Tonight's the Night We're Gonna get Leo Plastered part 5
Thinking is in italics because, it won't load slash bars.
"What !" Leo cried dragging himself to his feet. He glanced in alarm out across the vast barren plain.
"What riders...? What are you talking about ? Raven !! Answer me !!" He cried.
The raven swooped high above him in long lazy circles.
"Speak damn you!!" Leo shouted in frustration. "Who are these riders you speak of and how do I escape them...?"
"Run.." The black bird cawed.
"Run..? " Leo balked. "Run where..? There's nowhere to run from and nothing to run to !!!"
"Run...stay, the choice is always yours. Stay and we can become good friends, you and I. We may yet be one....yesss.... But enough run, while you can " The raven soared high into the wind letting loose a great screech.
"The time will be upon us soon enough, those who do not run when they have the chance may find themselves without the opportunity to do so... We will meet again...that is inevitable .Caw.." He turned in the sky, heading back towards the warm light faintly visible in the distance.
"Wait, come back Raven!!" Leo cried, running after the dark shape in the sky as it shrank to nothing.
"Damn you...!!!" he hollered kicking the parched ground in rage. He swung about looking wildly in each direction.
Run he says.. Run where..?
He sat down crossed legged on the ground and glanced about him listening intently to the silence surrounding him, the vast emptiness that was his soul.
I really need to redecorate this place..
Leo sighed closing his eyes he let his anger and frustration flow from him, and tried to find his center as Master Splinter had always told him to do in times of turmoil.
Master what do I do...?
Search your soul my son, you will find the answer, in your strength..for you are not alone...
Leo gazed out over the plains his masters voice was comforting, but he couldn't deny the overwhelming fact that he was alone.
"I must win this battle, and solve this puzzle on my own then..But how do I leave this place..?"
"That is what you must decide for yourself.." a whispering voice glided to him on the wind.
"Run..?" he asked
The wind was silent...
"No,... there's no where to run to is there? He muttered "Then...how..?"
The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step.... in the right direction.. If your up to the challenge. The raven's voice rang in his mind
" What challenge..?"
Face them..
"face who..?"
Face your fears, the inner fears that hinder the hearts of all. Face them, fight them, vanquish them, and you shall live once more..
"And if I fail..?"
The voice sounded amused, as it whispered to him.
There is no fail.... there is no win...there is only existence, existence here or in another form. Life or death are intertwined completely..they attract each other, all that is left is for you to choose....choose while you still can.
Leo felt a twinge of fear,
I'm running out of time..
He turned looking at the small ball of light, shimmering far off in the distance. Death is waiting to claim me... But he'll not have me...not yet. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Well lets begin then..
Leo turned his back on the glow, plunging into the cold darkness, daring it, shoving through it's oppressive weight. After what could have been days, hours or minutes he stumbled, falling to his knees gasping. The air had seemed to turn to ice, there was frost in his breath. A dreadful weariness in his body, pulling him down.
I can't make it....not alone....
"You will find the answer in your strength..for you are not alone.." Splinters warm voice called to him.
Master.... Leo reached out a trembling hand "Help...help.." He gasped, " I'm alone... I can't make it so tired...so.."
"LEO.." a voice called through the dark, "Leo where are you...?"
"Leo, lifted his head turning frozen half closed lids to the sound of the voice. It was like music to his ears.
"Raphael?..." he cried, "Raph, I'm here help me please...." He struggled once more to his numb feet, and pushed himself forward.
"Leo.." the voice called
"Raph...over here.. Where are you..?" He looked frantically, across the plains .
"What in the world...?" He gaped as an intensely bright glow came towards him.
Grabbing his sword he growled, getting ready to fight if need be.
"Leo..?"
Leo lowered his sword. "Raphael...is that you..?"
"Yes ...Leo...are you ok....?"
"I think so...how...did you get here...?"
"I'll explain later, how do we get you out of here..?" Raph asked. Looking uneasily at his brother.
I don't know..Raph, but I gotta feeling I don't have much time left.
"No you don't .." Raph gulped. Eyeing him still.
Leo glance around himself. "What..? Why are you staring at me like that..? You look like you've seen a ghost..?"
"I'm not so sure I haven't.."
"What..?" Leo looked at himself, he saw nothing out of line , besides being a little dusty.
"What do you see that's so appalling Raph...?"
"You!" He gasped.
"What..?" Leo crossed his arms..
"Leo, I can hardly see you at all.... and... it's not you... ..not a living you anyway.....your not all there...." Raph answered, edging back from him slightly
"What..?"
" It's like you've corroded away..like your living......but dead at the same time."
Leo's eyes went wide with sudden understanding
NO !! ....that's what he meant.. he could hear the raven's wicked laugh is his heart.
"Choose now before the choice is made for you." Death was closing in on him..
He had to figure out how to get out of this place before his fate was sealed for him and death came to claim him.
"Raph, we have to get out of here and fast, do you have any clues to which way we should head...?"
The other turtle glanced about him at the barren range. " I don't see anything.."
Leo sighed... now what. He was hoping an idea would come to him when he heard a dull thunderous rumbling coming from afar.
"Leo look" Raph growled, pointing out over the plains to the far glowing distance.
Leo squinted his eyes, he could make out the shapes of four figures coming towards them...four figures on horses.
Those must be the riders.... Leo thought. He was a bit puzzled, until this moment they hadn't been able to find him. Now they raced towards the two turtles as though they were being led by some force.
It's like their being guided ......guided by a beacon ...... a beacon of light !! Leo gasped turning to look at Raphael.
"It's you...!!" he cried
"Me..?" Raph asked.
"They can see you !"
"How it's pitch dark out here..." Raph said.
"Raph, I get it now, I look dead to you...because my life is almost gone..I am dead, amongst a land of dead things. But you are living...Raph you're glowing with life"
There was a distant screech, and a pair or black wings took to the sky.
Leo grabbed Raph by the wrist, "Hurry Raph, their after us we got to get away from here fast." he cried running from the light as fast as they could.
The raven's words echoed in his mind. "Life and death are intertwined completely, they attract each other..all that is left is for you to choose."
He looked over at the face of his brother shining with life...
Yes...Death is in love with us....but there is still choice....and he will not have my brother...not today.. Not while I'm still here.
To be continued.
PS : I'm sooo sorry it took so long to update, hopefully the next piece will be up by mid Feb or sooner. I'm sure my dear computer isn't gonna keel over agin any time soon.