Flights Of Fancy
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Three: Birds and Cat.
Mike was stunned, this had to be one of the nicest places he had ever seen, granted he had never been able to go very far living his life under the sewers of New York but he was willing to include places he had even seen on television and that brought things up quite a bit from that point.
Long green grasses waved ever so slightly in a light cool breeze, wild meadow flowers added a hint of colour to the varied shades of green in the grass. Small bushes and shrubs some bright with their own flowers also dotted the landscape. Small birds darted in and out through the grass and the bush calling and singing to one another their voices mixing, with the low humming buzz of small insects.
Mike could not detect anything that was dangerous or threatening in any way in fact most of the animals he did spot were smaller harmless looking creatures that disappeared quickly when they saw him. He was pretty sure he had seen some deer and a few rabbits, though the creatures Mike had seen were not quite that ordinary his mind had only accepted the Ramda as deer and the puffarins as rabbits because of the similarities in size and for the most parts looks.
He had searched around for his brothers on first waking up in the meadow but hadn't found them and seeing only grass as far as he could see headed out in a direction in search of them leaving a very obvious trail through the meadow grasses insuring they bent and flattened down as he passed.
Mike wasn't too worried about his brothers just yet after all there didn't seem a great deal here that could harm a ninja turtle.
" I am just so Zen right now, the only thing that could make this better is a pizza, no wait two pizzas." Mike said, he paused for a moment " Man I'm starved I got to get me some grub!"
He found a berry bush and tentatively sampled a few small berries and waited for any adverse effects to show themselves, other then being very sweet and juicy they had no other bad effects like a tingling in the mouth or stomach twisting outcome. So Mike after some waiting ate a bit more before continuing his search.
He came across a boggy marsh area in one lower area of the meadow and climbed up the grassy fields that lead away from it to find a stream, he kneeled taking a long drink the water was cold and was so fresh and pure tasting that Mike felt he could very well live on this stuff alone. He had always felt that water was plain and boring but this was anything but. Mike decided to follow the stream for a bit to see where it would take him.
Far off in the distance he thought he heard a raucous calling of a large flock of crows, Don once told him a large group of crows was called a murder, though Mike had failed to see the connection. He ignored the sounds and continued on noting how the sounds seemed to be drawing closer rather quickly not only that but the meadow creatures who had been calling and showing themselves were now strangely silent and still as if the occupants of the meadow sensed danger.
Mike glanced up and shaded his eyes from the late afternoon sun all he could see was a massive black cloud that moved swiftly undulating as if of it's own accord. The noise coming from the mass assured Mike that this was the murder of crows. He wanted to shrug it off and ignore the birds but his ninja instincts prickled at him and he found his hands edging close to his belt and his trusty nunchuks. Even from a distance the birds must have spotted him for suddenly they were heading unerringly in his direction. Coming as fast as they could flap their wings.
Mike drew both chucks and had them swinging even before he got a look at the closing in birds. When he saw the first bird he was so startled by its looks that he stopped swinging his chucks " You're the ugliest, dirtiest looking bird I ever saw."
As if to verify the opinion the bird opened it's mouth and let off a stream of obscenities that could put Raph to shame.
The birds were really not much larger then a small hawk, boasting human heads with scraggly hair and beaks instead of noses or mouth, all of them seemed to have small breast hidden under dirty oily looking brown feathers, the noises that erupted from their foul beaks seemed part human screech, and part crow call mixed here and there with obscenities. Yellow bird feet were extended showing their filthy talons on each toe, as they swooped in close for the attack.
Mike barely warded off the first wave of the odd birds with a swing from both chucks he forced some of the birds back, managed to actually kill two of the beast with the blow but the other birds pressed in on him realizing the battle was on.
" What I wouldn't give to have my brothers here right now, hell I'd settle for just Raph" Mike said as he smacked at a couple more birds the blows striking the creatures to the ground, where they tried to scratch and peck at his feet.
Mike swung his left chuck down to dispatch the birds at his feet not wanting to get marked by these filthy disgusting looking creatures, while the right hand chuck warded off the incoming predators.
He saw sharp brown cunning small eyes in the next bird he sent spinning off with his chuck and then one bird managed to slip past his defenses scratching a long and deep furrow in his upper arm and right shoulder.
Mike felt an instant burning pain and winced from the strike as if it had been acid, as he flung one end of his chuck over his shoulder smashing the bird to the ground with the strike.
The more he dispatched the more seemed to take the fallen birds place as if now the birds had found prey they wouldn't quit until they had vanquished it.
The noise was starting to grate on Mike's ears as if they wanted to deafen him with their squawking. He was also starting to feel decidedly ill and his right arm wasn't moving as well as it had even moments before.
