~ This is a long section, but it goes together. Thanks for all the reviews and I'm glad you like this so much. I wonder if there will be alight ahead soon :o) Enjoy!
A couple hours later, I was starting to notice some fresh air. I started to jog towards it, Klunk right by my side. Going around a turn I stopped. There was a rock blocking the exit. I had come all this way to find a rock. I looked down at Klunk who's eyes shined the light back at me.
"I guess we dig," I said. I went and started to dig at the earth by the rock. I broke several fingernails, one actually drew blood and I had to stop to put some pressure on it. I looked down and I saw that Klunk was also digging right under me. Feeling encouraged by this I started digging again. There was light. Light and tree's and I had no idea where I was. When the hole was finally big enough for me to slip through, I stepped out followed by Klunk. The sun was just setting and it was getting cold.
"Klunk, let's stay here tonight and then we'll start out tomorrow." Klunk, looked at me, at the tree's then went back inside the hole. I followed and sat down against the wall, closing my eyes. Klunk crawled into my lap. You are a very intelligent cat, I thought as we both fell asleep. I woke up just as the sun was rising. Klunk was over by the opening, possibly eating something he caught. I pulled out the journals again and looked through them. One entry I found particularly interesting.
We've been in these tunnels for what feels like forever. We all meditate with Splinter once a day, the only reason we still know when it's day or night is because I brought a watch with us. Master Splinter says in his meditations that he is being told we have a purpose that we are working towards, but what it is exactly he doesn't even know. It wouldn't be so bad if I had my laptop or something, but even then, the laptop battery would have been dead and I would have no where to plug it into. Hopefully we'll be out of here soon.
I put the journals away when Klunk started to rub himself against my feet. Smiling I patted his head and we headed outside. There were tons of trees. This place looked nothing of New York but I know the tunnel couldn't have gone too far out of it, at least I don't think it would have. There was no path so I carefully went in trying to keep the cave I came out of insight. It wouldn't do to get lost here, where ever here was. A skittering of the bushes to my left made me turn trying to see what it was. Of course it was already gone.
As we walked, whispers seemed to come from all around me. I turned this way and that so much that I forgot to keep the cave in view. When I remembered, I turned to find that it was gone, trees surrounded me.
"Okay, Jodi, getting yourself lost all by yourself," Klunk meowed at me. "Sorry, getting myself lost with…"
"Klunk!" I heard exclaimed along with someone jumping next to the cat and I. Turning I came face to face with one of my Aunt's best friends of long ago. He wore no mask, nothing to mark his individuality. In short you could say he was naked. Thinking that I grinned and had to cover my mouth not to laugh.
"Who are you?" He asked me.
"I'm Jodi, April's niece." His face lighted up at April's name and started to hammer me with questions.
"How is she? Is she still with Casey? Do they have kids? Where do you live?"
"Um, lets see, fine, yes, thinking in about a year and with Aunt April for now." He nodded his head. "I'm assuming you're Michelangelo, she mentioned to me that you had a cat."
"She told you about us?" Michelangelo seemed surprised.
"Yeah, but that's because I found her old dairy." I put my bag down and pulled out a journal. "And I found these on my way here." Michelangelo saw what I had but only nodded.
"Thanks for bringing Klunk but you shouldn't be here." He said watching me.
"Wait a minute, I traveled all this way and I'm not about to go back with no answers." Michelangelo stopped and sighed. "Besides," I continued. "I lost track of the cave." Michelangelo nodded and seemed a bit troubled.
"Then follow me, it's a long story." He led me through the trees, Klunk followed faithfully by his side. Ahead some huts came into view. There were six total all located next to a stream. A waterfall was flowing and I looked down at my hands, thinking of how dirty I must look. Michelangelo noticed, smiled and told me to hold on a moment. He disappeared in a hut and came out with a towel and a robe.
"Take this and go behind the water fall, there's room enough to bathe," He thought for a moment then handed me something. "Soap might help." I grinned and went over to the waterfall. I saw where I could slip through with out getting wet and that there was enough room to stand in and bathe. I undressed and stepped into the spray and gasped. The water was freezing. This was the fastest shower I ever took and was finished and dried quickly. I went back out and saw that Michelangelo was gone. I sat down on the steps of one of the huts and surveyed my surroundings. If I didn't know better, I'd say I was in a rainforest or something similar. This was just too bizarre and I hoped someone would be back soon to tell me what happened.
