Chapter 12

Avery, Casey, Raph, Leo and Mikey all sat around their table. They had just finished eating a hearty stew that Avery made. It was just the right thing they needed after the busy day they'd had. Saving a couple of villagers from the poisoned lakras, stopping any tozomid clans from wandering too close to the village and taking people. It was very eventful and it kept the hyperactive Casey busy for a while. "I gotta say fellas, you guys really know how to show a guy a good time."

"Glad to be of service, Case." Raph said with a chuckle.

"At least you seem to be enjoying your visit. We were worried that you guys weren't very happy." Mikey added.

"When you say that, are you mostly talking about April?" Casey said knowingly. He sighed when no one answered. "Don't mind her, she's just... going through some things."

"Some things... like what?" Avery asked.

"...Like... being hurt... by you guys." he stated hesitantly, trying not to sound too accusatory.

"Wait what?" Leo asked.

"I mean, you guys just disappeared. We thought something happened to you. We didn't want to believe you guys were dead, but we were close to believing it. When we saw Donnie leaving through that portal, we knew that at least one of you was okay, but you could've been held hostage or something. The first thing on our mind was to bring you guys home." Casey scratched the back of his head. "When we got here and realized that you weren't being held hostage and you weren't in any danger, that's when she got upset. Because that means that you guys had a way to get home for the past two years and you didn't tell us anything."

The guys looked ashamed. How could they not think to tell their two best friends that they found a new home? Why didn't they think to tell them? They had every right to be upset.

"Jeez, sorry Case. I don't know what we were thinking." Raph said.

"Well, you don't have to apologize. You were thinking about your happiness. Which was understandable. You get to walk out during the day, which is something that I know you guys have always wanted to do, the people here love you. And Mikey is married. I'm still not over that, by the way." Mikey responded to that with a chuckle. "You forgot about everything else because you found a place where you belong. I can't fault you for that. What kind of friend would I be if I did? I think April will realize it soon too, it just might take her more time because of how hurt she is."

"So, you're not mad?" Mikey asked.

Casey sighed. "I admit, I was, at first. But when I saw you guys here and saw how happy you were I knew that you guys weren't coming back, as much as it sucked to admit. And I knew getting mad wasn't going to do anything, but put a strain on our friendship. I didn't want that, and as your friend, your happiness is more important to me than my own selfish wants. And hey, if you love something, you gotta let it go, right." he stated and shrugged. "So, I'm letting go. For your sake and your happiness."

"Wow, thanks Case. That's really mature of you." Leo said.

"I have my moments."

"And we are really s-" Leo started only to be cut off.

"Blah, blah, you're sorry blah. Moving on." he stood up. "Thanks for dinner Avery. Let's go do stuff guys." he headed for the door before anyone could say anything else.

"Well, this makes your friend's attitude toward me and Nati a bit more understandable." Avery said.

"Yeah, sorry about that." Mikey said.

"It is alright. Now go on, have fun. I will clean up." she said to them. Leo and Raph headed out the door. Mikey stood up to follow them. "And you, be careful, you are still healing."

Mikey smirked. "I will." he leaned down to give her a quick peck on the lips. "Love you." he said as he ran out the door

"I love you." she called back.


In order to make up for lost time, Don, April and Luna continued their hike even after the sun had completely set. Don knew that all he had to do was make it at least a quarter of the way through Lullin territory and then they could rest again. "How are you holding up, Luna? Can you keep going?" Luna responded with a chuff. "Okay, if you need to stop, then stop."

"I'm okay too." April added.

"You don't have a giant turtle sitting on your back, but since you need me to check on you, how are holding up, April?" he asked sarcastically.

"Just great."

"Good. If you need to stop, then tell me." They stayed silent for a little while longer. April sighed heavily as she followed them. "What is it now?" he asked with a sigh of his own.

"I just don't know how you can continue going wherever it is you're going after what just happened. You could've died."

Don really didn't want to respond to what she said. He gave an annoyed groan. "Need I remind you that when I got poisoned it's only because you wandered into their territory. That was their hunting grounds. Once you step foot in there, you become prey. Everyone knows this."

"Well, I didn't."

"Which is why I told you not to wander off by yourself, but you went and did it anyway. Need I also remind you that, if you weren't here then I never would have ended up in that situation in the first place." Don said. "So can you please stop putting blame on everyone and everything else when my real problem is you!" he snapped.

