Chapter 3

They awoke early and set off into the jungle, regrettably leaving the cool waters of the stream behind. Michelangelo and Leonardo chatted amiably with April and forged ahead through the brush, trying to brush off the problems and anxieties of the day before. Donatello and Raphael brought up the rear, one on either side of Shredder. Donatello was frowning at his Dimensional Positioning Device. Shredder had been silent all morning, brooding and keeping any complaints about his injuries to himself, and walking with a strained impatience. Now, he turned and looked at Donatello with interest.

"You seem confused, Turtle."

Everyone's eyes snapped to the tall figure in gray. "I wouldn't say confused," returned Don warily.

"You are concerned about the portal," Shredder said lightly, but with some strained huskiness. "You should be."

By now everyone had stopped and turned to look at the bound ninja standing in their midst. "What are you talking about, Saki?" asked Leonardo, crossing his arms. Leo had just about had it with Shredder, and was ready to acquiesce to his brothers and just leave him tied to a tree somewhere in the hot, tropical sun.

"Your brother is concerned over something, Leonardo. Why don't you ask him?" Shredder countered. His face was slick, but pale and his brown eyes narrowed at his arch enemy. He squared his shoulders and leaned back, as if he wasn't going anywhere until this latest provocation was milked for all its worth.

"Saki, if you don't shut your..." began Raphael when Don cut him off. "There is something wrong."

Everyone looked at Donatello with surprise and he sighed. "I was debating over whether to say anything, since I hoped we'd arrive at the portal tonight. But, the fact is, I'm getting some extremely odd readings from the portal."

"What do you mean by odd?" asked Mike.

"Well, according to the DPD, it seems to be shifting in position, just slightly. That wouldn't be that big of a deal, but its reading, what the DPD perceives it to be, is also changing."

"What does that mean, exactly?" said April, getting a sinking feeling. Something about Shredder's silence had bothered her today, and she wondered if she had justification. The evening before when he all but asked for her help there had been sense of desperation about him. Today, while he appeared weaker, his frame trembling just a little, his face was set in a kind of determination she didn't like.

"Well," said Don, twisting some controls on the DPD. "It no longer is being sensed as a portal. The readings indicate that it isn't as stable. It reads more like a tear."

Shredder snorted, his lips turning up in a bit of a suppressed smirk.

Donatello snapped the DPD shut, and looked at Shredder with a kind of growing dread. "That wasn't a portal device was it?"

All the turtles felt a tingly chill run through their bodies. Shredder looked away and scanned the horizon impatiently. Raphael was seething, "I told you he was up to something!"

Leonardo started forward with a growl of rage, not being able to remain calm any longer. "What do you know, Saki? What was this device of yours?"

Shredder's eyes traveled lazily back to Leonardo and his eyes flashed. "Untie me, and I'll consider telling you."

Raphael drew his sais but Leo actually beat him to it. He swung at Shredder and connected with his jaw, causing him to crumple to the ground. "We will not be black-mailed by you..." The turtles closed in on Saki's sprawled figure, and April stood back. She could see the rage in their eyes at being toyed with by Shredder even while he was their prisoner, and wondered if this time they would actually finish him off. But how would they get home then? "Guys," she began, trying to step forward and somehow intervene when something happened that confused the entire group briefly, before they all cried out in pain.

Out of nowhere, two dozen or so arrows shot from the surrounding brush. They were short and thin as straw, but a couple lodged deeply in everyone's legs and arms, including Shredder, who rolled over on his knees and crouched to protect himself. April cried out and pulled at the little arrows, one in her forearm and one in her thigh. The turtles yanked out the little arrows as well and spun around toward the brush, weapons ready.

"What the hell's going on?" said Ralph, wincing in pain.

Don examined the end of one of the slim needle-like things that he had pulled from an arm and frowned. "Poison..."

April held her hand over her wound and kept her breath stuck in her chest.

For a moment only the breeze filtered through the broad-leafed foliage, and then, all at once, twenty or so women stepped out of the brush, surrounding the group. They were tall, well-muscled but still slim and infinitely feminine. They wore white shifts that flowed and leather straps across their chest with quivers on their backs, filled with the tiny poisoned arrows. Their skin was bronze, and their smooth, womanly faces held bright blue eyes. In short, they were beautiful.

One, taller than the rest, with long black, silky hair stepped forward. She wore a golden amulet low on her chest and had thick gold bands encircling her upper arms, giving her a sense of authority. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice rich and moving, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Talk about shoot first and ask questions later..." muttered Mike.

"We are accidental travelers in your land," Leonardo said. "We mean you no harm, and wish to leave peacefully."

The woman barked a laugh and few of the other women twittered with amusement.

"These arrows," Don began. "Were they poisoned?"

The woman smiled grimly, and was about to answer when suddenly her eyes widened. There were gasps from the other women around the circles. All of them stepped back as if frightened, a few dropping their spears or bows and putting their small hands up to their lips. The raven-haired leader put her hand to her heart caught her breath in amazement.

