The house woke up bright and early. April went to town with Donatello to find some
occult bookstores for a particular problem, Leonardo practiced fighting in the barn with
Michaelangelo and Raphael stood outside the barn, chain smoking. Splinter appeared
to him when Leo and Mike separated to do some exercises."Smoke?"
Raphael offered.
"No, thank you, Raphael. And I feel you have done too
much of it yourself."
"At least I'm not doing drugs."
"Hmm. Another one of the known evils."
"Let me get this straight. You don't want me to drink,
do drugs and smoke, right?"
"Yes."
"So, then, what do you want me to do?"
"Be yourself."
"I am being myself. This is me." Raph
clutched his chest with the cigarette in-between his fingers. "Smoking is my
alternative to killing people. Though, I don't think I'd ever give up doing that
either."
"Sometimes even the alternatives lead to dangerous
consequences. You are young and healthy. Those cigarettes you smoke will ruin
the inside of your body."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Do not take this advice too lightly, Raphael."
Splinter placed a bony hand to his arm. "I am concerned for your welfare.
Smoking is harmful for the lungs, heart, and most of all, the soul." The wise
old rat has struck again. Even Raph knew he was right, but of course decided to do
as he pleases.
"Remind me to call the Surgeon Generals. I hear
they're looking for more applicants."
Raphael flicked his cigarette like he always does and headed for
the house. Leonardo stepped out with a hand shielding his eyes from the sun.
Again, he was sensing trouble as before but couldn't figure it out clearly.
"Master? I-"
"Yes, Leonardo. I am sensing it too. I sensed it
the very first night Casey was attacked. I fear this family is in grave
danger."
"What can we do about it?"
"Protect your brothers, your family, and your own self is
what you can do."
"Of course, sensei." Leonardo bowed slightly.
Shadow sat on the porch with a cup of milk, when Raphael
approached her. She gave a quick wave to him.
"Hey, munchkin. Where's your father?"
Shadow pointed down the trail. Raphael placed his hands to his hips.
"Well, where the hell is he going at this hour? Stay, put. Don't follow
me." Raphael started to walk off then looked back to her. "You're
too young to be growing a white mustache. Better shave it."
Shadow's eyes widened and she wiped her mouth with the back of
her hand. She started to walk back in but paused to hear rustling in the
bushes. It sounded like a squirrel or some small critter. Raphael told her to
stay put. But then again, he also said not to follow him. Shadow stepped down
the porch and followed the noise up to the small bush. Low and behold, it was a tiny
squirrel, desperately trying to find acorns and assorted nuts for it's tree.
"Ooh, how cute!"
Shadow went to chase it, causing it to scamper around the side of
the house. Like the child that she is, she had to go after it. She would have
kept going had she not heard the sound of more rustling in bigger bushes. A large
timber wolf bounded out after the squirrel. Shadow gasped and threw the last of her
milk and the cup at the wolf, bopping it's head and blinding it's eyes. The squirrel
got away but Shadow was still standing there. The wolf started to lick it's face and
walk around loopy. Blinking to her, it started to growl. Bopping it on the
head, tossing milk in it's eyes and making it lose it's breakfast seemed to piss it off
big time.
"Uh-oh...." Shadow slowly backed up toward a
large tree, watching the wolf carefully. "Nice, woof." The wolf
didn't understand. It only stepped closer to her. Moving around the tree, she
jumped for the closest branch. The wolf now bared it's teeth to her along with a
much louder growl. Shadow continued to climb the tree to the highest branch without
once looking down. The wolf started to bound to try and bite at her hanging
feet. At the height she was at, she could see Leonardo coming down from the barn in
her direction. He saw the wolf jumping at her and immediately went into action by
grabbing one of his katana blades.
"Haaaalp!" Shadow cried in her perched
spot. The wolf saw Leo charging up to it and high-tailed off. Without it's
companions, it was basically too weak to fight. Leonardo paused and stood watching
it run away, feeling somewhat useless.
"That was a little too easy." He re-sheathed his
sword and looked up to Shadow with hands on his hips. "You coming down?"
"No."
"Look, it's safe now. The wolf's gone. You can't
stay up in that tree forever."
Shadow thought about living on acorns and nuts like a
squirrel. Then, she remembered she hated nuts. She finally started to climb
down a branch at a time, catching her footing with each step. On the last branch,
she slid into Leo's reaching arms.
