" He directed this last bit to Leo. "you will do whatever is necessary to protect yourselves and our family."
Their eldest brother's shoulders drooped at this, as if Donatello wasn't the only weight they now carried.
The days following her abduction were a blur; sometimes her body seemed to move on its own accord, driven by instinct or something much more frightening. Similarly, Alex drifted in and out of consciousness, her mind slipping often into a dreamlike state that made it difficult to separate these episodes from reality.
Alex didn't know how long she had sat in this corner, her body curled in on itself. Raising her head, she inspected her hands; from the elbow down her skin was covered in a scaly hide, and her fingers ended in long, hardened nails that curved slightly. Her feet were unrecognizable, terrible things with sickle like talons that made her sick to look at.
She touched one of the claws with the pad of a finger, pricking it in the process.
At least I still bleed red blood.
Red.
As she looked up, she realized she was not alone. The room, housed in an abandoned building, was crumbling in places, letting in streams of moonlight through holes in the ceiling. She could make out shadowy outlines of figures all around her, but clearest of all were the many pairs of too large red eyes that stared at her.
They whispered amongst themselves, though none made any move to approach her. Alex sat motionless, frozen in place and unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, several of the harpies perched above her moved aside as one of them rose and fanned her wings. Even in the darkness, Alex could make out the silver feathers that streaked through the black ones, giving her wings a shimmering effect as she flew down.
She landed in front of the girl huddled in the corner, keeping herself low to the ground and speaking softly to her.
"How do you feel?" When no reply came, she continued cautiously. "You need to eat something, Alex."
The mere mention of food made her nauseous, though this time she managed to push the rising bile back down. Alex still made no answer, but looked intently at the harpy.
Beneath the gray skin and red eyes, a woman's face peered back at her. Her eyes were bordered by long, thick lashes, her nose straight, and her lips full and heart shaped. Though her hair was black like all the other harpies, her's was obviously curly, a few strands breaking free of the bun secured at the base of her neck. They fell in spirals against high cheekbones and a sharp, strong jaw.
Alex frowned; the woman was familiar but her memories were so jumbled-
It hit her all of a sudden, the feeling of cold water running under her and the image of stars peaking through the canopy of the forest. She remembered a harpy, this harpy, standing over her, her hand outstretched and open.
"Helena." She breathes the name without meaning to and pulls her arms tighter around herself.
Helena made no move to approach closer; instead, she settled to sit on the ground, placing her hands placidly in her lap.
"Yes," Alex couldn't quite make out what emotion laced her reply. "I am Helena, the eldest of Medea's daughters."
At the mention of Medea, the whispering died for only a moment before intensifying. Helena turned to shush them before facing Alex again.
"You haven't eaten in several days; even if it's just a few bites, please try…"
Whatever Helena said after this faded away, almost as if she was slipping down a long tunnel. Her voice is replaced by a whisper, only this one did not come from the harpies perched around her.
Come here, Alex.
Alex recoiled from this new voice, but there's nowhere to hide. It took her a moment to realise that everyone else, Helena included, had got silent and still.
Helena stood now and took hold of Alex's arm; she was too weak to resist and merely looked around, hopelessly searching for the speaker.
"Follow me." Helena's voice was gentle, but something compelled Alex to obey even if she really wanted to jerk away screaming. Instead, her wings opened as she crouched low then sprung into the air, beating in long strokes to pull her into the skies.
They flew through the largest hole in the ceiling and into the cool air of the night. Alex realized that even though it wasn't a full moon, she could see clearly in the darkness, making out the shape of the island as they climbed higher. Her vision blurred towards the horizon, and she realized the lights she saw were that of the mainland in the distance.
Helena leveled off and glided away, and Alex followed her mutely. While the former flew smoothly, beating sparingly as she let the air currents carry her, Alex trailed clumsily behind her, wings sporadically flapping at the slightest buffeting from the wind.
Eventually, she landed in a clearing on the other side of the island. As before, Helena alighted gracefully as Alex came down with a hard thud next to her, her legs buckling and sending her sprawling in the dirt.
Alex groaned, her entire body sore from these unfamiliar movements. She held her wings awkwardly above her, still not used to her new appendages.