At first the turtles had no idea what had happened, but then they heard a rustle behind them, and realized that Shredder had stumbled to his feet. Leo turned to look. He stood shakily, anger burning in his eyes. He still had two of the little poison darts sticking from his chest, being unable to pull them out due to his bound hands. Even though he slumped, he still towered over the turtles, and the attacking women had a good view of him all the way around.

"Good Goddess," whispered the leader. "Paelo! And so soon!"

Shredder seemed to notice his surroundings for the first time, the circle of gaping, armed, and beautiful women all cowering at the sight of him. He looked puzzled and annoyed and turned to face the leader who had spoken.

She seemed to have regained some of her composure, and in fact, as the shock faded, a look of calculation and interest flowed onto her face. She swallowed and stood straight again. "Comrades! Stand strong! Listen to me, Ancha, your leader. Although this, indeed, is a Paelo, we will not forget our sacred duty when Fate has chosen to put such an important task at our feet!" The woman around the circle seemed to gain some composure. "Now, give the tawdi the fixing potion."

Before the turtles knew what was happening, some of the women reached into their garments and pulled out small violet vials filled with a liquid. "It is an antidote," Ancha said as she tossed one at Leonardo. April and all the turtles caught one. "Drink it and the poison will dissolve in your veins."

April and the turtles looked at one another. "I don't think we have a choice," Don said. "I'm certain those darts were tipped with poison, so this stuff can't be any worse." He unscrewed his little vial and drank. All the turtles did. April, whose heart had begun to pound, and vision blur with the poison, gulped hers down and immediately felt a cooling rush flow through her veins. In just a few seconds, she felt better than ever and her vision sharpened.

The turtles all sighed and lowered their weapons.

"Thank you," said Leo. "We are sorry for intruding..." He trailed off because he realized the leader, Ancha, was paying him no attention. She was gazing over his head to Shredder.

"Tawdi...we must not forget your beautiful Paelo." She stepped forward with another violet vial in her hand and the turtles parted, warily allowing her to approach the spot where Shredder stood, now visibly starting to tremble with the poison. April watched with fascination as this impressive warrior woman stepped right up to Saki. She was tall and was almost able to look the ninja directly in the eye. His face was set with stony anger and he pulled himself up to full height as she glided up to him.

She paused, and looking at his chest, clucked her tongue. "Oh, what a crime we've committed, Paelo." She glanced briefly at April who, until now, she had paid little attention. "I apologize. You do not mind if I mend the damage?"

April didn't know what to say. Why was she asking her? Ancha reached up and gently pulled each poison dart out of Shredder's chest. He flinched, but his eyes flashed with anger as thin rivulets of blood flowed down his gray garment. "I don't know who you think you are..."

Ancha's face lit with delight as she dropped the darts to the ground. "It speaks! And what a voice! Oh, it will take much for you to trade it, I expect!" Again she looked at April with what amounted to a knowing smile and turned back to Saki. "Now, you too, will drink the fixing potion..." She lifted the vial to his lips. Shredder frowned, but seemed to see the sense in this action, as he no doubt felt the burning from within caused by the poison racing through his veins. He opened his lips slightly, and Ancha tilted the vial. He gulped it down as Ancha's face contracted into fascination, her eyes darting from Saki's face, to his neck, and finally, to the wounds on his side and shoulder. Saki sighed and took a step back from her once he had finished off the potion.

She frowned slightly. "Truly," she began, and with a glance, April was aware that Ancha was again addressing her in a familiar fashion. "Paelo must be plentiful in your land if you treat this one thus." She reached out a hand and lightly brushed the badly wrapped, and bled-through wound on Shredder's eyes. His eyes narrowed and he began to shake with a kind of rage. The turtles tensed as they realized he was going to react somehow. Ancha leaned in close, examining the wound. "Ah, but it is quite injured, and ill besides. I am sure it is your want to preserve its health..." She did not finish because Shredder's leg flashed out and knocked Ancha down hard on the ground.

The turtles sprang forward while the circle of women gasped in amazement, but Ancha stopped all activity with a laugh that shook her entire frame. She sprawled, half upon her arms, almost sexily, looking up to where Shredder seethed with rage at this bizarre treatment from so presumptuous a woman.

Ancha could barely talk through her laughter. "What a Paelo! Good Goddess! I dare say it just struck me!" Some of the women around the group twittered with appreciation. "I say, my fortune continues to improve upon itself!" She now pulled herself up to her knees, but scooted away to be a safe distance away from Saki, who was almost shaking with rage at this bizarre reaction to his attack. Ancha paused on her knees, and now lowered her voice, looking at Saki with a kind of reverence. "Oh," she almost whispered. "If I give the Queen such a prize, such a Paelo as has not been seen in millennia, perhaps, perhaps I too will share in the finding, and in its exquisite pleasures..."