He turned to look at the wound and saw the red around the wound on his arm, it already looked swollen and instead of blood coming from the wound it was a thick yellowish pus. Mike knew that the wound was infected but he was shocked that it had gotten to be that way so quickly, and the extent of it was also rather a surprise. Still in spite of feeling weak he continued to stand his ground. One against an army, his chucks moving as fast as he could striking more and more to the ground around him but in his current state the birds too were able to get past his guard more and cause more wounds on his arms and legs.
Mike was starting to feel decidedly faint when he thought he saw a white shining blur come from nowhere striking down many of the birds at once.
' Harpies go you have no business this close to our territory. I won't allow you to harm innocents who travel through our meadow!'
Mike turned and staggered the poison in the wounds was finally taking over and he moved drunkenly his eyes only semi focused on the white creature that moved with speed striking at the birds.
Mike finally fell to the ground unable to keep his feet under him a moment longer. It was all right though for even in his disconnected state he realized the birds were with drawing and through half opened eyes he saw a white horse with a long spiral horn on it's forehead.
" A unicorn" he murmured before darkness enveloped him.
XXX
Leo had found himself on a very small sandy island that bore only a few tropical looking trees, it hadn't taken Leo very long at all to realize that none of his brothers were with him on this island.
Leo didn't even know if any of his brothers were on the same world as he was.
" Perhaps," he reflected, " we should have left Renet's cube alone." Brilliant understatement that it was Leo knew it was a little late.
His problem was he had no idea where the mainland was, that is if there even was one around here and while he could swim he knew that not knowing, which direction to swim to could be hazardous in its own way. All he could see for land was the tiny spit of an island he was on at the moment, while beyond it was only water.
" Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink" he quoted the line from the ancient mariner.
He felt an odd feeling and peered up into one of the trees high up in a branch was a creature staring down at him. It looked like a green and white kitten with large yellow eyes and gossamer butterfly like wings on it's back, it was staring down at Leo with curiosity.
" I've never heard of a flying cat before" Leo whispered to himself.
The cat must have had excellent hearing for it remarked " And I've never heard of talking turtles" then with deliberation the cat turned around so its back was facing Leo and began to concentrate on washing its face as if this was the most important thing at the present time, and deserved nothing but the utmost concentration.
Leo realized that he must have insulted the creature " I'm sorry" he apologized contritely.
The cat ignored him not even flicking an ear or twitching a tail to show it had heard him.
Leo scowled he realized that this cat if it could talk and could fly, might be able to at least tell him where land was and that since it was the only living thing he had spotted on the island he might do better to act friendly and gain some useful information if he could.
" Forgive me, I didn't mean to cause you any offense it is just that I am a stranger here and unused to your people or ways" Leo explained as he gave a low bow.
The cat felt mollified after being treated so respectfully, for it was the only way to make an impression on any cat alive was to treat it like it was better then you, and to a cat that was exactly how things were. So an ear moved slightly and she turned her head to look over her shoulder at him.
" My name is Leonardo."
The cat flapped her wings a few times before lifting off the branch and flying down to the ground close to rest a few feet away from Leo on the sand.
" I'm Marina I am a catafly."
" I'm afraid I have never heard of cataflys before" Leo replied politely.
" Well you have heard of fuzzy catapillers haven't you?"
" Yes" Leo permitted, " though where I am from caterpillars don't look like cats."
" Then they can't be catapillers now can they?" Marina admonished " All cataflys start life as catapillers and then they enter a catcoon when they emerge they are truly beautiful and stunning creatures." She explained speaking as if she was only telling the truth and not being horrendously vain, she began to strut along the beach her tail in the air, her head up acting proud as could be. She sat down slowly and carefully her long tail curled about her haunches and feet.
" Where am I?" Leo wondered.
Marina squeezed her eyes shut and a smug smile crossed her face as she lifted one paw to lick it clean with deliberate strokes of a tiny pink tongue.
" You really do need help don't you?"
" Yes, I do and if you could help me I'd greatly appreciate it" Leo replied.
" Such a pity, that you have mistaken me for something other then a catafly" she retorted as she sprang from the ground shooting up and back for the trees spraying Leo with grains of sand as she did so " cataflys help themselves you know."
" That is rather one sided don't you think, what if you were to get in trouble who would help you?" Leo wondered.
Marina stuck her nose into the air and flicked her tail " Luckily that is only your opinion and it only shows your ignorance. Cataflys might cause trouble but they don't get into it." She began to purr as she sprawled on the branch " besides our opinion is the only one that matters."
" Can't you at least tell me where I am?" Leo inquired.
