CHAPTER 2
Donnie strode over to the bed and waited to be noticed, it happened far sooner then he thought it would, the turtle looked up at him with the brightest blue eyes he had ever seen.
Donnie raised his hand in a wave, hoping to make it seem he was nonthreatening. The animals all stared at him, waiting for something.
The turtle seemed to speak softly to the animals who turned to him, blink then seem to pile on the opposite side of the turtle all laying close to each other the snake coiled around the fox's neck, all their eyes trained on the purple banded turtle.
"Hi, where am I?" The turtle asked looking at Donnie with big, blue, eyes, shining with curiosity, innocence.
"You are in my lab, in mine and my family's home, you're safe here if that's your next question," Donnie said walking closer, "I'm Donatello, what's your name?" Donnie asked stopping at the edge of the bed.
"Oh, I'm Michelangelo, how did I get here, what happened?" Michelangelo asked trying to sit up.
"Wait don't sit up you're hurt," Donnie said rushing the few inches between him and the other turtle, hoping to stop him from hurting himself even more. The snake reared back hissing, glaring at him, mouth open fangs on display. That's when Donnie saw it the black mouth, the snake was a black mamba, a very deadly snake. How did this turtle gain one?
"Calm Ebony, he was just trying to help me that's all," he whispered to the snake rubbing a finger into the snakes head scales, making her relax and settle back against the fox's neck, watching the purple banded turtle with sharp golden eyes.
"Can you help me sit up I don't find it comfortable laying on my shell?" the turtle asked hope seeping into his eyes.
"Of course I can," Donnie said reaching forward and putting his hands under Michelangelo's shell, lifting him enough to pile the pillows up for the younger turtle to lay against more so he was sitting now instead of laying down.
"Thanks, what happened how did I get here?" The turtle asked head tilted to the side.
"I was going to ask you the same thing, how 'bout you tell me your side and I'll see if I can fill you in on what happened, okay?" Donnie asked pulling a chair closer so he could sit down, the other turtle nodded.
"I had just sent Tobias, this guy here," here he rubbed the feathers of the hawk, who leaned into the finger cooing, "to check for an easy way into the city-"
"Hold on why do you want to come here?" Donnie asked looking shocked that someone would willingly come into the city.
The turtle looked a little ashamed at the question, he looked down at his hands that were tangled in the dog's fur when the dog had climbed into his lap was a mystery. "I was having nightmares of the creature's that had made me, I wanted to fight my fear and get over it, so I wouldn't be haunted by the horrible memories," Michelangelo said not looking up.
"Alright you can continue if you want," the purple banded turtle said hoping to get him to be more comfortable, not liking it when he stopped looking at him, it seemed he lost a bit of the small amount of trust he had gained.
So the turtle continued saying how he had been attacked by, what Donnie realized were the foot clan, and how the animals had taken care of them, killing them. The turtle then explained that he had gotten hurt from a sword, Tobias killing the human and they went underground. "The last bit is a little hazy, I can't really remember what happened,"
The dog started to bark softly mixing in chuffs and whimpers, the turtle looked down at him listening like he could understand what the dog was saying.
Michelangelo's POV
You had fallen over and fell unconscious so I went ahead to look for a place to take you to rest in, when I found the turtles, they helped you after, I'll let him explain his part.
Thank you Scout. I said rubbing Scout's head chuckling when he immediately nuzzled into my hand.
I looked back to Donatello, who looked a little worried for me, I smiled knowing what was going through his head, not everybody could understand animal's I was one of the very lucky few that could.
"C-can you understand animals?" Donatello asked blinking rapidly.
"Yes I can, now from what Scout said I had fallen unconscious and he found you and some other turtle's to help me, thanks," I said feeling Fae climb in next to Scout, Alexander scrambling up to my shoulder, Ebony slithering up my chest to curl around my neck once more, Tobias fluttering to my shell his usual place when we are together.
"Your welcome we don't mind helping, by the way the "other turtle's" are my brothers," here the turtle chuckled his gap showing through for a moment, I laughed as well. "We brought you home to help you, you're welcome to stay as long as you want."
"What no I can't do that to you, once I'm able to walk I'll be on my way, thank you, but I just can't impose on you," I said snapping my head looking into the turtle's red-brown eyes.
"On the contrary young one, you will be staying, at least until you have healed," a voice said I turned to see a large rat in a maroon robe and green walking stick, his long tail held high in the air.
I blinked, looking into the similar red-brown eyes as Donatello's, I shrunk into the coils of Ebony's body my head sinking into my shell. Ebony raised her head from my descending neck mouth open ready to strike, Tobias spread his wings, screeching, Alexander stood on his toes back arched tail swishing back and forth. Scout and Fae stood in front of me standing opposite each other both crouched ready to pounce on the rat, growls slipping free of their throats.
"Master Splinter please stand back he's quiet nervous about new people," the turtle said walking up to the rat.
"And why can't I leave, I understand right now that I'm injured, but I want to leave I need to do what I came here to do, and nothing will stop me!" I yelled out my head snapping out of my shell, anger fueling me to be bold even for just a minute. I glared at the rat who's eyes hadn't left me.
