Chapter five:

Leo manages to grab onto the rope to which he clings to it. "Hurry! Cracks are coming!" He is pulled quickly up as a race against the incoming cracks. He turns to watch them as they continue to head upwards. "Don't stop. We're just staying ahead of the cracks!" He encourages as well as giving them an update. He feels the pulling increase and he lets them do so. He does admit it feels nice to be a little further away from the cracks. He spots the top and is pulled to safety. He swears his heart is roaring and racing in his ears. He also feels like it could burst out of his chest with every fearful beat. "Go! The cracks are coming!" He warns and they all run further inland. He joins them still holding onto the makeshift rope not wanting someone to lose their mask.

They make it to safety as the ground crumbles away before stopping. They untie the masks returning each one to their rightful owner.

Raph presses his side against Leo's relieved that he is alive. He doesn't seem comfortable hugging Leo in front of the others here.

Leo doesn't mind as he leans against Raph closing his eyes trying to calm his racing heart.

After a momentary break for everyone to calm themselves down they are ready to go.

"The land might be shrinking faster as time goes on. We really need to find a portal and get out of here." Splinter mentions glancing to where there was once land.

Leo opens his eyes as Splinter speaks then notices Don and Donatello slightly glance around worriedly. He remembers how they don't know if their missing brothers are here or not. He feels a pang of sympathy for them. He guesses they thought they'd have enough time to see if they are here... But are starting to realize that they might not be able to. He hopes for them that their missing brothers are safe somewhere in their home worlds.

"Let's go." Raph agrees with Splinter. "We can move inland to avoid anyone falling again. While looking for a portal that we can use to get somewhere safer."

The others mummer in agreement so they begin walking further inland.

Donatello scanning the landscape as they go.

Raph this time carries Splinter.

Their fate truly is hanging onto the luck that they find a portal to escape.

Leo slightly glances to the group. He notices that Michelangelo is talking with Don. He supposes the other feels sorry for him for losing his version of Michelangelo himself. He slightly catches a piece of their conversation.

"Wherever your brother is I'm sure he is hoping one day he'll be able to see you again. I know I would. And being here proves it to myself."

Don blinks in thanks to the other. "Yeah. And I'm sure those in your world are hoping you'll be able to get back to them."

Leo moves on as the two casually chat about comparing events from their worlds.

Leonardo, Mike, and Raphael are sticking close while talking to each other. They seem to have started to connect pretty well. They are also helping to keep Donatello from losing the group as he tries to find a portal. They even take turns moving to nudge him back towards the group.

Leo is able to also pick out a little of their conversation.

"This place is so not rad. Hopefully we get out of here soon." Leonardo tells the other two who nod their heads in agreement.

"Yeah. This place is way too scary for me." Mike agrees with him.

"When we get back to our home worlds we should take some time to truly enjoy them." Raphael adds. "As well as enjoy those in the worlds."

"I think you're right." Donatello mentions still scanning for portals. "Who knows when or if another world will collapse like this one. Though at least it seems our worlds are most likely stable." He goes quiet as he continues to scan.

"I hope my world never crumbles like this place." Mike adds and the other two speak in agreement.

Leo then turns away letting them continue talking to each other. He does hear a brief moment of Mike trying to lighten the mood with a question; a question about if the other two would side with animals or humans if an animal uprising started.

With the two seeming to say humans though Leo doesn't pay much attention.

Leo's gaze lands on the other two of the group.

Raph is still carrying Splinter though the two remain silent.

Leo turns away to where they are currently heading. He is glad that at least they'll have some nicer memories of connecting with each other, if they don't make it out.

They have been walking for a little bit when they hear a loud rumble come from all sides. They pause to look around to make sure that the collapsing ground isn't heading for them.

Don suddenly gasps. "Guys look!"

The others turn to where he is pointing, and freeze noticing the ground in front of them is cracking.

"It's starting in the middle of the land!" Donatello gasps in horror at seeing this. "I think all of the land is about to crumble away. If we don't find a portal it'll take us with it!"

"Then find any trace of one!" Raph retorts though he is just as scared as they are. He doesn't want to die here.

They move trying to stay away from the crumbling ground as it all begins shaking.

Suddenly portals open and close in all sorts of spots so fast that they'd have to be quick.

The group try to hurry towards one section with the ground crumbling behind them. They try to head towards a portal.

Leo has to skid to a stop, hearing the others do the same, as the portal closes much too quickly for them to be able to get to it. He takes the lead towards a cluster of portals. He hopes that they'll reach it when one opens.

They have to stop again as the portals close too soon.

Plus any new ones are out of their reach in the air.

