The warmest of all furs in Anavrin can't stop her chattering teeth; at any moment, they might shatter and drop out of her mouth onto the frigid landscape. Her feet are screaming from the torturous journey, begging their master to rest. Her body is almost a block of ice. The harsh winds form a blockade in her path, teasing her to keep going and kill herself slowly.

Time is colder; it doesn't have a giving hand. Zera's struggles are less frequent and her mind more cloudy, desperate. In a moment of hesitation, she relinquishes her sore feet and stares into the pearly depths. Only a tiny fraction of her brain remembers why she's fighting and who she's fighting for; the fraction that pulses warmly and keeps her feet moving. Thoughts are difficult to form; breathing is slowing down. Winds growl and attack, waiting for her to succumb.

Step, she commands from her body; step, keep moving. After a lengthy time, her right foot obeys, and a small noise ricochets through her leg. It's hard to feel anything, but she doesn't miss it: a crack in the ice. One more step from the left, and the world around her collapses; her body drops as hard as the ice into the water and cuts her agility. Down into the blue she tumbles, barely feeling something flitter and zip out of her pocket but it's there. A fish. The frozen fish the polar bear gave to her. What is it doing alive? The fish's beady eyes bats at her, wondering how she landed in this predicament. Although her arm feels like glass, she reaches for the creature, pleading for it to help her. It swims over her head and waits for her to turn; its little tail shutters and a bubble shoots from his mouth.

Follow me, she reads its intentions. The water is oddly warmer than the surface, and her nerves are firing again. It's still painful to move, but she needs to follow the amicable swimmer and fall on the right path.

The fish is a fast one, always having to slow down and wait for Zera to catch up. The walls of water pass by her, a tepid sensation sweeping over her spine as she glides. Her lungs aren't squealing from the pressure or lack of air; something is magical about this place. The surface was cruel to her; the underwater is kind and helpful. Her fish friend leaves trails of bubbles for her to swim through, a sign it is very talkative, but she can't understand anything.

In a wicked turn, her body grades heavy again, her arms and legs drooping, and the walls of the ocean growing darker. She panics in her mind and steers her head upwards, but the world remains black and the waters are chilly again.

"Leo is where!" Donatello barks, inspecting his brother's pupils. "And what are you doing in his body?"

A tiny dot of light skimmers her vision; Zera blinks many times after the light is taken away. "He's in Anavrin, my home, but I don't know where he is. I came back here."

Raphael leans over her, brooding, "What do you mean came back? We've never met you before!"

"Hey!" Michelangelo pops, snapping his fingers from his chair. "When Leo, or Leo's body, woke up the first time and then we lost him, remember? Was that you, Body Snatcher?" He leans with a cheeky grin on the backside of a chair.

A sense of disconnection overwhelms her as she tries sitting Leonardo's body up, facing his family. She takes in the sight: three green creatures, just like Leonardo, and a rat in ruby cloth, all looking at her like a death trap.

Don helps stabilizes her and wraps a blood pressure fold over Leonardo's arm; he quietly takes a reading.

"I don't know why I'm back here, but it must be for a good reason. Your brother is in danger, I'm sure of it, and I'm not strong enough to save him." The blood pressure cup hisses. "I tried," Zera whispers, staring into Don's solemn glance.

"We would help but how do we get there? We don't even know how Leo got there!" Raph throws up his hands. "We want our damn brother back!"

She begins, "I agree and-"

"What did you do? Sweet talk him, sweetie pie? He never could turn away from a pretty lady, if you're pretty, I dunno!" Raph squawks, his nostrils flaring. "Point me where I need to go and I'll get him myself."

Abhorred, Mikey pinches the back of Raph's leg, wrinkling his beak at his brother's lackluster response. "Give her a chance to talk, motor mouth. If there's a way, she'll lead us to him." His big eyes falls on her again. "Right?"

Zera isn't certain about the situation, or if she can help them. The humble rat with the kind brown eyes shuffles closer to Leo's body, taking his seat as gentle as a swan on water. Intimidation sets in when his family's eyes widen at her silence. What is she supposed to say?

"Take a few deep breaths, child. As deep as your lungs will fill," Splinter coaches her, pressing his furry hands on the top of his walking cane and giving his full attention. She complies, feeling better with the passing of each breath and time. "Calmly now. Very good." His fluid voice and meditation relaxes her, and Leo's body recedes on the bed, and she remembers the muddy ceiling from their first meeting.

