Juu-san...

Gathering up Danza's reins, Mike kicked the stallion until they bounded through the brush. He looked back to see a huge black horse and rider come his way. And Leo put himself right in the path of the monster. Danza picked up on his rider's urgency, growing more tense and unsure of things. He still galloped across the uneven bank the best he could. Mike tried to zigzag Danza or something like that… it was hard since he also was losing his balance. But falling off definitely was not an option now. Mike still had the feeling he was chased… hunted down! What did they want? Danza?

Don's eyes grew big when he spotted what Ryutaro set his sights on. Another horse with a rider came fast after Mike. Much to his amazement, it went right by Leo. Even more, despite the fact the horse was almost the size of a Clydesdale, the briars hardly slowed the horse down at all. It bounded through them as quick as a deer almost. The rider, however, held something like a gun. Helpless, he glanced over to Raph, then back down the hill again.

Raph disregarded what the others thought, and the fact the hill was covered with dense brush. He wasn't about to sit and watch the results. Raph turned Trinity down the hill and kicked her into a rough canter. She quickly gave up on that to manage a sort of sliding, leaping scramble down through the brush. Raph ignored the worried cries from the two above, and set his eyes on the dark rider.

Leo left Jon behind to run after the horse and rider. Now would be a good time to have a bow and arrows, he thought as he gripped his katana. The turtle tried his best to leap through the rough path the horse made. Many thoughts ran through his head on how to do this, but a feeling of helplessness about the whole situation kept bugging him. If he could just close the gap between him and this enemy, there might be hope. Just to get close enough to throw a sword at the rider. He hoped it would be enough to injure the rider, if not distract him away from Mike.

Don held his glare on Raph as he made his way down the hill. Indecision crept across his mind as he looked over to Ryutaro, but the answer finally came. "Raph's gonna need backup - they all will. If he goes, I go." Don gathered his reins, readying himself for action. He had noticed a few yards ahead that the brush was thinner. There were more trees, but he rather battle those than briars.

Ryutaro nodded. "They all do, but -"

"Then stay here as a second backup." Don yelled over his shoulder. He clucked Tally into a rough trot, which broke into a canter. They headed up on a higher route, keeping an eye on Raph and Trinity crashing through the brush in a most haphazard way. The turtle also heard Eclypse's worried scream behind him. Trinity's squeal for response echoed through the valley. As much as Don's own anxiety on the situation built up, so did Tally's. The little pony mustered a short reply back to the other two mares.

Tally didn't understand what was going on. All he could sense was panic from his rider and the other horses. Don grew stiffer in his arms and legs, and started to hang more in Tally's mouth and use less of his legs. Tally braced his jaw against the bit and ignored it. Don's hands were not making sense with the rest of his cues. All Tally understood was "go faster". That sounded good to the pony. He wanted to be free of these confusing signals and fearful sounds, to get back to safety with the other horses. The pony spun around.

Don gritted his teeth in frustration. No, don't do that. I don't have time for this now. C'mon, please… he tugged at a rein to pull the pony back around. He took another quick glance below to see what else had happened. The pony finally gave in, and Don urged him forward again. Tally took on a faster canter.

Go Danza, go Danza…

Mike pleaded, in stride with the stallion's breaths and struggling gallop stride. The turtle's hands held tight to the red mane, bracing his body as he tried to keep his legs on each side of the horse. Danza tripped a time before, leaving Mike hanging on sideways. Only the fortunate rush of adrenaline helped him pull back up without Danza breaking stride. Another strange sensation hit him in his arm. Mike wanted to feel what hit him, but he was afraid to let go of the mane for that long. It felt like a needle or a dart was in his arm.

Rhythmical breathing matched with the pounding hoofs told Mike that massive monster was at Danza's heels. Then it was right next to him, reaching for his reins.

Mike tried to steer Danza away from it, and pulled Ryan's sword in defense. The sword glowed like a blue-white flame, like the breath of a dragon. He brought the sword down on the rider's arm. It enveloped the arm in white fire. Danza hopped around the other horse, his shriek filling Mike's ears. Mike's free hand still held onto the mane, as he kicked at the rider. Danza reared high, challenging the monstrous horse to a fight. Mike swiped at the rider again when Danza came down. The fiery blade clashed with something hard… perhaps the rider's gun. The events began to get fuzzy, but Mike wasn't going to give up. Little did the turtle realize this fight was only a hallucination from the tranquilizer.

What did you shoot into him?