"What did you come here to do, young one?" The rat asked.
"I came here to get revenge on the one's that had made me, they hurt me, they give me nightmares anytime that I close my eyes!" I yelled tears gathering in my eyes, I noticed two other turtles run in looking ready for a fight.
"What's going on, whoa he's awake," the dark green turtle said putting his sword back into a sheath on his shell.
The emerald green turtle looked between the rat and me, his toxic green eyes flitting quickly, until he stopped, staring at me.
I glared at the family, or that's what I think they are, waiting for anything to happen. I was expecting to have them tell me to leave not what they do say.
"Who are the "they" that you are talking about?" Donatello asked.
"They call themselves the Kraang, they made me, and experimented on me, I just want to get over the fear they instilled in me," I said looking down at my lap.
"Well we are also fighting to keep them from taking over the city, we can help you," Donatello said, stepping closer, my friends let him knowing he was safe.
I looked up at the purple banded turtle, seeing truth in his red-brown eyes, I looked at my friends seeing them looking back at me.
What should I do guys? I asked they looked over to the family.
They seem trustworthy. Tobias said tapping his beak on my shell.
Okay, I'll trust them a little bit. I said petting Scout behind his ears. I looked up to the family, a little scared of them, I'm not good with what is considered human, I have a few friends out there that are like me. They are like me, able to speak to animals, they are also more comfortable around animals, not people.
"Thank you, I'll stay at least long enough to defeat the Kraang and then I'm leaving once more," I said giving a half smile.
"We can't convince you to stay?" Donatello asked head tilted, I shook my head.
"Sorry I prefer to travel, not stay in one place for to long," I said looking off to the side of the group, remembering the wide open fields, and the bright blue sky leading me on my next adventure.
"Alright he needs to get more sleep, leave him alone," Donatello said coming to be on my side helping me lay down once more on my shell, before I could complain I was asleep feeling my friends gather around me, keeping me warm.
3RD PERSON POV
Donatello moved away from the injured turtle, smiling when seeing the animals converge on him finding their places once more. The purple banded turtle moved to leave with his family, leaving the turtle alone to sleep.
"So Don, what's going on, I'm very confused here?" Leo asked turning to look at his brainy brother.
"Well from what I have learned is that Michelangelo, the turtle, was injured because he was attacked by the foot clan, he described them with black clothing, and a foot on their heads," Donnie said stopping when he saw the glares in his brother's eyes.
"Why those vile humans," Raph said balling his fist in his lap, "Attacking a turtle like that, what did they think he was associated with us?"
"I think that's exactly what it was, they thought he was apart of us, and were going to use him as bait," Leo said a grim look on his face.
"His animals saved him, killing all of the foot ninja, and taking him down into the sewers, finding us, and letting us help him, the yelling from before was him yelling at us for suggesting he stay with us until he has fully healed," Donnie finished his small explanation of their new resident.
"Wait wait wait, let me get this straight, the foot was defeated by animals that can't even reach our knees?" Raph asked looking confused and amused about this.
"Yep, his "friends" as he calls them killed all the foot that had attacked him," Donnie said grinning, imagining the fight between a bunch of foot and five animals.
"Wow so how is he though anything else wrong with him other then the wound on his side?" Leo asked ever the mother hen.
"Other then the wound, no it doesn't seem like anything is wrong, I won't be able to know until I get to ask him about it when he wakes," Donnie said looking down at his hands, that were twisting and turning in his lap.
"That's fine Donnie let us know when he does so we can all talk to him, in a more civil manner," Leo said putting a hand on the younger turtle's shell.
"Right I will, it's getting late we should get some sleep, until we figure out where he sleeps, I'm not going to be in my lab," Donnie said grinning wanly at his brothers before walking into his room. Leo shook his head and watched as his middle brother did the same and went to bed as well.
DONNIE'S POV
The next morning, I woke and went to check on my patient, it was early morning and I wasn't expecting my patient to be awake yet. I walked in yawning looking over to the bed that contained five animals and a mutant turtle, I blinked rapidly. The turtle was awake softly talking to his friends, I still don't have the names for all the animals that seemed to stick to the turtle.
The blue eyes looked up after a soft hiss from the snake, who had seen me come in the moment I had stepped into the room. I waved at him smiling hoping to keep the trust I had gained.
The young turtle waved back and smiled the dog wiggled, his tail wagging, tongue hanging out of his mouth. I walked closer and sat in the chair that hadn't moved from yesterday when I was talking to Michelangelo.
"So my father interrupted our conversation yesterday, you were explaining about why were here in the city," I said the cat settled on the edge of the bed facing me, eyes closed purring slightly. I started to reach over to pet his ears, but stopped before touching the soft looking fur, and rested my hand back on my lap.
"You can pet him if you want that's why he laid there, he wanted you to pet him," Michelangelo said gesturing to the cat.
"Thanks," I said and reached over to pet the very soft fur, I smiled and looked back to the younger turtle, he smiled back.
