So some inspiration for this chapter was taken from a TMNT Comic short story 'Turtle Dreams' Steven R. Bissette about the Turtles being plagued by Nightmares and Splinter which was referenced once before in World's Colide with Mikey's injury being the same as the one he got in that story.
Not much more information could be given however, Arctica told Don that from little she had heard from the other Mutant Captives Feral had been on a little 'Mutant HuntingTour' around the world a 'Safari' if you will chasing various Mutant Animal sightings, he had found Mutants in places like Mexica, the U.K. And even Australia!
Don just sat down on the Happy Meadow's grass overwhelmed with emotion "I...I had no idea..." He gulped "I...I for the longest time thought my family were the only Mutants in the world, I had no idea we were more common than I ever imagined!"
Arctica said "From the few stories I've heard from the Mutants who choose to tell them...Not all Mutants come from the same kind of Mutation, some were like your family created by exposure to strange...Stuff...Other were created by Humans in Labs wheather they escaped captivity or were treated as family by the scientists who created them it matters not to Feral, he seems he can't stand to see any Mutant run free, even if he has to violate the rights of fellow Humans and steal beloved Mutant children away from them it seems to have this...Compulsion...He can't let any Animal be an independent being he has to put them in their place..."
Before the Dream Sharing ended Arctica explained that while Dream Sharing can be very fun and pleasant because it is inherantly more lucid than normal dreams it is not as restful as letting your mind unleash the chaos of normal dreams therefore if you Dream Share too much you won't get enough rest and you'll get worn down and tired...
So with Karl and Igor content to laze about in a drunken stupor for the rest of the day keeping out of reach, there was very little for Don or Artica to do except eat and rest and wait for the next day.
During the night though Don had a horrific nithmare that was perhaps caused by his survival instinct being activated...He dreamt he was already strapped to the operating table, a blinding light above him causing Feral to appear as a mere silhouette, he dreamt of Feral reaching into his body and pulling out his still beating heart like it was Indianna Jones and the Temple of Doom!
Don awoke in a cold sweat, realizing just how deep in it he was and he knew then and there he had to escape this lab quickly before Feral returned!
Arctica was awokn by the sound of Don gasping and than the banging of the cage bars as he sat up against them.
"You OK Don?" Arctica asked
"Had a nightmare..." Don gasped as he mopped the sweat from his brow "Oh shell we got to get out of here!" But then he wrapped his arms around his knees "I've never been so scared in all my life!"
Arctica felt the awakening of tender emotions, the mission for all Humanimals is to care for others and to bring happiness and good cheer the problem stems from the fact not all Humanimals remember.
Tenderly she reached her arm through the bars of the cage, not touching Don but having her arm for him to touch.
"Would you like to touch my hand again?" She asked softly "I'm sorry I can't touch you but you can touch me."
Don then felt his terror subside by feelings of tenderness and sympathy himself, this poor girl for some reason couldn't touch things herself it was kind of like that Edward Sissorhands movie but that stop her frombeing compassionate to others.
Don moved himself, sitting now flat on his rear so his lap was underneath Arctica's arm he touched the back of her hand at first then placed his other hand under her forearm,
"Let's see how sharp your claws really are..." Don said "...As someone who works with weapons I have some experience with this..."
So holding her hand steady with one hand, he ran a finger under one claw and yes the underside of her claws were indeed razor sharp.
"Ooh! Those are sharp!" He said "Reminds me of a certain someone's swords..."
He then turned and looked at Arctica, he canine muzzle turned upwards, from what he could see an expression of absolute bliss on her face...How long had it been? Since she had a someone touch her in a way that wasn't violent?
So I like to think I'm mostly keeping the story from Don's perspective so as to keep Arctica a mystery