Leo hunched down in the brush a bit to watch the rider take Danza's reins. There was no way he could get close to that horse now. It definitely would kick at him, as well as rear and then some. His gaze settled back on Mike, who was out cold and hunched over on Danza's neck. Leo zoned his sights back on the rider, wound back his arm with a katana in hand - point first, and launched it at the rider's back. As if the guy had eyes in the back of his head, he promptly twisted around and batted the sword away with his gun. He flashed a cold smile to Leo, then urged the horse into a trot.

Leo resteathed his other katana and jumped out of the way before the savage horse ran over him. The horse and rider plunged into the river to cross it.

Branches snapped, long thorny twigs snagged at his jeans, and blinding sprays of snow taunted their journey down the hill. Raph clenched his jaw in tension. His eyes never left Mike and Leo below, but the situation was not getting any better. Trinity stepped in a soft spot of ground, causing her whole left leg to sink down. At the speed she was traveling, it brought herself down to her knees, and caught Raph off guard as well. He landed on her neck, before falling off to her left into the briars below.

"Ahh, shit! Don't move, do not move, mare!"

Raph's left boot had slipped through the stirrup iron of his saddle in the fall. He was now hanging by his foot at her left side. Struggling in the broken thorn covered vines, he lifted himself up with his hand to relief some of the stress on his leg. Trinity struggled to get up on her feet a little more too. She was oblivious to the predicament Raph was in, just her own.

"Damn it! Whoa! mare, whooa!" he grabbed her foreleg get her attention. "God, of all things…I thought you were more sure footed than that!" Raph attempted a modified handstand to ease more of the pain. He couldn't get free of the stirrup though. He also tried to get a glimpse of the action below through the twigs and snow. It looked like that horse and rider took off with Mike and Danza.

This sucks… where you at, Leo? Don?! Geez!

Raph then remembered he had that dagger on him somewhere. With one hand, he batted through the trench coat that hung around his head in search for it. With that, he could cut the stirrup leathers, which held the stirrup iron, and free his foot.

Ryutaro jumped down from Eclypse to approach the still turtle lying in the snow. Don laid on his side, but he had not moved or tried to get up after the fall. There was blood in the snow by his mouth too. Ryutaro tucked the reins under his arm, and knelt down by him. He shook Don's shoulder and spoke to him. "Don… Don? Can you hear me?"

A few seconds passed before Don opened his eyes.

"You're gonna be okay. Don't move yet, looks like you kissed that branch pretty hard." Ryutaro told him, with relief.

Don moaned in pain, as he made a grimace with his mouth. He slowly brought a hand to his jaw. "Who wa' I kissin', Keno?" he mumbled, then closed his eyes again. "An' when d'it snow?"

Keno? Maybe you're not okay yet. Let some more oxygen return to your head. Ryuu noticed Tally walking back to them, now curious as to what happened. "Just lay still, don't move. Okay? Donny?"

Don managed to open his eyes for a moment to acknowledge the kid. Regardless to the instructions, he pushed some snow away his face and tried to raise up.

"No, just lay there. Don't move. What hurts?" Ryutaro asked. He wanted to make sure Don hadn't broken anything.

"Jaw."

A feelingf of perpending urgency came over him. There wasn't time for this.

"Anything else?"

Don frowned, not really sure.

"What's the color of this string I'm holding?" Ryutaro showed Don his index finger and thumb held together.

Why is he asking me that? We gotta go... Don squinted, "W-what string?"

The kid grinned, nodding to Tally. "Okay, do you remember the name of the pony you were on?" Tally cautiously sniffed Don's boot.

"Tally."

"Is it starting to come back to you now?" Ryutaro shifted his weight to his other foot.

Don nodded. He fell off Tally again. But he didn't remember much of it though. How did he fall... no, worse. Mike was in trouble. "We gotta get going now"

"Definitely," Ryutaro nodded. He sensed some confusion from Don again.

Don sat up to notice Tally by him. He spat some blood from his mouth. "Did ya see what happened? What about the others… like Raph?"

Ryutaro shrugged. "Looked like Tally got mad and took off, and went right by this tree with a low branch--" He pointed up at the tree they were next to.

"No, I meant about Mike. Did Leo stop them?"

"No... it sounded like they lost him. Raph's on the hill somewhere."

"Oy vey… " Don frowned, going through another wave of pain from moving his jaw too much. He leaned against the tree to get his legs under him. "We gotta find out what happened to them."