Helena hauled the girl to her feet. Alex's irritation mounted at being grabbed and handled like a sack of produce, but before she could demand to be let go Medea cleared her throat.
She sat in her usual place in the clearing: perched on a nearby tree branch with one leg swinging beneath her. Beneath her, several other harpies milled about and prepared food they had scavenged. There were no fires lit, and Alex wondered what the harpies ate if they didn't cook their meals.
She jerked as Medea seemed to just appear in front of her. Up close, she could see that she was shorter than Helena and had a small, pointed face, her hair in a long braid that hung over one shoulder. There were fine lines around her eyes and mouth that creased as she smiled now, although Alex was no longer looking at Medea. Her eyes were fixed at something just over the harpy's shoulder.
Helena shifted uneasily from one foot to another, and Medea's smile lessened some.
"I'm glad you are well. I was worried about you."
Alex blinked, as if realizing only now that she was being addressed. She stared at Medea, and swayed slightly. Suddenly, she was grateful that Helena was there to steady her.
Medea reached out and brushed a piece of hair back from Alex's face. She flinched at the touch, and the last of the harpy's smile faded.
"Don't be afraid." Her eyes burned brightly in the darkness. "You're safe now, and I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
A thousand emotions flooded Alex all at once. "Safe?" Her throat was dry and made her voice croak as she finally responded. " You were the one that-"
The world went black just then, like a heavy blanket had been thrown over her head. Helena and the other harpies were gone and it was just Alex and Medea in the clearing; the latter loomed over her, seemingly growing larger in the void.
The whispering voice returned, and though Alex couldn't make out what it said, she realized with terror that it wasn't Medea talking.
Just as soon as it had come, the blanket was gone and Alex was back with the other harpies. Medea stood in front of her and the smile was back, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
Alex's heart beat faster and harder than she ever thought possible. She had broken out in a cold sweat, and for the first time in her life, Alex swallowed whatever she was about to say and simply shook her head.
Medea looked at her a moment longer before turning slightly and motioning for them to pass. Helena let go of a breath she had been holding. As she dragged Alex towards the food, Medea never stopped staring at the girl.
Helena guided Alex to a low chair that battered and obviously from the ruins. She returned a moment later with a bowl of cold canned soup, and Alex wordlessly accepted it and took a few hesitant bites. When her stomach didn't revolt against her, she continued eating, and Helena seemed to relax a little. She settled down next to her and ate her own dinner, and Alex was grateful that she didn't force any conversation.
She looked up only once when Medea flew back to her perch, and she wondered if the other harpies even noticed the shadows that seemed to float just behind their leader.
"Stop pouting."
Mikey sat dejectedly on the arm of the couch as his brothers tried on their newly finished armor. Despite Donatello's insistence that this was a rushed project, the quality of his work indicated otherwise.
Given the natural protection their shells offered to their abdomens, special attention was instead given to their necks and other areas with major blood vessels. The headphones had been upgraded to full face helmets, offering protection not only from the harpies' physical attacks but also their wails. The low hum the armor emitted gave his siblings the appearance of having just walked out of a sci-fi show.
Michelangelo made a whining noise and flung himself backwards onto the sofa. While Donatello had his lab and his wounds to distract him, Mikey would have nothing to do but sit and watch the door, waiting for his brothers to come home from their latest patrol. His concern for his friend and family mixed with the unpleasantness of being left behind, though his siblings weren't exactly sympathetic.
Donny simply glared at him and offered to give him matching injuries to "district him" as Mikey had put it. And while Leonardo simply didn't respond to Michelangelo's complaining, Raphael wasn't as restrained. He flexed, showing off his new armor and laughed when Mikey sulked.
"Alright." His grin almost turned a snarl. "Let's see how those assholes like me now." The scars on his arms from their first encounter with the harpies were hidden by the armor, but Mikey knew they were still just barely healed.
"Tonight's focus is recon only." Leonardo addressed all four of them, but he looked at Raphael as he spoke, who offered a rude gesture in return. "Since they moved locations, we need to have an idea where Medea might be before we can begin planning our next step."
