So this has been sitting on my desktop for a while but I think it's finally ready to see the light of day. Hope you enjoy! And let me know what you think in the comments!

(Also, for all the raph, donnie, and mikey lovers out there, don't worry their chapters are coming :)

Leo ached everywhere. Every muscle felt stiff and sore. As he groaned and shifted, Leo felt something crumble beneath him. Without opening his eyes, he lay for a second, trying to make sense of his surrounds. He felt the ground: damp, rough, and yielding. A whole variety of smells created a distinct sent of earth.

With a sigh, Leo opened his heavy eyes and was met with blinding sunlight. Instinctively, he held up his hand, blinking several times. As his vision cleared, Leo's eyes widened.

Tall, slender trees surrounded his field of vision, their branches dividing into countless leaves that covered a brilliant blue sky. Sunlight lazily filtered through the holes in canopy. Leo let out a breath of wonderment and sat up.

He immediately regretted it. A heavy wave of nausea knocked him on his back. His stomach tied in knots and his head swam as he tried to catch his breath. After a couple meditative exhales, Leo tried sitting up again, only much more slowly. His body furiously complained as he righted himself and took another look around.

The air was cool and the forest smelled like rain. The leaves took on an array of colors. Reds, oranges, yellows, and browns all painted the forest in autumn. But it was summer in New York…

Where was he? And more importantly, where were his brothers? Leo's heart dropped. Mikey. Where was Mikey? He scanned around him, unable to find any signs of his youngest brother or any of his brothers. Leo gently picked himself up and leaned on a nearby tree for support.

"Mikey!… Mikey!…Donnie! Raph!" he called out.

He paused, listening for any indication of them. Still nothing. He took a deep breath and yelled again,

"Mikey!…Donnie!…Raph!"

Leo frowned and stumbled to the next tree, placing his hand on the rough bark for support. A heavy feeling sat at the lowest part in his stomach, painfully pulling on his heart. He wasn't with them. How was he suppose to lead a team he lost? His eyes closed and his breathing became heavy and slow. He took a labored breath and called out- "Mikey! Donnie! Raph!"

His laden lungs pulled out call after call until the light passing through the trees began to fade and his voice gave out. His heart increasing pace with every darkening moment.

Leo paused, back to a particularly large tree, trying to catch his breath. He stood there, anxiety softly calling. Mikey. But what about Mikey? He knew something was off, something bad…But what? He scrambled to put together the pieces but all he could grasp for sure was that Mikey was in danger somehow, somewhere. He growled. Why couldn't he remember? Leo ducked his head.

He was failing. Failing as a leader. He had no team, he had no plan, no concept of the threat, no idea how to stop it. His body withered with the weight that crushed him on all sides.

All he could do was try to get to his little brother before whatever it was happened. He'd have face whatever danger awaited once he actually found Mikey. It wasn't much of a plan but it'd was the only one he had.

With that small spark of resolve, Leo stepped away from the tree to continue searching but as he took his first step forward, his already fatigued legs gave way underneath him. He fell awkwardly, his ankle popping out at an weird angle. A hot jab shot through his leg.

Dammit.

He tried to stand but the shock through his leg was too painful. Leo fell back into a sitting position and looked down. He was greeted with the sight of massive swelling around his ankle. The muscle that ran down his leg felt like a hot rod, making the whole right side of his appendage feel like it was on fire.

Leo brought his hand up to his eyes and his brow furrowed. He suppressed the surge of dread that leaped to his throat. His mind began to spin out of control, worries pulling at every fiber of his being.

Calm, Leo. Calm. Leo took several breathes, letting them slow and deepen with each inhale. His mind slowly cleared. Maybe it'd be best to rest and continue his search in the morning. The darkening day didn't give way to streetlights and lit windows. He wasn't going to be able to see for much longer and his weariness was slowing him down anyway.

Leo looked around for a place to lie down. So far he hadn't run into any dangerous animals but, for all he knew, the night would bring out new threats and with what he guessed to be a strained muscle, he wasn't in any shape to defend himself. He'd fought injured before but the growing night crowded in on him, reminding him of how weak and ill-prepared he truly was. Leo raised his eyes upward. A tree might be a better option.

He lifted himself with the help of his uninjured leg and both arms. Shuffling towards a particularly promising bunch of sturdy looking trees, Leo winced with each step on his injured leg.

The lowest branch he was able to find was about ten feet up. It would have to do. His leg wasn't going to give him much more and all the trees around him would take significantly more effort to reach.

Leo steadied himself to jump, favoring his left side. Both legs shook with the effort but he ignored it, and with a solid push, Leo leaped for the branch. He stretched out, willing himself towards it.

His fingers just barely missed. Toppling heavily onto the ground, Leo hit his leg. The pain the rocketed through his side left him panting. Sweat crossed his brow, his stomach twisted, and, for a moment, the pain was the only thing that existed in his world.

Eventually, his senses came back to him. The pain faded to an unrelenting ache but that ordeal left Leo spent. He'd walked all day with half of his strength, the incessant calling had his throat scratching for water, and the constant shadow of worry had been quietly sapping whatever energy he had on reserve. The shock of pain took the last of his stamina. Maybe he'd just lie here for the night.

No. Get back on your feet, Leo. Get up.

Leo sighed and searched for some power still hidden in his muscles. He focused his body on getting up, eventually letting himself to his feet. He studied the branch a second time, ignoring the doubt that seeped into his mind, fixating on the power in his muscles that would carry him instead. He stilled for a second, frozen in concentration, before leaping off the ground. This time his hands caught. Thankfully, the tree held.

Leo strained to pull the rest of himself up. With the care and grace of a tightrope walker that surprised even him, Leo straightened himself.

Setting himself down, Leo let out a shaking breath. His ankle burned and his leg bit painfully but he'd made it to safety. Using his belt, Leo tied himself to the branch and proceeded to rewrap his ankle in a more supportive pattern. Not perfect but good enough. He crossed his legs, placing the injured leg on top. His katanas sat across his lap, held steady by his hands laid over top. At least he'd landed here — wherever here was — with his weapons.

With the reassuring feel of his katanas under his palms, cool and solid, Leo tried to calm his thoughts and block out the pain radiating from his leg. He had to get some rest.

As the clamor of insects began, Leo drifted to sleep and into the arms of his nightmares.