"Unca....Leeeeeeo...." Shadow sighed and patted
his cheek.
"Are you hurt?" He asked as he checked her for
any scratches or bites.
"No." Shadow looked left to right, then her voice
dropped to a whisper. "Scared."
"You'll be okay. You did the right thing climbing that
tree. Wasn't Casey watching you?"
"Sorta. Daddy left."
Leonardo walked around to the front of the house, seeing the area
was deserted.
"Where's Raph? Is he in the house?"
"He went to find Daddy." This wasn't good.
Went to find him meant they both weren't in the house. "Scared."
Shadow repeated and rested her head on his shoulder. He looked down to her with a
light pat to the back.
"Don't be scared." He told her soothingly.
"We'll find them, don't you worry."
Michaelangelo ran over with Splinter following behind.
Leonardo glanced up with a concealing smile under his lips. The face Mike showed was
almost humorous but was meant to be a face of panic.
"We saw....the....the....." Mike was out of
breath. "wolf....there....and.....you.....were.....running.....and I
started....running.....and-"
"It's okay, Mike. The wolf ran away when I approached
it and Shadow climbed a tree. She's a smart girl."
"Where are the others, Leonardo?" Splinter asked,
slightly out of breath.
"Casey took off again and Raph went after him."
"Great, just great." Michaelangelo nodded.
"Here, Mike." Leonardo passed Shadow to
him. "Take Shadow into the house with Splinter. I'm going to look for
Raph and Casey."
"Okay, we'll stay here incase they come back."
Sounded like a plan. Leonardo gave Mike a quick thumbs up before running off down
the trail. Michaelangelo looked to Splinter in concern. "Am I the only
one who doesn't know what the heck is going on around here? Leo's guard and
exercises have doubled, Don wonders around like a mindless zombie, Raph smokes like a damn
chimney, April's crying more than usual, Shadow barely talks and now Casey is suddenly
vanishing every so often. Where does that leave you and me to do?"
"Pray, Michaelangelo." Splinter replied then
softly padded into the house. Mike scratched his head in confusion.
It felt good to get away from the house. April drove all
over town with Donatello as her co-pilot. They spent the first half of the morning
looking up specialty bookstores, bell book and candle novelty assortments, magic
accessories, Celtic/Christian readings, and one that caught their eyes the most, a
philosophical library.
"I didn't know there were so many stores like this in
town." April drove around to find a parking space.
"Maybe they're popping out at us because they know
something's wrong." Donatello held a small paper full of addresses.
"Or maybe I just never noticed them before. I never
had a reason for going into these types of stores."
"There's a space, April. That guy's pulling out,
making enough room for a tank to fit in."
"Thanks. You're a good navigator."
Both got out of the car and immediately bundled up from the cold
weather. Donatello bundled up especially to hide his face from people walking by.
April looked up at the store.
"This place says they also do palm readings and tell your
future. Wouldn't that be interesting, Don?"
"Yeah, but I'll leave the palm reading part to you."
April smiled sadly. "No, I wouldn't expect you
to. I may not do the palm reading myself. Just the future is what I'm mostly
interested in knowing."
The two walked in with a ring to the bell on the door. This
was one of the many stores they were going to hit for the rest of the morning and
afternoon.
Casey walked for quite a bit not realizing his trail was being
followed. Raphael seemed to walk in the quietest pace. With all the leaves on
the ground, it was amazing how his steps didn't crunch on dead leaves. He only
stepped on the soft, lush ones. Leonardo wasn't sure if he was heading in the right
direction or not. He stayed on the main trail but saw smaller ones leading up or
down to other main roads. Families of wolves watched the two turtles following the
tall man, but they weren't interested in them. The tall man was their main target.
Raphael paused when he felt his steps were being followed.
He looked back to see no one on the trail. Hmm, he wondered if his senses were
weakening since being on vacation. He stayed on Casey's trail until he stopped to
duck behind a tree to watch him walk off the path and climb up a steep, dirt hill.
"Where the hell is he going?" Raphael asked, not
knowing Leonardo asked the same question several feet away. Both froze and looked
around. "Someone's here." Raph said quietly.
Casey approached the front porch to Jack's house. No one
was out on the rocking chair. He finally decided to walk up and knock on the
door. Jack came over to it with a big smile.
"Casey? Well, good morning stranger! What brings
you here bright and early? And don't tell me your feet."
"No, I just seem to have some problems back at home and I
wanted to talk to you about a few things."