Ryutaro stood close, ready to give Don a hand if he needed it. "You sure you're okay?"

"Ninja have done worse." Don shrugged. A sense of apprehension went through him when he turned to Tally though. Chicken excrement. He furrowed his eye ridges at the pony while picking up the reins.

Leo splashed through a shallow part of the river, running after the rider who had Danza in tow. The black horse was going at a fast trot, while Danza lagged behind at a fast walk. Leo almost twisted an ankle when his foot lodged between two rocks in the river. He more or less fell back into the cold water to get his foot free. There was no way he could stop the beast by himself. He watched the two retreat into the woods. Hopefully, Mike would slide off from Danza before the tandem went too far. They could do without the stallion, but it was his brother he cared for more. Balancing himself on the lose stones, he started back to shore.

Rustling and snapping noises from the hill alerted his attention. Leo lifted his head to see what it was. He promptly picked up the pace after he recognized whom. Raph slowly led Trinity through some brush toward the river. Leo suddenly relieved to see him then. "Raph? You okay?" he noticed Raph limped slightly and had a stirrup iron around his left ankle.

Raph shook his head no as he bent over to cough through another fit.

Leo waited till Raph straightened up again before asking more questions. "Where are Don and Ryuu? We gotta go after them now!"

Raph looked over his shoulder to see from where he came. And to see where the other two were. They were probably still up on the hillside somewhere.

Leo more or less guessed what happened to him. "You came down through that? Geez, Raph!"

Yeah, and I fell off and about broke my leg. But Leo, please, don't start now. Raph rubbed some blood oozing from some scratches on his cheek. Hell, you look all washed yourself in those wet muddy clothes.

"You know where they could be now? We got to regroup as soon as possible." Leo insisted, the pain of failure and the urgency of now also coursing through his veins.

"Dunno. Leo, can't talk. Lost voice." Raph whispered, hoping that'll make Leo back off some. He looked at Leo in the eyes, more thoughts coming into his head. But the shit I want to tell you about what we learned of Ryutaro, and about what's really happening here.

Leo turned away to locate Jontondo. "Soon as we get back together, I wanna track that dark rider down to get Mike back."

Raph faced the hill again in search of the others. A slight snarl crept across his face, imagining what happened to those two. That traitor probably has Don held up by gunpoint. I should've not left them… damn.

A guard and the rider dragged in the limb body. Tatsu nodded to them, and they drop it on the floor before him.

Tatsu sighed. His gaze fell upon the clothed mutant turtle. "Why did you bring me this?" He knelt down to pick up the creature's wrist for a pulse. The pulse was weak.

The rider that captured the stallion spoke. "He was riding the stallion."

His eye still on the creature, Tatsu straightened up. "You have stallion now?"

"Hai! He is in a stall." The rider nodded.

Tatsu studied the blood covering most of the turtle's shoulder and body. He also noticed the tranquilizer dart sticking through its coat at the upper arm. Tatsu turned toward his colleague who stepped up to see what lay on the floor.

"Aaa, nani?" Dr. Itoda knelt down to the strange creature. One that he never seen before.

"Kame… zitsu wa, a mutated turtle." Tatsu closes his eyes in displeasure. He really wished they didn't bring him here. "[He is one of four.]"

"[You know about them?]"

"[I only wish to forget them. Yet they still torment me.]" Tatsu furrowed his brow, realizing the immensity of what could happen next. He turned to the rider with a snarl, "Why did you bring it here? You should have left him in woods!" He had learned those four creatures are inseparable. Now his operation here was in grave danger of being discovered. They'll come here and ruin everything.

Itoda rolled the giant turtle on its back. "Sugoi na… He's like human!" He pulled the soaked coat back. Then got his pocketknife from his pocket to slice the hockey jersey and jeans off for further inspection. It was truly a mutated turtle. He also came across a set of nunchuks that had been tucked at the waist of the jeans.

Tatsu watched as the doctor picked them up. "Ninja mo iru."

"[Better bind him before he wa-]"

The turtle abruptly sat up. "Leo!" he cried as he struggled to get to his feet. He immediately started to run, only to fall down. Determined, he scrambled up on his hands and knees to take off at a staggered run again. The tranquilizer had not all worn off, thus making it very hard for the turtle to discern anything. Tatsu and another soldier finally closed in around the creature to restrain it.

"Nggh! Rompun was it?" Tatsu questioned the rider about the kind of tranquilizer used. He looked at the turtle the soldier held up.