Sitting in the sunlight, I yawned as I felt the rays going through me, it felt so good after being cooped up in that tunnel. Half closing my eyes, I lay back and looked around. A horse was to my left, a very white horse. Sitting up to get a better look I realized, it wasn't a horse at all. It was a unicorn. My eyes grew wide as the unicorn studied me, then calmly turned and went back into the bush. I got up and went over to where it disappeared only to be greeted by a wondrous site. A hill climbed above me, once the trees cleared and on this hill, where ton's of unicorns were. I stood there with my mouth gaping open.
"We're not in Kansas any more Toto," I said softly to myself.
"Wizard of Oz, right?" A voice asked behind me. Turning I saw another one of the turtles, leaning against a tree. This was not Michelangelo his posture was different. I looked at him for a moment and took a guess. He was eating an apple.
"Leonardo?" He shook his head, but smiled slightly.
"Donatello." I was sure I was right this time. His smile grew and he nodded.
"So where did you come from?" Donatello asked me.
"The tunnel, same way you guys did." Donatello came over to me.
"Do you remember how to get back to it?" His eye were so full of hope I hated to bash them down. Shaking my head no, the hope faded, but he feigned on cheerfulness anyway. Like his brother he wore no mask, no distinctive markings.
"Come back to the camp, the unicorns are always here," I looked at them once more and followed Donatello. Michelangelo was there, talking with Master Splinter who was sitting in front of a fire. "Leonardo and Raphael will be back soon with dinner." I was about to ask what was dinner then decided not too. As long as it tastes good, I can deal with it. Master Splinter indicated for me to go over and sit with him and Michelangelo, Donatello followed behind. Klunk meowed his hello and then sat next to Michelangelo.
"How did you get here? Who are you?" Master Splinter asked. I explained how I found the tunnel that they went into and about making my way to where they are.
"Why did you ask if I remembered how to get back to tunnels?" I asked.
"Because ever since we got here, we haven't been able to find it again." Master Splinter explained. "But who are you?"
"I'm sorry," I said. "My name is Jodi, I'm April's niece. Casey and her got married two years back." At that time Leonardo and Raphael came back carrying some animal they just caught and gutted. Roasting it over the fire, I took the time to explain what I told the rest earlier. When the food was ready I took that opportunity to ask some questions.
"What is this place?" Everyone looked at each other then back to me.
"We think this is a fantasy realm but are not really sure." Leonardo said. Raphael wore no markings like his two brothers, while Leonardo had a blue band tied on his upper right arm.
"The unicorns are a dead give away for that but how?" I questioned.
"We don't really know." Raphael said.
"In my meditations," Master Splinter started. "I was summoned to take my son's through the tunnels we were to dig and come to this world. Since we have been here, we have not been able to find the tunnel to return to New York." I nodded looking around.
"Okay I have a question," They waited as I thought of the right way to ask it. "When you got attacked by Shredder in the tunnels, what happened?" They seemed surprised and looked at each other before answering. Raphael was the one to start the tale.
"In the tunnels, we've been there for about two years I think," Raphael paused and continued on when his brothers nodded. "Yeah, two years when we were still using the dojo for practice. One day Shredder found his way down there and almost got us, even though he was by himself. I was alone in the Dojo when that happened.
~~~~
Raphael looked around the dojo, and put his sai's down from practice. His brothers went back into the tunnel to help Master Splinter with some more of the tunnel while Raphael finished some kata's then was going to join them. As he walked down he looked behind him feeling that he was being followed. Seeing nothing, Raphael continued to walk then all went black.
Leonardo and Michelangelo were doing some digging, while Master Splinter sat on the mat they were taking with him and meditated. Donatello was taking a break. A noise behind got everyone's attention and they were surprised to find Shredder standing there holding Raphael up with a knife to his throat.
"Your weapons, throw them down where I can see them," Shredder growled. Each turtle put their weapons down, while Shredder threw Raphael's sai's in the pile. Raphael moaned waking up and Shredder tightened his hold on him. Becoming aware of arms around him Raphael became instantly alert and his temper flared right up to the surface.
"Aw, dang it Shredder, why couldn't you have been that nice brunet I was dreaming about?" Raphael muttered. Everyone looked at him, not believing what Raphael just said. Even Shredder showed surprise. Raphael looked around and realized he spoke out loud.