April felt a pang of guilt. She couldn't deny that, this was her fault. She did wander and Don was really trying to protect her and get her out of what he knew to be a dangerous situation, but she insisted on talking right then and there. There was nothing she could do or say. She just had to let this one go.

After a while Luna stopped. She was starting to get tired. "You're done for the night?" she huffed in response. "Alright, we'll make camp there." he pointed off in the direction of some trees that were pretty close together. The leaves over them would at least give some shade from the sun in the morning.

He carefully climbed off of Luna's back when they made it under the canopy. Still a bit wobbly on his feet, he supported himself against the lakra's body. Carefully sitting down against Luna, he held his leg with a pained groan. "Sorry, we're going to have to go to sleep a bit hungry tonight. In the morning, I should be feeling better. I'll get us something then."

April unrolled her mat and laid down on it. Even though she took a nap earlier that day, she was still feeling the effects of the "exciting" day they had. She fell asleep almost instantly.


Beloose stood out on his balcony looking out over the land, the sun had almost set completely here and the light of Tandaya could be seen spreading out as far as he could see, making the foliage glow with a familiar light. He sighed dejectedly and rested his head on his arms. "You know you should not be out here by yourself, right?"

Dax's sudden voice startled his childhood friend out of his thoughts as he suddenly turned to him. "Oh, it is just you." he breathed a sigh of relief.

"What are you thinking about?" Dax asked.

"It is nothing."

"Oh, come now, I know you better than anyone. You cannot lie to me."

Beloose sighed again, but still smiled. "I know."

"You are still worried about what your brother has planned." Dax said.

"Actually no, I have recently found out that Kai has nothing to do with this."

"And how did you find this out?" Dax asked.

"I...went down there to see him."

"You did what!" Dax exclaimed. "You went down there alone?"

"No, of course not." he shook his head. "Leonardo and Anila were with me. Do not be angry. I just had to know if this was his plot and if it was, then I needed to know when he was planning to implement this plan."

Dax crossed his arms. "And you found out that he has nothing to do with this? How do you know?"

"I saw it in my brother's eyes. He truly showed no knowledge of what was happening."

It was Dax's turn to sigh. "I do not want you to worry about such things."

"You do not want me to worry? I have no choice but to worry." he turned to look out at the at the land in front of him. "How can I not? The lives of all these people are in my hands. I have to protect them. I have to keep fighting."

The stress of being a king was starting to weigh heavy on his mind. Dax hated to see him struggle more than anything. To stop his friend from freaking out, Dax placed both hands on Beloose's shoulders. "Remember what my father used to say to you when you were first announced as the katu. It is not your duty to fight. Your duty is to lead."

"Yes, I must lead them to safety during a time of crisis. That is how I protect them."

"Fighting and protecting is what we are here for. You are not doing this alone. You have your vao. You can use us."

"But who will protect you?"

"That is not something you need to worry about. It is our job to protect you and the villagers. Even at the cost of our own lives."

Beloose shrugged the hands off his shoulders. "That is just it. I do not want to lose anybody else. Especially not my vao. You are my family. You are not just some expendable guards to throw away."

"We all know that you will not treat us as expendable beings which makes us want to protect you even more." he pulled his trembling friend into a hug. Hesitantly, Beloose hugged him back.

The call of Beloose's monapi was the only thing that caused them to separate. Rekai perched himself on the balcony rails. Beloose untied the note and quickly read it. "What does it say?" Dax asked.

"My guess was correct. The Azbani Territory is currently dealing with the same problem. They have managed to find the group responsible for making the poison so potent, but they haven't been able to capture them yet."

"Perhaps you should let Donatello know about this."

Beloose nodded. "Aye, I just wish I knew how far away he was." as if on cue Fuina landed on the balcony rails next to Rekai. Dax retrieved that note and read it. "It seems that they have fallen behind schedule. They will be in Azbani within the next few days if all goes well."

"Very well." Beloose got another note ready for each of his monapi. "I will tell them to meet." he wrote out his new notes, tied them up to the birds' legs and they flew off again to their destinations.


We finally know why April was acting the way she was.

Again, I hope I didn't make you hate her too much. That really wasn't my intention lol.