"We only thought we would have to tranq the horse." The rider replied modestly. "If it were the kid, this would not have happened. Those creatures wouldn't let me have the stallion."

Tatsu brought a hammer fist to the turtle's left temple. The soldier let go of it and stepped away. He followed that with an elbow to the back of the turtle's head as it crumbled to the floor. "That will last longer. Nggh." He thought about killing it then and there. But that would not be necessary. The turtle already had been shot through the chest, dosed with enough tranquilizer for an 11 hundred pound horse, and now given a concussion. He'll just let it die a slow death.

"Guard, take it away. Dump him in manure pit." Tatsu frowned, and looked upon the soldier. "Prepare to go back into woods. The others will be looking for this one. Keep them away from the laboratory."

"[One suggestion.]" Dr. Itoda stepped up.

"Nggh?"

"[I like a sample of his blood, to see his DNA. Perhaps I can use-]"

"Tondemo nai! No!" Tatsu growled. He had seen that done before. A stupid attempt that was, and a failure all the same.

"[It may enhance the horses.]" Itoda interjected his last words.

Tatsu faced him. "[I want supreme horse breeding, not freaks of nature]." Besides, a horse that was too smart and too powerful for a human to control was not wise either. It was the horses' nature to fear pain and lack of reasoning that made them easy to be tamed.

"Hai, Tatsu-sama." Itoda sighed.

Tatsu nodded toward the guards, indicating for them to take the turtle away.

"There they are!" Ryutaro looked over his shoulder to Don. He weaved Eclypse in a controlled sliding walk around the trees down the steep hill.

Don was close behind him on Tally. It took a little encouragement earlier, but Ryutaro talked him into riding the pony down the hill. He said that would be better, so Don wouldn't have to walk down through the snow and ground cover. Don was not in the mood to get back on though. He had it with Tally. He rather ride something else, if he had to ride. His head throbbed with each of the pony's steps down the hill. His shoulder also started to hurt from where he hit the ground. Most of all, he wanted to be back home where it was warm and safe so bad now.

"Leo! Raphael!" Ryutaro shouted down the hill to get their attention.

Raph looked up from the boulder he sat on. "Heads up, Leo." Tossing the stirrup he pulled from his foot by Leo to get his attention, Raph pointed to the couple almost down the hill. He quickly put his boot on and laced it back up, eager to get this show on the road.

Leo stepped away from Jon to see Ryuu and Don. Then he bent over to pick up the stirrup iron to put away into a saddlebag. Steve probably would at least like to have parts of their gear back, if not in one piece.

Raph removed the other stirrup from his saddle earlier, so he had to jump up on Trinity to mount her now. As soon as he settled in the saddle, a spray of sparks fell round him. Something barely grazed his arm. He heard Jon groan in pain too. What the hell? A horse and rider came toward them from the other side of the river.

"They're coming back for more!" Leo tried to drag Jon with him to duck behind the boulder. The poor gelding got hit several times there.

Raph growled, studying the rider as he crossed the stream. This guy doesn't look nearly as big as the one before. I got him!

Yet, another rider came in alongside the hill Ryutaro and Don where on. Ryutaro and this rider engaged head on. The dark horse reared up, landing on top of Eclypse's haunches. She fiercely fought back with some kicks to the horse's chest. The dark stallion continued to bite and strike, as the mare did all she could to fend herself. Ryuu also exchanged a few words with the rider too. He saw that the rider also had a gun, but was hardly able to get to it now.

Trinity also had a strong distaste for the brown horse that crowded her. As sudden as an explosion, she kicked out with both hind feet a number of times, backing up as she did so. That action caused Raph to fall on her neck again, but he managed to hang on longer that time.

He saw that one of her kicks hit the rider square at his lower leg. The rider slid off in agony as his horse cowered away from the mare.

Pushing himself off her neck to vault to the ground, Raph took pride in what she had done. Without wasting any more time, he tackled the downed rider to the ground. The rider hardly had a chance against Raphael with his broken leg. The Turtle thrust his sai through the rider's throat and twisted it, as to fatally sever the spinal cord.

And that was for my brother.

Raph jumped back to his feet when he heard splashing water from the hooves of another horse and rider. Raph grabbed Trinity and hopped on her back again, before sizing up this next one. He glanced back once to see Ryuu further down struggling with another. Then he spotted Don on the other side, trying to keep Tally Ho under control the whole time. Raph decided to go and help them with that rider. Leo could handle this next one.