This was just too much. "I demand," growled Saki. "to know what you are blubbering on about, you half-witted Amazon! If I am so important, untie me at once and behold the true extent of my powers!" His eyes flashed and his muscles quivered as he strained at his bonds.

Ancha's eyes widened, and the women around the circle sunk back half a step. "Incredible..." she murmured, and her eyes shone with a kind of greed.

Suddenly she leapt up, snapping her fingers. "A mercer." A short, tawny-haired woman stepped forward and offered a yellow arrow to Ancha, who swiftly strung it on her long, flexible bow. Before anyone could protest, she leveled it squarely at Shredder and fired. Although he was weak, he ducked, managing to dodge it. "Curse you, wench!" he muttered, stumbling. But, in a split second she had strung another and shot it. It lodged in Shredder's shoulder, near the muscle of his throat. He cried out, stumbling, then his eyes went glazed, and he fell over heavily into the dirt and lay still.

Raphael was momentarily excited, "Is he dead?" He was mildly hoping this was some kind of trophy culture, and now the women would proceed to skin and stuff Saki.

Ancha looked at Raphael curiously. "Truly, Paelo must be plenty in your paradise of a world for you to ask such a thing. It was a dart of healing-sleep. It will sleep for some time, perhaps a day, and when it awakes its wounds will heal and its sickness will depart." The rest of the women now crept forward, uttering soft gasps of amazement and surprise as they gazed at Shredder, who lay on his back. One of the women started to reach down to touch his sleeping face, but with a second thought and a look of guilt, she glanced at April and walked away.

Ancha now straightened her shoulders and walked toward April. She was almost five inches taller than her, and seemed to grow larger with each step. Having drawn up close, she bowed curtly. "Madame, I most humbly entreat apologies for this confusion. I trust you were bound with your Paelo and bearers for another land? Certainly you hoped to reap a fortune for this specimen?" Ancha's formality softened into a slight smile. "But, I think, by merely looking at you, that perhaps you were utilizing it for your own self?"

April blushed crimson at what she thought was meant by this suggestion. She started to protest, but Donatello, who had been following the speeches of this entire encounter with great attention, motioned for April to play along with Ancha's assumption. "Um," she stuttered, feeling heat wind through her body, as she glanced down at Saki's still form. "Yes...I thought I might keep him..."

Ancha's eyes widened with delight, and her voice dropped yet another octave. "Oh, I knew you'd tasted its pleasures...I could tell by your health, your vitality...but forgive me...are you a Queen yourself to have such a prize?"

"Not a Queen..."

"But to have such a thing as a Paelo to enjoy..."

"We have many from where I come..." April had deduced that Paelo did not mean evil ninja, or some other particular designation. She was almost certain, as were all the turtles who could barely fathom it, that Paolo simply meant "man."

Ancha's eyes bulged with wonder, but she nodded in understanding. "Seeing its bruises and injuries, and its bindings, I knew at once that you came from a land of great riches, with several of these creatures, unlike our own, so barren and mortal in its luxuries. I am also pleased to know that it is a commodity that you can replace."

Here, Ancha drew herself up to full height, and motioned for her troops to stand ready. Her voice took on the tones of declaration as she said, "For, other-worlder and tawdi, know that in this land, a Paelo comes but once every few centuries, and its pleasures are reserved for our mighty and ancient Queen alone. It is for her to consume and for her to distribute among her loyal. We are not thieves, dweller-of-paradise, and will negotiate with you for the prize, but you must know that you have been the unwitting bearer of a Holy Thing sent from the Goddess and whatever purpose brought you hither is but the veil tossed over reality for Her Holy purpose. Know then that you have been the bearer of the Holy Paelo that will unite with our Queen, and you will be feted as such and remembered always in our annals. Further, know that when the Queen is finished with the Paelo, and is with child, she will pass it on to her high court to reap children as well. And, in keeping with our most ancient customs, after a period of nine-months, when the Paelo has served its duty as ordained by the most Holy Goddess, the Queen will give birth. At such time, the Paelo's throat will be slit, and the child, the new Princess of our Kingdom, will be baptized in a drop of its blood."

The women around the circle placed their hands on their hearts and swooned at this oration, murmuring what sounded like prayers, and a glaze of tears settled in Ancha's eyes.

The turtles and April glanced at each other in shocked silence. Raphael smirked a little, then whispered, "Although I love the end result, its much too nice a death for old Shred-head!" He nudged Don in the side, and pointed at the gorgeous women who were wiping their eyes and sighing around them.

Leonardo frowned. "This isn't going to work. Just about the last thing Shredder has ever been interested in is women! He'd kill them just as soon as look at them!"

Mike shrugged. "Dude, you are right. He'd make tofu-salad from these chicks!"

Ancha reached out and grasped April's hands in a kind of gratitude, but April found her eyes drifting to the ground where Saki lay. Did no one hear the part where they were going to slit his throat? Why did the idea of this bother her so much?


To Be Continued........!