Author's Note: I told you I'd update soon. lol This one ends with a major cliffhanger, though, just so ya know.
Special thanks to my wonderful friend and editor, Stephanie. You rock, dudette!!
"Don! Mike! Time for patrol!"
Leo couldn't help but smirk slightly when he heard his two younger brothers' groans. He leaned back against the wall, waiting for them to come down. Don was first, sliding his bo into its sheathe as he made his way down the stairs. Mike followed more slowly, still half-asleep.
Leo rolled his eyes. "It's not that early..."
"It's three o'clock in the morning," Don pointed out.
Mike groaned again, almost tripping over his own feet as he tried to tie his mask on while walking. Leo sighed and headed out of the lair.
"Just come on, you guys."
It was still pitch-black when they arrived topside. The full moon was making its descent down the western side of the bustling city, leaving the stars shimmering in an empty sky. The three brothers swiftly headed up to the rooftops.
"It'll be light in a couple hours," Leo reminded his siblings. "Let's try to make it back before then."
"It's too early!" Mike whined. "Can't we sleep in just once?"
Leo shot him a glare, and the orange-clad ninja fell silent, though his face was still set in a pout. The older turtle merely shook his head and darted across the roof. His two brothers followed him.
'It's so strange,' Leo thought suddenly. 'I used to be leading a group of four...' He jumped across the open space between two buildings, bandanna tails trembling in the cool summer breeze. 'But there's only three of us now...' He could faintly hear Don and Mike chatting behind him, but his mind was somewhere else. It always was at times like this. 'It's been like that for thirteen years.'
As he landed on the next roof, he stopped. His brothers came to a halt as well, looking curiously at him, but he signaled for them to go on. After a moment's hesitation, they seemed to understand, and started toward the next rooftop.
Leo looked out over New York City, his form concealed in the shadows of a nearby generator. Tears stung at the back of his eyes, threatening to flow, but he blinked them away.
'Where are you, bro?'
It had been thirteen years since he had seen his hot-headed brother, Raphael. Neither him nor his remaining two siblings knew what had happened to him, only that he disappeared one night, and never returned. After that, the whole family started to break apart. Only five years after Raph vanished, their sensei, Splinter, died. He, Mike, and Don had managed to stay together, but it was only a year ago that Casey and April had to move. They had just been married, and when April's archeologist job called for her to stay for a few years in Africa, they both left, not wanting to split up so soon.
Now only Leo and his two youngest brothers remained. They didn't have many friends close by, but they had a lot of enemies. There hadn't been any huge battles, but some of the scuffles they got into nearly cost them their lives. It was hard, having almost no one to help, but they've survived so far. The question was, how much longer would it be until they, too, went their separate ways?
Leo quickly pushed the thoughts away, not wanting to even think about such a thing. Don and Mike were the only family members he had left - the only friends. He didn't know what he would do if he lost them.
Sighing heavily, he set his thoughts aside and dashed off to catch up with his brothers. It didn't take long, since they were just starting to wake up. He pulled ahead once again, his gaze solemn.
"You ok, bro?" Mike managed to ask between gasps, somehow going fast enough to travel alongside his older brother.
"Yeah," Leo replied, not even half as tired as the orange-masked turtle.
They traveled in comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company. Don and Mike both knew what was troubling their eldest sibling. The same nagging thoughts were on their minds as well. As usual, though, something interrupted the peaceful night.
The bright flash could be seen from miles away, but it was blinding only a few feet to the left. Leo jerked to a halt, startled. His brothers stopped behind him, both with their eyes shut tight against the glow. When the light finally calmed down, all three were able to open their eyes.
"W-what is that!?" Mike stammered, wide-eyed.
Don answered, his voice quiet. "I...I don't know, Mikey..."
"Whatever it is, I don't like it," Leo muttered, hands going toward his katana.
Before them was a circle of white, swirling light. It was about as wide as the three mutants standing in front of it, and twice as tall.
"It looks like some kind of portal..." Don took a tentative step forward.
Before any of them had the chance to react, though, something else happened. They were suddenly pulled forcefully into the light and thrown into oblivion.
"What's happening!?" Mike exclaimed, frantic.
"Stay together!" Leo ordered.
He took Don's hand then grabbed Mike's, pulling them a bit closer. There was no way he was going to lose what was left of his family. Back in New York City, the portal slowly closed - disappearing without a trace.
Author's Note: Yay, a cliffhanger!! ;P Again, I'll update soon, probably this weekend, and I promise the next chapter will be longer. Hope ya like it so far. See ya!!