Splinter came to see them before they left. He laid a hand on both of them, and with a tone that seemed more like an order instructed them to be careful.
They bowed respectfully and then were gone, leaving Donatello and Michelangelo with their father. He stood rooted in place for some time, and when he finally turned Mikey was struck by how much older his sensei looked. The thought occurred to him that the worry he felt for his brothers certainly paled in comparison to Splinter's.
Suddenly feeling guilty, he rose from the couch and tugged on Splinter's sleeve, earning him a small smile; it reminded his father of when he was young and would pull him towards whatever activity he and his brothers were engaged with, begging him to join.
"C'mon sensei, let's go make some dinner. They'll be hungry when they get home."
Alex's stomach might have settled down in the days following her arrival to the harpies' camp, but sleep was still an ordeal. She continued to wander in shadows, plagued by red eyed birds and a whispering voice that grew more insistent.
The thing was, Alex couldn't understand what the voice said, even when she strained to catch the words. Her confusion seemed to agitate the unseen speaker, and she slept only in short bursts, waking feeling more confused and anxious than ever.
So today she laid awake, turned facing the wall so no one would try to talk to her. It really wasn't that hard to avoid conversation, as the rest of the harpies kept to themselves, bunched together in dark huddles whispering the days and nights away.
Helena was rarely far away, although Alex reluctantly found her presence calming. She never forced her company on the girl, but would appear periodically to check on her. Alex was dying to bombard her with a million questions, but the memory of the shadow that followed Medea unnerved her and made her hesitant to interact with Medea's eldest child.
She heard the sound of feathers rustling and saw the shimmering wings of Helena as she departed; the sun had already set and twilight was rapidly giving way to night. The last bit of remaining daylight hurt Alex's eyes, but a sudden burst of curiosity made her sit up. Every night, just when the harpies were beginning to stir in their roost, Helena would return. Alex assumed she meant with their leader daily, and the desire for answers gradually built and overcame her fear.
She got to her feet as quietly as possible. A few harpies stirred and looked, but they turned away after a moment, losing interest in her.
Alex took a few steadying breaths before she launched herself in the air. Her wings grew stronger every day, and tonight they easily carried her up and out.
The evening was warm, and for a moment Alex wobbled in the air as the wind unbalanced her. Clenching her jaw, she righted herself and began to fly in the direction she had seen Helena take. She didn't fly for long, landing a little ways before the clearing. The sky was filling with thick clouds that quickened the coming darkness, making it easier for her to pick her way through the forest.
She walked for only a short while before she heard them. Medea's voice did most of the talking, giving orders and asking questions; Helena's soft replies were harder to make out, so Alex crept along, willing herself not to shake as she did.
"-she keeps to herself, occasionally answering direct questions." She stopped; she still couldn't see them, but they were just ahead of them now.
"Hmm." Even hidden, Alex could picture Medea perched in her tree, leg swinging beneath the branch. "Curious indeed, but I'm certain she'll settle in soon enough. Every child is different, after all."
For a moment, Helena said nothing. Then, slowly, her response came, and Alex could feel her trepidation.
"Medea, her situation is most unusual. A mistake by all accounts, and we've never had another like her-"
"There are no mistakes, Helena." Medea cut her off, her voice like a slap. "And if there were, then they were of your doing."
"Of which I will freely admit" Helena's confession was quick, as if she had been wanting to speak it aloud for some time. "This was never meant for her, but for the beasts she associates with, and I fear that consequences of my mistake may be-"
This time the slap was literal and followed by Medea's low hiss.
"You should be afraid, you wretched woman." She snarled; Helena whimpered, and Alex felt a pang of sympathy for her. "This is how you repay me and my kindness? First with your incompetence and now you seek to undermine me!
"I am only concerned for the girl!" Helena wept. "Never, not in all these centuries, have I ever doubted or questioned you Medea, and I have faithfully carried out your wishes. Together we've helped so many, and I only mean that this time-"
Medea slapped her again, and this time Helena screamed at the impact. "Together? Without me you'd be nothing , another dead and forgotten woman. I should have left you to face the punishment for your crimes. But no, I saved you from your husband, gave you a new life and powers beyond your imagination. Apparently these have all gone to your head, and you need to be reminded of your place."