"Well, I ain't no marriage councilor or kiddy
psychiatrist. If you've got problems with the wife and child, I suggest seeing a
professional therapist."
Casey sighed. "That's not why I'm here, Jack.
There's going to be a full moon tonight. And I'm afraid to know what will happen to
me."
Jack's smile suddenly faded. "Think you'd better come
inside, my friend."
Raphael hung low behind another tree, closer to the house.
He watched Casey go inside with a slam to the door behind him.
"Looks like Casey's got a new friend.
A-ack!" Raphael turned and plowed into a twin of his. "Dammit,
Leo! Where the hell did you come from?!!"
"Same place you and Casey did." Ha, ha.
Raph wasn't in the mood for jokes. "Seriously, Raph. What the hell is
Casey up to? Whose house is this?"
"Hey! What's this with bombarding me with questions, O
Fearless One? Do you think I know everything that goes on?"
"You seem to know more than the rest of us."
"Look, I just got here. Same as you. I don't
know who lives here nor do I really care to. Maybe he found a new chick and wants to
get laid." Leo gave him a harsh look. "I don't know!"
The harsh look faded. "Well, with Casey, I wouldn't be
surprised. I never considered him to be the type that settles down with just one
woman."
"Whoa, Leeeeeo...." Raphael backed away,
clutching his chest. "You of all of us think that way? Daaaaamn!"
"Don't act so surprised, Raph. You even said yourself
'the Casemeister would pick up 5 girls for each day of the week if he could. Add 2
for his lonely weekends.' You said that."
"Did not."
Leonardo was not even going to start arguing about it.
"Forget it, Raph. What we got to do now, is figure out
what Casey's up to, what brings him all the way out here in the middle of nowhere,
and....." Leo suddenly felt a presence around them.
"Aaaaaand?" Raphael crossed his arms, also
beginning to feel a presence.
"And why we are outdoors when we should be indoors."
Looking around, Leo and Raph found themselves surrounded by
dozens of wolves. Curiosity or invasion seemed to pique their interest of the
unusual turtle-beings lurking in their forest.
"Good point. Now, what?" Raphael swallowed,
clutching a sai.
"How sturdy are these tree branches?" Raphael
glared at Leonardo like he was a chicken. Leo gave a shrug. "We're
outnumbered. And the tree method seems to work for Shadow."
"Yet again, Leo. Another good point."
Donatello and April sat across from one another in the small
family restaurant, eating a delicious brunch. Their luck hasn't surfaced yet but Don
insisted his search would get better after having a full stomach. And getting
something off of his plastron.
"So, what do you think? Am I not a handsome guy?"
April almost choked on her omelet.
"Handsome to who?"
"I don't know. Anyone. Preferably the opposite
sex."
"Don, I think you and your brothers are very handsome.
Cute even."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"So, why not marry me instead?" Again, April
almost choked on her juice. "I shouldn't ask you this while you're eating and
drinking."
"No, it's okay." April started to cough and pat
her chest. "Just went down the wrong way." He nodded to her, not
believing it. "Umm, why are you asking me all this?"
"Ah, I'm just curious. I thought I'd make a better
husband than Casey. Better father to Shadow."
"All of you would make great husbands and possibly
fathers." April gestured freely, not sure if she were accurate on her
words. "But, me, personally, I couldn't see marrying one of you."
"But, you just said we were handsome and cute even."
"Don....." Her tone sounded exasperated.
"I love you guys a lot. But, it's a different kind of love. You're
my family. You're like brothers to me."
Donatello nodded, sipping his soda. He felt an early lunch
meant he could have any drink with his breakfast. The taste was bizarre to him of a
carbonated beverage mixed with pancakes.
"Yeah, Leo said the same thing. He calls you the
sister he never had. The idea of being called an uncle to Shadow meant more to him
as you being related to us as a sister, not Casey being our brother. Casey might
have a brotherly feeling with Raph, though that might be doubtful, but, who knows.
The two get along like brothers, argue and try to kill one another like brothers, so, I
guess that's where Casey gets that idea for us being uncles to his kid."
"Hmm. Leo is definitely like the little brother I
never had. All of you are like my kid-brothers."
"I guess I asked you those questions because I long for
companionship like what you and Casey sort of have. When you guys get along, of
course."
April tapped his arm. "I understand, Don.
Really, I do. But, you have to see it from my angle. To marry one of you or
even have a relationship would just.....be weird for me. I'm sorry."