"Oh, forget what I said, uh, it's from being knocked out, yeah," Raphael said. Shredder shook his head and glared at the turtles.
"All right mutants," Shredder said. "Cherish these moments, they will be your last…"
~~~~~~~~~~
Leonardo paused. He had taken over the story from where Raphael was knocked out and Shredder surprised them.
"So what happened next?" Jodi asked.
"Next well," Leonardo sighed. "It's difficult going over.
I'll continue from here, dude," Michelangelo said. Leonardo nodded. "We all got hurt pretty bad, are you sure you want to hear this?" Jodi nodded. "Okay, next Shredder had tied us all up, with rope he had brought with him…"
~~~~~~~~~~
"Who shall be first," Shredder questioned looking at each. They were positioned against the wall. Master Splinter was sitting while the turtles were standing. Shredder seemed to have come up with an idea and grabbed Master Splinter.
"I think the rat will go first," Shredder paused and smiled at the turtles protest. "He's the beginning of all my trouble." Pulling the ropes away Shredder held Master Splinter up by the neck, choking him. Shredder didn't notice the turtle's silent huddle or see what was coming next.
The all jumped at Shredder, causing him to loose his grip on Master Splinter, who fell to the ground. He lay still and the turtles thought they were too late. Shredder growled and turned, using the blades on his hands to attack. Leonardo had gotten a hold of one of his katana's and blocked the strike. Unfortunately it smashed the blade of the katana in the process. While Leonardo stumbled, Shredder grabbed the other katana and turned blocking Michelangelo's nunchukus, the chain splitting with Shredder's fury. Donatello and Raphael both jumped on Shredder at once, knocking him down. The katana got caught in Donatello's bo, splitting it in the middle while Raphael got Shredder pinned, sai at his throat.
"Okay Shred-head, we've had enough," Raphael said. As he brought his hand back for the final blow, coughing and a gasp got all of the turtle's attention. Shredder saw his opportunity and threw the two turtles off of him. Not expecting that Donatello landed on his back, and Raphael was slammed against the wall. Shredder walked over to where Master Splinter was ready to take a speedier approach to end his life. Raphael saw this and flung himself on Shredder. Both fell forward Raphael's sai was pointed behind Shredder's right shoulder blade as they fell. Scraping of metal across metal was heard and both were still for a moment. Then slowly Shredder pushed Raphael off of him, the bent sai falling to the side. The back of Shredder's armor was dented as well. Forgetting all about Splinter, Shredder charged at the first turtle he saw, Donatello.
"Enough is enough, Shredder," Donatello grabbed Leonardo's katana and Shredder realized too late what happened. He ran straight into the blade.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jodi's mouth gaped open as she listened to the last part of the story.
"So Shredder was gone," Donatello finished. Master Splinter took it from there.
"We tended to everyone's wounds that took some time." Master Splinter said. "Raphael had been stabbed by his own sai, Michelangelo was whipped in the eyes when the chain on the nunchukus broke, Leonardo's hands were bruised and Donatello's shoulder was almost dislocated from how forcefully Shredder ran into him." Master Splinter rubbed his neck in remembrance. "My neck, almost closed up from the swelling that happened.
"Where you found the outfit of the Shredder, is apart from where anyone would find his body," Master Splinter said. "When we found this place, it was decided that we would bury him here. First we took off the armor, not wanting anyone here to find it, and left it in the first room we slept in." Jodi shivered and rubbed her hands on her arms, remembering when she found the costume. What if it wasn't rust that she saw on there, what if it was…
"Jodi, are you okay?" Jodi looked up and saw the guys staring at her. She let out a smile, feeling foolish and nodded.
"Yeah, I just remembered coming across his outfit on the way through," Jodi said.
"At least you didn't have to dig," Michelangelo commented. "Dude, that so sucked." Jodi held up her hands which had several broken finger nails. The guys all gasped asking what happened.
"I had to dig my way out when I reached the end of the tunnel," Jodi said.
"She will unbury herself and bring forth the missing feline," Master Splinter muttered under his breath.
"What," They all questioned. Master Splinter said it was nothing and excused himself to meditate before dinner. Jodi watched him go in his hut. Some thing was going on and now Jodi had a feeling it had to do with her.
~ This section was work but I like how it came out. Hope there was nothing too graphic, if anyone thinks I should up the rating anymore let me know.