Leo also watched this new rider cross the stream, and seemed to know Raph didn't have plans for this one. Leo had to think quick. Holding his ground this time, Leo stood as so he could brace himself against the galloping beast. Six feet and closing, he knew they weren't going around him this time. Their pace remained unfaltered as the gap closed. Leo ducked his head into his shell for the blow, and immediately drew his swords.

The left sword plunged into the horse's chest, while the other managed to slash into the neck. Leo gritted his teeth in pain when the hoofs of the running horse hit his thighs. He also lost his grip on both katana as the giant animal reared up in alarm. Shrieks of pain filled his ears. A hoof came down on Leo's shoulder, another hitting his shell and knocking him to the ground as it bolted to the right. Blood gushed from the jugular as the horse stumbled to the ground.

Raph approached Ryuu and the dark rider on one side, and made eye contact with Don. Raph paused, making up a quick battle plan. He only had one sai now. Better make that one count.

Finally getting Tally to approach the fight, Don charged with his bo held out like he was going to joist.

Raph slung his sai at the dark horse's head, aimed at the eye. It hit the animal in the jowl, since it suddenly tossed its head. The sai fell to the ground, without any points scored. A second later, Don's bo jabbed the dark rider in his side, but the rider stayed on.

The rider's stallion turned upon Tally with teeth bared. The pony wasn't about to put up a fight with that monster and dashed away. Distraught, Don baled off him before something worst happened.

Raph took the next challenge instead. He forced Trinity up to the stallion's right side, to crowd the rider away. Ryuu then closed in on the left side, his eyes set on the gun slung across the rider's back. He focused into Raph, keep his hands busy… you see that gun, Raphael? Try to get it.

The rider stood up from his fallen horse, bringing around a gun from his back.

Already off the ground, made ready for the gun next. He dodged to one side to pick up a sizable branch, and threw it at the rider. It didn't completely knock it from the rider's hands, but it bought some time.

Don struck the rider over the head from behind with his bo. The rider released one shot to the ground before dropping the gun. The turtle took him into a chokehold with his staff for further restraint.

"No, wait… " Leo called to him. "Spare that one. We need him to find Mike."

Don brought his bo down as the man fell to the ground unconscious.

"Thanks bro." Leo gave him a sincere smile.

He shrugged, returning a weary smile. "I'd do it anytime."

Leo threw his hand at him. He turned to the horse carcass to reclaim his swords. A part of him didn't want to look at the horse in that way, it's neck bend back in an unnatural position with an ungodly amount of blood around staining the snow a deep red. He still couldn't believe he killed such a powerful and beautiful creature like that. Carefully, Leo brought the sticky reins around the limp neck to cut them off. The leather straps will work in binding the rider's hands and feet together.

As if something told him too, Leo glanced over to the boulder where Jon was. At that moment, the gelding was down on his side on the ground. Leo's stomach dropped with fear. He knew why. That spray of gunfire was taking their toll on Jon. He quickly bound up the rider before hurrying over to his horse.

A soft buzzing droned…incessant, constant, never ceasing. Mike's skin felt the thousands of little feet crawling all over it. The stinging he also felt was simply unbearable. Those little feet, however, seemed to soothe the stings like a warm jacuzzi.

Mike abruptly choked awake. The sudden pain from the gun shots and someone beating on him flooded his memories, and then …

I'm lying in…what…? Where am I? Gaa…acchk…can't breathe!

Flies swarmed off of him when he tried to move. His eyes were open… he believed they were open. The darkness was so thick. Something pungent in the air stung at his eyes and burned his nostrils.

Hot in here…uughhh…stinks too. No... I can be in... I didn't die and go to... hell!

The warmth came from below, feeling soft and damp. He soon became aware of just how the stuff moved under his legs and his arms, around his fingers…then it registered.

"Ugghh! Maggots!" Mike said out loud, trying to sit up. "Oh god, euughh…I'm in some goddamn manure pile!" He wiped what he could off his wounded shoulder and arm in a panic. A chill when up his spine, then back down it as more panic set in.

They're already eating into me…I know it, just know it. Probably a lot more in my wounds, god...

Flies bombarded him, some trying to land again and take more blood. Mike grew dizzy, overwhelmed from the realization. He rolled over and retched on the infested manure in disgust.