"No, don't be sorry. I'm the one who should apologize
for even mentioning it."
"Oh, Don...."
"I'll be right back." Donatello pulled away and
left the table. April placed a hand under her chin, thinking deeply.
"Oh, Don...."
"How many did you count?" Raphael dodged a wolf
bounding at him, kicking the beast in the side.
"After the fifth one, more seemed to multiply."
Leonardo swung a katana, beheading one. He cringed at the bloodspurt.
"The multiplying could be from me chopping them up."
"Mmm. Wolf stew. I should get the recipe from
you sometime, Leo." Raphael ducked and punched another wolf. "I hear
they taste like chicken."
"Um, Raph, less talk, more saving necks." Leo's
voice cut off in a huge rumble with two snarling wolves attacking him.
"Well, excuuuuuuuse me!" Raphael had food on the
brain. Not wolf, but something tasty like chicken. He hoped they wouldn't miss
lunch again. Or, in this case, they'd be lunch.
The wolves finally decided to amscray when they realized they
were losing the battle. Leonardo limped over to Raphael whom was just pulling
himself off the ground.
"You okay?" Leo asked in a raspy voice.
"I figured none were any werewolves. Or, like Casey, we'd have a problem
tonight."
"So, you know the truth about Casey becoming a
werewolf?" Raphael panted while clutching his bloodied shoulder.
"I took a guess. Don told me what he hinted on and it
went from there."
"I kinda knew you guys would find out sooner or later."
"If you knew Raph, why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't know for sure! Okay? I didn't put the
two and two together. All I know is Casey was fucked up big time but I didn't know
the cause of it. The man was always fucked since day one."
Leo stood, thinking. "The transformation won't make
him evil because he's not an evil person. He'll still be Casey, with a bit more
hair."
Raph started to walk down the hill. "If he's turning
into a werewolf, we should pack now while we still can."
"Maybe we won't have to. If Casey is aware of what
he's to become, he'll steer clear of us till it ends. That's only maybe. We
will act casual like nothing's wrong. Got it?"
"Yeah, right. So, how will we keep him out of the
house?"
"We'll think of something. We always do."
Later on, Donatello and April came back with a small book on
curses. To their dismay, there was no cure for this particular problem. Only
defenses. Shadow jumped all over them like a puppy greeting them at the door.
"Wha cha buy me?!" She glanced at the book in
Don's hand. "What's that?! Lemme see!"
Donatello lifted it higher from her reach and passed it to April
whom was far taller than him. She walked by and patted Shadow's head.
"Nothing you'd be interested in. Go sit down."
Shadow pouted to Don. "What is it?
Huh?" He shrugged.
"Nothing you'd be interested in." He repeated
April's line.
It was getting darker outside. April prepared a fast meal
under Splinter's guidance while the rest waited for merely a short time.
"Perhaps we're over-reacting." Michaelangelo sat
at the dining table. Finally, someone explained it to him. "What if it's
just a hoax?"
Leonardo looked up with hands folded. "When have we
ever had a hoax, Mike?"
Everyone got quiet when Casey pushed through the kitchen door
towards the table, holding a steaming casserole dish. It smelled tempting. And
familiar.
"Hope you like leftovers." A large clang shook
the table as the Cornyware dropped down in front of them. April came in next,
smiling.
"Let's eat!"
The Turtles ate faster than normally. April sipped her
water and looked around, catching Shadow barely touching her food. Casey ate like a
wolf, pun intended.
"So, are we still up for tonight?" Casey asked
with food packed in his mouth.
Raphael nodded. "Sure. It's the best time to
go."
"Go where?" Shadow dropped her fork to the plate.
"Out." Donatello answered and gestured to the
window.
"Out the window?" Shadow was getting too
literal. Michaelangelo snickered in his seat.
"Ahem, out on a night walk." Leonardo took a
quick gulp of water so that his mouth was unable to speak no further.
"Can I go, too?" Shadow asked eagerly to
Leo. He raised a finger to her. Couldn't talk!
"No, you stay with me." April told her without
looking up.
"Awww, no fun! I wanna go!"
"You wouldn't be interested." Mike
whispered. "We'll be talking about guy stuff anyway."
"What's that?" Shadow quickly looked to April as
if she knew.
"Oh, you know. Cars. Sports." She
eyed Casey. "Women."
"Neat! Can I go?!" Shadow beamed. She
only got eyes blinking at her in shock.