" On Necron" Marina replied sensing it wasn't that important to Leo but refusing to give him too much information. Cataflys were supposed to be beautiful and mysterious after all. It was part of their nature just as hunting or playing at hunting was, and at the moment she was enjoying the game she had going with this turtle.
Though it was also true that Cataflys were curious creatures by nature and they couldn't help NOT knowing about something, so cataflys spent a great deal of time learning a great deal if only to satisfy their hunger for knowledge. Once they had satisfied their curiosity they had a wealth of information that could be useful to anyone but getting them to divulge this information was something else again.
" Marina could you tell me how to get to land from here?"
" I can if I wanted to but whether I want to or not is the question." She answered; she flicked her tail a bit " I really don't think that I want to."
Leo sighed trying not to let his irritation show this thing could be more frustrating then Mike when he got in the ' I've got a secret I won't tell' moods where he would drop hints and pester like crazy but never give up the secret he was taunting you with.
Marina smiled and fluttered her wings " Nice talking to you but I must go and find other interesting things."
She took a leap and flew off towards the water, Leo watched her figuring the cat might actually head towards land obviously she would have to land somewhere and the water might not be her domain.
However all he saw was Marina playing at chasing the waves the water formed she stayed out of reach of the water perhaps only getting the bottom of her feet wet if that.
Leo sighed wearily obviously Marina wasn't going be much help so he might as well consider the other options available to him for he desperately wanted to go find his brothers.
Then some large creature shot out of the water, its body was long and thick looking like a snake only with fins on its back and sides and there was a large black head. The thing broke the surface propelling itself into the air.
Marina whipped about yowling " Kraken!"
The mouth opened and grabbed one hind foot as the beast plunged back towards the water Marina yowled in fear.
" Merouch!"
Leo didn't pause to consider the danger, he only acted as he had been trained to do. He hit the water and swam hard and fast out towards the creature, that was snapping its head about trying to get the struggling Marina under control.
Leo neared the serpentine body and treaded water drawing out one of his katana and giving it a hard swing at the body, the sword bit in deep and black blood flowed from the wound.
The Kraken roared in pain releasing Marina and with incredible speed dove straight towards Leo. Leo barely managed to swim to one side to avoid the head long plunge and he dived under water hoping to lose the creature somewhere below the surface. The kraken moved with great speed and agility it followed Leo as he lead the beast on evasive tactics through the water's murky depths with the beast always staying just seconds behind him.
Leo realized that it wasn't working at this rate he would run out of air soon and have to head to the surface. He knew he could hold his breath for a long time, even longer when in a restful state but still the Kraken had noticeable gills, which meant it would easily outlast him.
Leo knew that he had to face the kraken head on and with that knowledge he turned to face the brute his katana still at hand.
The Kraken opened its mouth to inhale Leo and water on the spot only as the Kraken drew near Leo thrust his sword in and upward in the creature's mouth. The water slowing down some of the sword's momentum but still Leo had the strength to do a good bit of damage. Instantly the kraken began to thrash trying to dislodge the sword from its mouth and Leo not wanting to let go was taken for quite a ride as the beast churned the water, and wrapped its tail around Leo's body. Leo felt the squeeze from the Kraken's lower body around his as he finally managed to pull his katana loose and used it to cut at the kraken again.
The kraken at this point had decided it had enough and released Leo diving for the depths of the ocean. Leo meanwhile longing for air headed the opposite direction and breaking the surface gasping for fresh air, filling his lungs with the wonderful stuff.
He noted Marina sodden, and miserable looking struggle to paddle for shore and then start to sink he quickly reached her and grabbed her before she had sunk too far, he scooped her upside down letting water come from out of her mouth then put her on his shoulders across the back of his neck so his hands were free to swim. Once back on the island Marina moved wearily onto the sandy beach and rolled in the gritty sand while Leo lay plastron down to rest for a moment.
The catafly gave a scowling look at her sodden wings before turning to Leo pressing her tiny pink nose up to his face her curiosity running on high.
" Why did you help me?" She demanded.
" I was taught to help those who need it" Leo explained, " Why didn't you fly off once the Kraken released you?"
" I got wet. Water tends to weigh cataflys down so it is harder to fly and when our wings get soaked they become weak. I'll be all right once I dry off though." She answered.
Marina sat down in the sand too tired to even wash herself after the harrowing experience of almost becoming Kraken lunch.
She realized she had never met any thing quite like Leo before and his helping her had caused her to become extremely curious about him.
While cataflys normally didn't help others, they would offer their help to satisfy their curiosity about something and they were always willing to give it when you didn't want it at all.
So Marina then and there informed Leo " I want to help you Leonardo."
Leo smiled, he might not have the best guide with Marina, but even he had to admit that any help was better than no help and he did need help if he was going to find his brothers.
TBC