Raph and the rider started grabbing at each other's arms, trying to pull each other off. Trinity didn't like being so close to this stallion and kept on pulling away. Ryuu, on the other side, kept on pushing Eclypse into the dark stallion. That worked enough to make it hard for the rider to let go of the reins. Fortunately, this stallion was not the neck reining type either. /P

The Turtle grabbed at the rider's coat collar to make a reach for the gun this time. Trinity turned away, and he clung onto the rider until the both of them slid from the disgruntled stallion. The fizzing shots from the gun sounded during the struggle.

Ryuu stopped Eclypse, and let go of the rider's horse before another horse fight broke out. Leave her alone, horny toad. While you're at it, go home, he glared at the dark stallion. Ryuu paused to look down to where Raph and the other lay in concern.

Raph stood up on his knees in the snow, an evil gleam in his eye as he studied the impressive firearm in his hands. He stood up and aimed the gun as to shoot, "Raphie's gotta gun!"

Ryuu raised an eyebrow. These were another one of those times that Turtle deeply worried him.

"Shoots lasers." Raph turned around to a tree and fired, to demonstrate.

Ryuu let out a short sigh of relief, then noticed more blood in the snow around the rider's body. "You killed him...?"

"Hell, yeah." Raph located his lone sai, and stuck it back in his belt loop. The gun will make up for the other sai for now.

Ryuu sighed again, looking around for Don and Leo, maybe Mike too. Hopefully, that was all of those riders for now. Tally was up some ways, poking around in the snow for something to graze on. He spotted Don further down by the river, leaning against a boulder.

Leo knelt by Jontondo's head, exchanging glances between him and Don. He told him that the horse was shot up on the side he lay on. The blood staining the snow around them made that evident. Leo believed Jontondo wasn't going to make it now. The pulse grew weaker as the snow underneath grew redder. But Jon just wasn't any old horse to him. This dear steed reminded him too much of what happened so far, especially the care and determination Mike put into fixing up Jon's wounds.

He slowly stood up to look around. Soreness from being run over by that one horse started to set in too. More than the physical pain, his remorse built up within his chest. Yet, he willed himself to not cry over this. "Where's Ryan?" he desperately asked Don. It was doubtful Ryuu could help, but at least he would be here for this.

"He's coming, I see him and Raph over there." Don reassured Leo. He put his snowball for a cold pack back on his jaw. Don could understand Leo's anxiety. They promised to take care of the horses. Despite that, more of his thoughts were on Mike's whereabouts. Apparently, Leo couldn't stop the first guy that came for Danza and Mike. Then Don understood. Failure was Leo's worst enemy.

Leo knelt back down to Jon. He stroked the horse's stained neck. You took my bullets, or whatever those where. I know, I should be grateful for that, but somehow… it doesn't seem fair.

He barely noticed Ryuu bend down next to him, until he spoke.

"I'm sorry… The attack was so sudden, we-"

"Leo… you couldn't control that. Just be glad we all got through this one alive." Ryuu stroked Jon's neck once. His vitals were going downhill. "I noticed there's two of those other horses still running around here. We can take one of them for now."

"Doesn't deserve to die like this..." Leo turned to Ryuu. He noticed the kid's black eyes and swollen lip, but kept his thoughts on the matter at hand. "What would Steve think?"

"I think… she would understand, considering the situation." Ryuu frowned.

He stood up and looked over to Don and Raph holding Eclypse and Trinity. Both of his brothers also seemed solemn now, with nothing to say. Raph leaned the laser gun next to the boulder near Ryuu. His eyes held Leo's, "C'mon… let him go."

Leo twisted his face. Seemed odd at the moment for Raph to be telling him that, especially from the attitude he had lately about some things. He looked to Ryuu for more of an explanation.

Ryuu also stood up. "It'll be okay, Leo. Jon doesn't blame you for this, he was grateful for care you did offer last night and all. Just go, if you don't wanna see anymore."

Leo knew now what Ryuu was going to do. But how Ryuu knew what happened last night came as a slight surprise too. Leo turned back to Jon. Carefully, the turtle slipped the bridle from Jon's head and unbuckled the halter. Ryutaro took them from him, as Leo unbuckled the girth of the saddle. With Jon's weight on it, he had to really pull to get the saddle's girth out as well as free the saddlebags. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you, Jontondo…

Leo set the tack by the boulder, then turned to his brothers. "I'll help find Tally." He sighed.

"Tally's there." Raph pointed down the river for Leo. Don followed suit after him, to offer help.

"Leo… you wanna take Tally? To ride. It's just, well…" Don shrugged. He didn't want to sound too selfish now by admitting that he didn't want to ride the pony anymore.