"And yes your correct he did interrupt us, I came here to fight not only the Kraang, but the fear that they had instilled in me. A friend of mine suggested that I do this," the light green turtle said twisting his thumbs around each other.
"Your friend?" I asked scratching under the cat's chin.
"Yeah, Carlos he said that I should face my fear instead of hiding from it and staying away from this side of the continent," the turtle said rubbing the scales of the snake, she leaned her head into the fingers.
"Well he was correct, that could help, and like we said yesterday we are willing to help, seeing as we are fighting them as well," I said letting the cat crawl into my lap, purring when I continued petting him.
"Thank you that means a lot to me, but could you answer a question for me?" He asked looking at me with big, bright, blue eyes.
"Of course if you answer one for me," I said wanting to hang on to that, equal exchange of information. He nodded looking at his hands probably thinking on how to ask his question.
"Why are you and your brothers fighting the Kraang?"
That caught me off guard, but not wanting to lose this fragile trust I seem to have with him I answered honestly: "We were helping a friend of ours, her father was kidnapped by them and we have got him him back, but they are still trying to take over the city and we need to stop them."
"Oh thanks, what's your question?" He asked trying to shift a bit wincing from the stretch of his side.
"What are their names?" He looked up shocked, then smiled, then laughed.
"I wasn't expecting that, well the cat there is Alexander, the dog is Scout, the fox is Fae, the snake is Ebony, and the hawk is Tobias," he said pointing to each animal in turn. I thought they fit each animal nicely, I smiled and nodded my head in thanks. I picked up Alexander and set him on the bed and stood. He looked confused.
"I heard my brothers going to the kitchen, I told Leo that I would tell him when you woke up so he could talk to you more civilly then yesterday," I said waving my hand at him, he nodded and pulled Alexander to his chest who started to purr at him.
I walked out to the large room that became our living room, and stopped Leo before he made it to the kitchen.
"He's awake Leo and calm at the moment if you want to talk to him I can make you both some breakfast while you talk," I said gesturing to the lab.
"Awesome I'll go talk to him then thanks Donnie," the blue banded turtle said smiling and walking over to the lab, I continued to the kitchen and started to make a bowl of Leo's favorite cereal and a grilled cheese for Michelangelo. I was just setting the food on the plate when I heard the loud barking from Scout, something must be wrong.
A FEW MINUTES AGO LEO AND MIKEY
LEO'S POV
I had just stepped into the lab seeing the younger turtle laying in the bed several animals surrounding him. They all looked up when he stepped closer the eyes piercing even the ones so much like my brother's and I, they stilled seemed animal like. I smiled and waved happy to see him awake now maybe I could get him to stay, he needed a place to stay not travel like he's been doing. I didn't like the fact that he seemed to not have a home. So I figured he would want to stay here with us, people like him, people that he didn't need to hide from.
I smiled and waved at the younger turtle, who hugged the cat to his chest, who's gold eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, glaring at me. My smile faltered at all the glares coming from all the animals their glowing eyes boring into me.
MICHELANGELO'S POV
I hugged Alexander closer feeling the others surround me Tobias sitting on my shell, his head bent down to my head's level his head feathers shifting on my scales. I waved slightly and watched him sit in the chair that Donatello had been sitting in a moment before, I miss him, he was nice and understood when I became uncomfortable with something.
"Hi I'm Leo and your Michelangelo right?" He asked tilting his head to the side like a dog's, I giggled hiding in the coils of Ebony who was wrapped around my neck. She nuzzled my head he tongue flicking out. I nodded and looked up at him.
"I was wanting to ask you why won't you stay here you won't have to hide from us, you could have a warm home, a place to sleep, food?" He asked waving his arms around with each suggestion.
I narrowed my eyes, anger coursing through me. Why is it that they are like this I did not need a place to stay I like to travel it's enjoyable to me. Scout stood and started to bark loudly at him feeling my agitation with him. His tail was lashing back and forth, teeth on display, fae stood as well going to be next to Scout, blocking me from the older turtle.
Before anything could happen though Donnie came running into the room and stood between Leo and I, facing Leo.
"What are you doing Leo?!" He asked glaring into the dark blue eyes of the blue banded turtle.
"I was just asking him why he didn't want to stay here," he said like there was nothing wrong with what he said.
"Maybe because he's not used to being in a home, maybe because to him a comfortable night is when the stars are above him, or maybe for him he's more comfortable with terra ferma under his shell, not a mattress!" He yelled standing more in front of me and my friends, I hugged Alexander to my chest, feeling Ebony curl a little tighter around my neck. Tobias lifted his wings ready to attack, Scout and Fae stood stiff on either side of me. The turtle looked startled and looked down at me, his eyes widened and he took a step back.
"I'm sorry Mi- Michelangelo, I really am," he said looking to the ground and leaving. Donatello turned to me and his fiery eyes dimmed slightly and his frown turned upwards slightly, he patted my head and then pet Alexander's head.
"I'm going to go get the food I had made for you, I'll be right back, no one will be coming here while I'm gone I promise no one will mess with you while my lab door is closed," He said before turning to the door and walking out, with one last glance back and a smile on his lips the doors closed behind him.