A/N I do not own TMNT but am forever grateful for their creation!
Also Lub Dub is the sound of the heart beating. Lub is the first sound from the AV valves closing and Dub is from the semilunars closing. Just FYI.
Love or Blood
Chapter 18: Etchings in the Earth
Lub Dub
Darkness had fallen. The moon was but a thin crescent in the sky, the final remnant before it winked out altogether. The beginning and the ending. Always cycling. Always turning. Yet on that night, time now stood still for him.
He did not know how, but somehow he had evaded Michelangelo. In fact, if Leonardo were to ponder it, he would have realized he had not seen his youngest brother since he stepped over his still sleeping form so very early that morning.
When he entered the woods before dawn he entered them alone, and alone he remained.
Lub Dub
He heard nothing of the forest's wakening. No birds. No wind. Nothing, but the earth's pulsing beat.
Lub Dub
And deeper and deeper into the woods he followed it. All day he wandered. He did not eat. He did not drink.
All that mattered now was that he found the source. He needed to find it. To meld with it. To finally enter the oblivion he so craved.
Lub Dub
A small part of him wondered why the whispers had stopped. They had been his incessant guides for days, and yet when they had been at their loudest that morning – as he left the house – the moment he passed the threshold into the forest, they were silenced.
It was eerie roaming those woods with no sound. He was reminded of the dreams he had when he was in his coma.
Floating in dark silence. No stimuli of any sort. Just him crying for someone. For anyone to hear him. For anyone to find him.
Lub Dub
It was a bright, warm sunny day, but Leonardo felt none of the warmth and saw none of the light. Great branches shrouded the canopy in shade leaving the distant needle-strewn floor below cold and dark.
He did not care.
Lub Dub
It had been months since he could feel the change in temperature, and just as long had he been seeing through a shroud of shadows.
All was grey. All was bleak. All was dim.
The only reason he registered the curtain of night was because Michelangelo had always found him by now. Until that moment when he glanced up at the sky to see that wistful fragment of legends, his subconscious had been preparing for the inevitable run in with the young turtle.
But he had not come.
Lub Dub Lub Dub
And the earth wanted to reclaim her child.
Lub Dub Lub Dub
His mind was quiet for a while after that. His legs were disconnected from his brain, and so could only do what they had been last commanded to do: walk. All that was left to the moving turtle was the sound of the earth.
Lub Dub Lub Dub
Soon every one of his own heart's beats was in tune with hers.
Lub Dub Lub Dub
Hour upon hour passed.
Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub
The darkness itself would have smothered him, filling his nostrils, stuffing his mouth, lining his eyelids, but the earth protected him with her mantra that soon became his own.
Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub
His nose was runny, his mouth was dry, and his eyes were bleary when he came to the water, and as his feet entered the water, it was though his legs finally awoke to send jolts of agony up to their host.
Leonardo gasped in pain – the first new sound he had heard in forever – before collapsing into the wet sand.
Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub
Watery needles attacked every scale on his hind limbs.
In a desperate effort to distract himself from the agony, he looked out over what to be the liquid body before him.
Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub
He could see nothing but black oblivion.
Suddenly Leonardo knew.
This was it.
Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub
This was where he had been destined.
Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub
No one was there. His sole companion was that fragile sliver above who too would turn her back on him in shame once dawn arrived.
Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub
It would be terribly easy. After all, he had been trained his whole life in the art of murder.
Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub
He had not brought his katana – a wretched being such as he no longer dared to touch such noble blades – but he had a throwing star. That forgotten piece of metal he had left in his belt could finally fulfill the purpose of its creation.
Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub
A falling star that would answer his final wish.
Lub Dub Lub Dub
Yes, it would be oh so easy.
Now was the time. He had been brought here. Oblivion itself was willingly opening its gates for him.
Lub Dub Lub Dub
He studied the star in his hand. Smooth steel. Sharpened edges. Deadly intent.
Lub Dub Lub Dub
One cut. Jugular vein. Carotid artery. Easy.
Lub Dub Lub Dub
He raised the star.
So fast.
Lub Dub
Unconscious in seconds.
Little pain.
Lub Dub
A brief sleep.
Then…
Lub Dub
Then…
…
Lub Dub
Then…
…
…
Lub Dub.
Then…
…
…
…
The star fell upon the sand. The blackness of night slowly gave way to the indigo then midnight blue of dawn's approach.
When the first rays of light penetrated the horizon, they caught on that fallen star. The edge glinted and cast the fragile light onto several imprints in the sand.
Dark circular smudges formed around the words.
Leonardo wept. For all that separated him from eternity were mere etchings in the earth.
Lub Dub
A/N Can I just say that I really liked how this chapter came out? I just like the feel of it. Anyways, thanks so much guys for all your feedback on the last chapter. It is much appreciated! It never ceases to amaze me how I can feel so anxious about one chapter and so good about the next. Ah well c'est la vie.
Terri: That's great to hear because it was more or less what I was thinking. I think what it all boils down to is that they're all young and insecure, which can make them act in such ways (heck even adults I know act like this so what's maturity anyway?) and helps add fuel to everyone's motivations in later chapters. Plus there's a lot to be said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Thanks =)
turtlesrockmysocks: Yeah I agree. Plus I always felt that April although not as obvious, in a lot of ways could rival Raph in the hot-headed department. Don did expect Raph, but April… Well not as much. He was too busy trying to get rid of the competition that he forgot to think about April. Thanks for reviewing!
Komnenid: I know I'm sure you're not the only Apritello fan who's less than impressed with me right now XD All that said, the story ain't over yet… ;) Although it is approaching, and I'm close to completing the rough draft of said final chapters.
Mr.E: They are quite the duo are they not? Also Casey makes his debut in the second season. I'm glad the link worked out for you =)
majishan: Haha don't worry that is exactly how I would describe it. In fact my master outline of awesomeness actually had written that very phrase right underneath the chapter number. Plus, I'm not one to talk since even April cursed in this chapter. XD