"Are you sure she's six?" Donatello asked Casey
while thumbing at his daughter.
"Yeah. Six going on thirty." Casey winked
to the child.
Splinter took a stab at it next. "Shadow, my
dear. You promised to show me this wonderful Playstation you keep telling me
about. Surely, you have not forgotten about your old grandfather's wishes?"
Shadow said nothing of the sort. He was filling her head
with nonsense. Of course, she didn't know this, but any excuse that involved playing
video games was a good excuse for her. Shadow's hand flew to her mouth.
"Oh, I'll show you. It's lots of fun!"
"Ah, good. You can show me after dinner."
Splinter winked to the Turtles. Raphael leaned over to him.
"Just don't ask her to play Resident Evil 2.
Unless you want nightmares for the next two weeks."
Suddenly, this diversion didn't sit quite comfortably with their
sensei. The Turtles would be out dealing with a curse, Shadow would have her fun and
poor Splinter would be stuck to watch bizarre scenes flash across the TV. This night
was certain to be no fun and games though.
Splinter approached the Turtles as they bundled up in their
winter coats.
"Master, do you think Casey suspects that something's
up?" Michaelangelo had difficulty putting the second snow glove on his hand.
"Only Casey can answer that, Michaelangelo. It is your
job that he does not hurt others nor hurt himself."
Leonardo bent down on one knee, lacing up one of his thick, snow
boots. He glanced to Splinter.
"Master? If Casey should transform, he might become
disconcert and violent. I don't want to have to fight him. He's not our
enemy. What should we do if that happens?"
"Then, I suggest you take this." Splinter padded
over to a cabinet, took something out, and handed it to Leo. It was a coil of thick
rope. "It is not much but it will protect you and your brothers from him doing
any harm."
"Master." Donatello approached next with a small
map. "I've mapped out the major sections with the most activity of wild animals
but I need a better guide on where we should go in particular. In case we might need
to contact you."
Splinter closed his eyes. "Take Casey to the clearing
at the far end of the northern woods. It is the safest spot of lurking timber
wolves. No matter where you go, I will always be with you in spirit, Donatello.
"Well, that doesn't do us much good." Raphael
snorted. "You need a bazooka just to handle all the wolves, let alone Casey
becoming one."
"We'd better go, Master." Leonardo stood up
fully, adjusting his leather straps under his thick coat. Splinter stepped aside as
Leonardo glanced over to the living room area. "April?" April pulled
away from the couch and walked up to him. "If we need you...." He
secretly dropped a walkie talkie into her hand. "We'll call you. Splinter
means well on watching us through his mind but, I prefer to rely on modern
technology." April nodded to him and held the communicator firmly.
"Alright, Leo. I hope I won't have to use this."
"That makes two of us." Leo looked to Casey
trampling loudly down the staircase. "Wish us luck."
April kissed Casey good-bye before seeing him out the door.
He couldn't understand why she was so upset. The Turtles waved to her as a signal of
good luck and then disappeared down the front porch into the dark outdoors.
"Guys, we have to talk before we go any further."
Casey looked to all of them. The Turtles exchanged glances. "I think
something bad is going to happen but I'm not completely sure. I'm worried about
April's and Shadow's safety."
"We know, Casey." Leonardo straightened up his
shoulders. "It's better to take the precautions then to do nothing about
it."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but." He looked
down. "I'm scared shit-less of what's to become of me."
Again they exchanged glances. Followed by heavy sighs and
looking off in opposite directions.
"Casey." Mike tapped his shoulder.
"I'm going with it all being a hoax. Just have a lot of faith. We're here
for you."
"And as for being scared shit-less, don't be!"
Raph said with a groan. "Take it like a man!"
"You mean like a wolf-man." Mike whispered to
Raph. Then smiled brightly to Casey. "The night air calls! Let's
go!"
Shadow sat cross-legged on her floor, fishing through her
collection of games. Splinter sat quietly on the bed with walking stick firm to the
carpet rug. His eyes were closed, thinking deeply.
"Grandpa? What's wrong? You sleepy?"
Splinter opened his eyes to her eager ones.
"I am fine, my child. Please, play your games."
Shadow watched him carefully. He wasn't falling
asleep. He was concentrating on being elsewhere.
CHAPTER 9 BACK TO CHAPTER 7 BACK TO FAN FICTION PAGE |
Nocturnal Creatures
By: Brinatello