Leo glances back to see the cracks quickly expanding as it heads for them. He turns away and leads the way to try to get to more clusters of portals. He hopes that following the areas where most portals appear will get them to one they can use. His heart thumping loudly in his chest and almost roaring in his ears. He feels like if he can't get them out he'll have truly failed them. He'll also have failed his worlds family by not getting back to them. His mind is racing in terror too much to try to think if that would be true or not.

Time is running out much quicker than any of them would like.

Leo at least knows that they have to keep trying. He knows that even if they don't make it at least they tried until the very end.

They continue to try to go for any portals that are ahead though they don't make it in time. They keep trying as these portals are their last hope at survival. They have to make it to a portal. They have to. They're running out of safe ground to stand on.

The ground becomes cracked everywhere so no ground is solid. It is crumbling towards them from all sides, setting terror into all of them at the thought of dying here.

"This way!" Donatello calls taking the lead as the others follow. He has managed to find a portal, that might stay open just long enough for them to get through. He hopes that it is the case as maybe it's the last portal to open, before this world crumbles to nothing. He figures if it is going to open as a last shockwave thus maybe being a little longer than the other portals.

Sure enough a portal opens up ahead staying longer than the others. It is a little up in the air so they'll have to jump to it.

The ground starting to shift as if about to fall apart beneath their feet.

The group jumps as each member reaches the perfect spot to jump. They move quickly trying to not stumble on the shifting ground. They go through the portal diving into it.

Leo finds Raph nudges him from behind, to make sure he doesn't stay back to be the last one through. He jumps into the portal.

Splinter holding onto Raph as they go through.

Leo lands on solid ground closing his eyes as he lands on his front. He cracks open an eye as he hears the others landing around him.

Don landing on him making him gasp. He apologizes and slides off.

Leo raises his head to look to the portal. He sees that it is closing as Michelangelo dives for it. He slightly holds his breath releasing it as the other barely makes it through. He glances around finding everyone is accounted for. He sighs in relief and gets to his feet. He finally looks around to see what kind of world they had escaped to.

The world looks pretty normal with hills, plenty of plant and animals, and blue sky with the sun shining down.

There isn't a town or city in the area of what they can see, but at least they are all safe.

Now to just find a way to their respective home worlds.

They all get up and explore the area a little, Raph putting Splinter down for now, to try to see if they can tell which way to go. They know that they need to get to a city or town to at least figure out where they are, then hopefully find a way to this worlds turtle lair to get help or find another way home.

Leo turns to look to Splinter. "Sensei? Do you recognize this area and maybe know where we should go?" He sees the other glance around before shaking his head.

"I don't. I cannot help there."

"It is okay." Leo turns away then notices a tall tree. He gets an idea and begins climbing up its branches. He is careful to not climb on ones he isn't confident in using. He gets to a high point and moves leaves aside to peer past them. He looks to the distance hoping for a glimpse of a sign of a town or city. He doesn't see any so he moves away. He heads to the other side and does the same as before. He sighs as there is nothing again.

"Leo?" Raphs voice makes Leo peer down past the branches to him. He is gazing up at him looking smaller from Leo's position. "Find anything?"

"No! Nothing!" Leo calls back to the other then begins climbing down towards the other. He yelps a little as suddenly a branch breaks under him. He falls down towards the ground and misses in an attempt to grab another branch.

"Leo!" Raph gasps then manages to catch the other now holding him bridal style. "Are you okay?" He sees a few cuts from Leo hitting some branches or sticks but nothing serious.

Leo nods his head taking a moment to calm his racing heart. He then turns to Raph smiling. "Thanks for saving me. You're so worried about me."

Raph blushes very softly and turns away. "No. Itd just be bad if you injured yourself badly now." He retorts though Leo can tell that he was worried about him.

Leo chuckles under his breath not pushing the issue. He is put down on his feet as the others come over seeing the scratches.

"Are you okay?" Michelangelo questions looking Leo over.

"I'm fine." Leo assures him as his cuts only sting a little. "The branch broke beneath me when I was in the tree. I didn't see a town but I thought it might have helped."

"That is alright. We're just glad that you are alright." Splinter adds moving closer and makes sure the wounds aren't bad. He backs off seeing that Leo should be fine.

Satisfied that he's okay they switch back to trying to get to some city. They try to decide which way is the best way to go for this. They end up just picking a direction figuring they'll find civilization at some point. All of them just want to get home.

End of part one.

AN:

Happy Halloween!

Written on my phone so hopefully I caught the autocrrects.

With the move and work I haven't had time to make a proper Halloween special. So here is at least something since I still wanted to do something.

Originally this wasn't going to be split up like this but I thought this one was the best for Halloween. I will be working on part two but I can't say for sure how long it'll take.

I hope you're enjoying so far!

KitKat.