Alex didn't hear anything else. She had backed away, sheer terror coursing through her body. Medea's voice had shifted at the end of her tirade, and it was no longer her own. The shadow voice mixed with hers, and in the moment Alex knew she would not survive if she remained on that island.
She didn't look back, not even once as she ran through the forest. Night had fallen in earnest, and she dared not look to close into the shadows. She kept going until she felt she could go no further without coming too close to the harpies' roost. Quickly, before her nerves failed her, she crashed out of the forest and flung herself into the skies, beating her wings as hard as she could. She flew higher than she had before, praying that the darkness and altitude would hide her, and turned and made her way towards the city.
It wasn't a long flight, but she grew tired quickly, unaccustomed to exerting herself in this manner. She kept her eyes on the horizon, her fear pushing down that ache in her wings and the burning of her lungs.
Just when she thought she could go no further and would fall to the earth, she passed over the border of the mainland. Descending, she tumbled down onto the first roof that was poorly lit and laid there for a long while, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath.
She pushed herself up on her arms and looked around, trying to regain her bearings. A single thought pounded in her head, and in a few seconds she was airborne again, repeating the same word over and over again.
Home.
Alex was exhausted by the time she arrived, and it was all she could do to drop heavily into the alley outside the restaurant's kitchen. She curled up behind the dumpster, and for a moment her mind went back to the night Michelangelo first visited her here, bringing money for April's dinner.
The door was open, and her family's conversation drifted out to where she hid. At first, the mere sound of her loved ones was enough to make her chest ache. But before she had time to process this, she heard the panic in her mother's words, and with dread Alex recognized Robbie's voice.
"Robert." Her mother's tone got shakier. "I don't appreciate this joke of yours. Where is Alex?"
"Mrs. Kotea, I swear I'm not lying." He sounded just as upset. "Alex got sick after the first night, she said her cousin was picking her up and taking her home."
"Mommy?" Misha was close; Alex could see his small shadow as he walked by the door. "Where's Alex? I want Alex."
He started to cry, and the sound almost made Alex rush in and scoop him into her arms like she always did when he was scared.
"I'm calling the police." That was her father. Her mother had gone to comfort Misha, but Alex could tell she had started to weep as well. It was all too much, and she couldn't help sobbing out a soft, "Momma."
Her mother's breath hitched in that instant, and suddenly the light from the door was blocked as she came and stood in the alley. For a moment, she said nothing as she stood there holding her youngest child.
And then, she barely breathed out her daughter's name. "Alex?"
Alex didn't move, but even if she wanted to, she was too tired from her long flight. She could only sit there with mounting dread as her mother took one step, then another into the alley. Casper followed her, trying to pull her back inside. She only handed him Misha and kept advancing, and Alex could only sit helplessly and wait.
She came to the edge of the dumpster, and could just barely make out a large, dark shape huddled in front of her.
"Alex?" She repeated, more desperate this time.
Alex lifted her eyes and faced her mother, bracing herself for what came next.
Her mother didn't scream like she did in Alex's nightmares. She let out a long, low moan and sank to her knees with a hand over her mouth.
"Mom!" Casper ran to her side, a bat held in one hand. He swore when he saw his sister, raising the bat reflexively.
Alex was so overcome with despair that she couldn't even cry; the world swam and blurred as her worst fears came true. The whispers returned, and with horror she realized they had found her.
"Helena may be a bitter disappointment, but she was right about one thing." They were here, and she had done nothing but bring monsters to her family's doorstep. She didn't hear her brother's shouts, or her mother calling her name; the whispers blocked everything else out.
"You were a mistake, little girl, and the only act of kindness I can offer is to put you out of your misery.
Donatello had outdone himself on his latest creations, but Leonardo couldn't help but think there was a reason ninja didn't typically wear full armor.
Their progress was slow that night, hampered by the heavy gear they wore. The night brought some relief, but after a while the cooling breeze picked up and brought with it the smell of approaching rain.