Leo kept his silence as he walked toward the little gray. He only wanted to leave that gory scene for awhile.

Don lagged behind, letting him be. He felt his own personal loss for Mike though. He hated feeling that awkward silence where Mike would usually have something to say. He physically felt so bad already, the bearing concern for Mike and these horses made him feel miserable, thoughtless... ignorant. He took in a breath to shake the feeling. The sight of another horse helped redirection too. It stood patiently, despite having its reins caught up in the branches of a fallen tree.

I'll save you, if you'll be nice.

Don though she looked like the one Trinity wailed on at the beginning of the attack. The irony of the moment.

Mike tried to gasp for air, but it was so heavy with ammonia and methane dioxide. Thanks to Donny's enlightening stall-cleaning gripes…ammonia, also a by-product from the urine, not just the stuff in Windex.

Damn, it hurts to breathe…or see, Mike leaned away from the reeking waste matter. It smelled like every bad smell on earth. And the undeniable smell of death--something had died in here too.

Leo? Where...how long have I been in h-- you all better be okay…man, if I don't bleed to death.

Mike noticed his clothes were off of him now. His belt wasn't, but his 'chuks were gone.

But…what about…

Leo advised him to keep the matches on their bodies, just in case they got separated from the horses and gear again. Mike smiled a weak grin as he checked a pocket under his belt where he also kept a couple shiruken.

If I could see where I am…if I could find a way…if…

"Ughhh, get off, get off, get away from me…" he shooed at the flies in agony again. They just settled back down on his bloody skin as fast as they left.

Futile.

Annoyed, Mike dropped the matchbook between his legs. Did he really want to see the trouble he was in? Arms folded cross his knees, he rest his forehead on them to think.

What am I thinking? The gasses…methane too…I'd blown myself up. Like a match held to a fart!

Mike's nostrils seared whenever he inhaled. As if he didn't have enough pain, the fumes were probably killing him from the inside out as well. Despair welled up inside again. It was a fact that was hard to deny now.

I'm dying

The air is black... black death

Mike let tears fill his burning eyes, as poetic words for his misery flowed in and out.

I am breathing Death into me

slowly…

with each agonizing breath

Mike pulled a shiruken from his belt. Holding it in one hand, his thick fingers felt its delicate, sharp points.

Black-Tainted Breath... of Death

He squinted his eyes…trying to force that thought of Suicide from his head. He never thought It would come to him. They never thought...

They…?

His brothers, Mike missed them so badly. They'll miss him too...

Ryutaro, Raph, and Don had moved the dead rider and horse by Jontondo next to the boulder. Raph left to take the saddle off the brown mare they reclaimed, while Don helped Ryutaro gather branches, pine boughs, and briar vines to cover the bodies.

"You're too freakin' big!" Raph had put Jon's saddle on the brown mare's back, finding the girth that was on his saddle too short.

Don couldn't help but notice the predicament, and offered his solution. "Switch girths from her saddle with Jon's saddle."

Raph looked at the bulky saddle he removed from the big horse, then removed the girth. He looked at Don, and cleared his throat in an attempt to talk. "Couldn't ride a pony, but okay with this?" Raph pointed to the mare behind him. She was so tall, her withers were as high as he was. He had to step up on a downed tree to put the saddle on her.

"Ryuu could tell she was a bomb proof horse by looking at her features and the gentle look in her eyes." Don explained to him. "Yeah, I'm kinda ify about her too. I guess 'size matters not' with most horses."

Raph gave him a funny look. "You do this, then. Get t'know 'er." He handed him the girth.

A look of distress swept over Don for a moment. But long enough for Raph to see it.

Geez, Donny, quit your belly aching. Raph sighed, then mouthed the rest of his thoughts to him. "I fell off three times in an hour, but ain't letting that get to me."

Don blinked. What he felt and what Raph accused him of were not related. Nonetheless, it sparked a complaint he had about Raph he decided to make known too. "If you weren't making like The Man from Snowy River and charged down through the briars without warning us, I wouldn't have been knocked off by that tree trying to catch up!"

"That's my fault?"

"Leo… don't blame yourself." Mike whispered. He pushed his index finger into a point of the star until it pierced the skin. That prick felt like nothing compared to the burning and the hopelessness. He rose the star to the side of his neck, a gift for his jugular vein.

Nothing's fair...

Then Mike felt a peace.

The others… they needed him, wanted him, to embrace him.

He let out another gasp. He had been holding his breath, resisting the black air.