"What're the chances brainiac waterproofed these get ups?" Raphael fiddled with one of his forearm guards; they rubbed uncomfortably against the still sensitive scars on his arms.
Leonardo was just about to propose they head back, because just how likely was it for harpies to be flying in a storm, when a swift, dark figure darted ahead of them. Raphael had seen her too, though the harpy took no notice of them. Now aware of their presence, Leonardo could make out several other shapes flying in the same direction. They came from the coast heading inland, and with a sinking sensation the brothers recognized their trajectory.
They glanced at one another; the chances of it being a trap were incredibly high….
With a curt nod, the brothers sped away as fast as they could, thunder rumbling at their backs.
The scream that followed jarred Alex out of the void and back into reality. A harpy, previously hidden above them in the shadows, crashed into the alley, a sharpened throwing star protruding from her back.
Alex's eyes darted around her. Her mom was sitting beside her now, cupping her daughter's face and calling her name. Misha had run outside to his mother and now stood frozen in fear, gripping her skirt and hiding his face from what was happening. The unnamed harpy was stunned, but not dead, and even now she tried to stand, hissing at her brother, who held his bat aloft.
None of them could see the second harpy on the fire escape above them, the darkness concealing her as she coiled in anticipation.
"No!" Alex suddenly found the strength to move, flinging herself just as the harpy pounced. They collided in mid air and fell heavily on the ground grappling with one another. Alex felt something warm run down her arms before the older harpy pinned her to the ground. She hissed at the girl and raised a clawed hand to swipe one last time.
A large, bulky figure slammed into the harpy, knocking her off Alex and into the brick wall. It slumped to the ground, unconscious from the impact. The figure turned to her, the speaker's voice recognizable even though his helmet muffled it.
"Raphael?" Alex sat up, realizing that not all the blood streaking her arms was hers.
"Get away from her!" Her mother screamed at him, shielding her daughter with no regard to the blood that stained her shirt as she did so.
There was no time to explain the situation. More and more harpies were circling above, hesitant to attack Alex and the brothers. This wouldn't last forever, and Alex knew that soon they would be overwhelmed
They heard a commotion from above, punctuated by a strange electrical sound and a shrill shriek. Another harpy was thrown into the alley, this time crashing into the dumpster on her way down. Leonardo followed close behind, his sword dripping blood.
"We can't stay here." He was cut off by the piercing war scream of a harpy. Her family fell, clasping their hands over their ears, but Alex and the turtles remained standing.
The scream came from one harpy, but she did not turn to attack them. Instead, she lashed out at her comrades, slashing at their wings and sending them scattering and crashing into nearby buildings.
They should have taken the chance to run then, but Alex stood staring at the sky as she caught sight of silver, shimmering wings beating against the other harpies.
Their rescue was short lived, as their savior was clearly holding back and unwilling to inflict lethal attacks on her foes. They did not share these niceties and soon reinforcements arrived. The harpies overpowered her, and in the next instant Helena fell bleeding next to Alex.
There were brutal scratches across her face that hadn't come from these harpies.
"We have to go now!" Leonardo helped Alex to her feet. Robby, her sister, and her father stood in the doorway, and for a moment Alex didn't think they would come. But they all crowded together, as Raphael knelt further down the alley. He lifted the manhole cover up, just as more and more screams echoed in the night. In a minute they would have enough harpies to feel confident in an attack. The brothers helped her family down the hole, Misha crying the entire time.
Alex looked at Helena, who was struggling to stand. Blood dripped down her face and she clutched at her sides.
"Come with us," She pleaded. Several expletives erupted from Raphael, but Alex insisted. "They'll kill her if we leave her. Please," She turned to Leonardo. "She's Medea's second in command, she's bound to know things, things that could help us."
He looked at Helena, his expression a mystery beneath the helmet. Then, he roughly jerked her up, earning a cry of pain from the harpy. Pointing with his bloodied sword, he offered a curt answer.
"Hurry, before I change my mind."
Holy guacamole, an update before an entire year has passed! (I think...)
Thank you to all the readers, reviewers, and all around lovely people! Writing has always been something I loved, and even though life gets in the way a lot, I really have had so much fun writing this story. I hope you guys enjoy it!