After he tied up Tally, Leo approached the two arguing senselessly. "Guys, stop… save it for the enemy."

Ryuu stopped by Leo, a visceral look on his face. "They've been at it since last night..."

"Let's get going with this then." Don mumbled. He turned away to finish tacking up the big mare.

Leo reached out to stop Don from leaving. "No… I mean we gotta help Mike now. I can feel his pain… I can feel him giving up. It's scaring me!" Leo stepped up closer to Raph and Don and lowered his voice. "Can't you feel it? Like the quiet before the storm?"

Don closed his eyes a moment again, hoping to feel something again. So that's what that "gut drop" a moment ago was.

Raph sighed, realizing what Leo was telling them. But the immediate anger that built up with in him wasn't allowing any other feelings through. Raph gritted his teeth and looked away. Leo, I want to, but it's…

Leo put his hands on Raph to get his attention. "You can, Raphael. You have the will, we can. Relax…" Leo smiled ironically at his last words, then continued. "Let Mike know he can hang on. We're on our way."

He looked to Don, reaching out to touch him on the shoulder too.

It will be okay...

Ryan stood by, watching the three turtles. Just seeing how they interact, and knowing what force that drove them on to do such daring defeats also touched him. He understood their simple morals, and their bonds. They were freaks of nature by scientific definition, but so much more kindly than most of the people he met in his whole life. Ryuu also reached out with his concern for Mike, in the form of a prayer… the way he knew best.

Air! Damn blackness…

Mike blindly threw the star at it.

His thoughts froze. Through the incessant drone, he heard the star bounce off of something solid.

Now he had to light a match. What was a little match going to do? He would need a grenade to create a fatal explosion. He just had to see... Mike felt for the book and picked it up.

What if…he stood up slowly. Faint stars appeared in the darkness. Mike crumbled down, and waited for what little oxygen he had get back to his head. He held the matchbook in his teeth and continued his quest to the wall.

The stuff started to slope downwards right away, so he rocked back on his heels to pull out a match. As soon as he struck it, the little match lit up so explosively it blew itself out. The brightness of the flash also hurt Mike's retinas. All he could see now were big, purple spots in the darkness.

Great, you dope, don't look at it next time!

Annoyed by the spots (as if the flies weren't enough), Mike pulled out another flimsy match. In the next burst of light, he saw what looked like a cave wall to his left.

He was close too.

Mike stumbled through the compost until his fingers touched the cool wall. His head pounded for the need of oxygen now. His nostrils and eyes burned. Always burning… stinging everywhere… Mike slid down on the wall, feeling faint again.

Air…need air…life. Which way...?

Mike felt like he was going into shock. The cool wall brought on poignant feelings of homesickness. The sewers…

Master Splinter…I need you. How do I get out?

Mike closed his burning eyes, tears flowing freely from them. "Forgive me…I need you! I'm so scared…" He huddled up against the wall, his soft wails continuing.

"Splin-ter…please…!"

Will I ever see your reassuring eyes again? Feel your warming touch… I love you. Let them know I loved them too.

Mike choked in another breath. He could smell the earthy dampness of the wall now. It gave him some strength.

I…gotta decide which way to go. I gotta... He wiped a tear mixed with dried blood from his face. But his fears came back. He could go the wrong way, and forever be lost in the cave... to die.

"Which way…which way!" Mike wailed again. The burning and the blackness were the same…as if that made a difference. The flies all the more continued to irritate him to insanity too.

Slowly…steadily, a spark of solace grew from deep within. It was like before, that feeling of love and security. Mike even sensed a glowing from behind his closed eyelids. A blue hue…Splinter. It was Splinter in spirit. He was here with him! Mike sensed others too. The turtle opened his eyes to look full upon a white glow before him.

Mike gasped in awe. He couldn't speak now, let alone yell. Yet, this beautiful form gave him a sense of peace. Mike's eyes stayed fixed on her bluish-white face, her comforting eyes. It's…a ghost…

She reached out and touched his bloody, ragged shoulder with a tender hand. Her forehead wrinkled with concern. A finger lightly traced the ragged holes in the left corner of Mike's plastron.

N-no…she's right- she's…angelic. Mike sat back away from the wall. He allowed more tears to stream from his irritated eyes. Her loving touch gave him a sense of trust…of security.

The angel raised her other hand and held his face. Mike could feel her caresses, even though she was a spirit. They soothed the burning sensations, his mental angst. She smiled and came in close to hug him. It seemed the spirit became one with Mike.

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