She mumbles through an advancing fog and drowsy eyelids, "He will return soon. I promise." Struggling to stay awake and hear the many responses from his family, Zera loses control and tangles with the darkness again. The short lapse between the ceiling and returning to the ocean wall is the smoothest transition she's experienced thus far, thanks to the kind rat. The key is to relax and give a small push. Be in control.

Two black doe eyes blink at her amid a flurry of scurried bubbles. The little fish never left her side but hurriedly prompts her to pick up the trail. Swim fast and free. Zera's ears float carelessly behind her, jerking as she resumes the aquatic adventure. Her limbs dangle free and push through the water, forgetting the old pain and concentrating on the leader. Thoughts, once frozen, melt over her mind again, and she remembers her goal: the Familiar. She knows Leonardo flew into the monster to save a cranky bat like her; she is his Retainer, a right-hand guard and guide through Anavrin, and now he's lost. She has failed him above everything, especially being his mate. If only they can go to his world together..

She's determined to find a way to do it.

The deep blue scatters from their path and trespasses into cloudy areas, swallowing the friendly fish in front of her. She screeches to a halt and levitates, watching her very hands disappear in the murky waters. A ball of panic beats in her throat. Nothing is in front of her anymore and no sign of the guide fish. Zera remains still, though the panic gains speed through her, hoping she can continue swimming straight, as they were doing before the transformation. Her arms move again, combing through the waters and nerves firing from the middle of her chest through the tip of her tail. Anxiety bites away her hopes.

Moments pass her lapping along a hazy path, almost a crawl through the ocean. It seems forever more until a dim light grows a little bigger. She squints, unsure of what it is and what lurks. Carefully, she approaches while the light beams brighter. A shadow appears next to it, and she stops, waiting patiently for it to move first. Minutes drag. The light source chips away at the shadow, and through the fog, she sees dark skin. A few more seconds, and the revelation erases her panic, sending it to the far gloom behind her.

She moves the fastest she's been into Leonardo's arms, burying her head into his chest and squeezing his shell. For him to be in the same depth as her, she smiles and thanks the Moon Tree for his safety. Elated, she peers in his face for his reaction, and notices his eyes are closed. She shakes his shoulders, with no response. The small of her fingers tap his cheeks, and nothing happens. The light source beside them dims lower, and she recognizes it as the pointy lantern before turning back to Leonardo's stone face. Zera's face contorts in a mix of frustration and disappointment as she strokes around his eyes and slides her fingers down his cheeks. Wake up, she pleads; we're reunited at last and you can't enjoy it.

A sliver of black passes in the corner of her right eye. The lantern beams again, and Zera inspects over Leonardo's shoulder into the great, foul distance. The ocean wall splits and invites a pair of threatening Littos, their prickly black hair, crusty bodies, and vicious, large teeth glowering at her. They hover and swim back and forth, doting over how helpless she and Leonardo are, and claw through the water with their scaly arms and fins. Zera tries calling to him through the water and rattling his shoulders, even slapping his face, all of which do nothing more. Her voice can't carry and her limbs are weighed down so it's impossible to wake him up by force. The Littos slither forward, menacing and ready for the thrill of the hunt and a tasty morsel in their empty bellies. Zera locks one arm under his and steers for the surface, but the Littos block her way and gnash their revolting teeth at her.

In mid-blink, a curb of light shoves through the Littos and knocks them out of her way, stunning them momentarily. Zera opens her eyes and sees the enchanting Sinai basking its glow on her and Leonardo. The lantern slides into the deep, fading into darkness. Zera follows Sinai's lead and struggles to the surface. With a great weight on them, her arms give out shortly after takeoff, the muscles crying for her to let him go. Sinai reaches with glittery hands, embraces Zera and Leonardo, and carries them to safety.

Feeling the sweet air through her lungs again, Zera breaks the surface and drags Leonardo, her Rook, to the shoreline. She's thankful to be free from the miserable ice and the underwater abyss.

"A little more," with ragged breathing, she coaxes Leonardo and to her aching body, "we're almost there." A humming Sinai sweeps above its masters, pointing in the direction she needs to go. The waves push and slam her forward, losing her grip on Leonardo a couple of times, and brushes her back a few steps behind her old ones. The struggle doesn't end as the Littos' gurgling calls are heard over the water. Their dead hair skates behind their floating heads and devilish orange eyes, locking fast on their prey. Zera picks up her speed, flailing her exhausted arm against the current. Her sensitive ears hear the enemies' growls and jarring breaths; the water tossing around in her ears doesn't drown their noises. Leonardo's body dips below the surface, and she scrambles to lift him again, pulling herself down in the water, too. The Littos draw closer, making sure the prey won't escape this time.

A crack of silver bolts wallops the Littos' heads and sends them splashing wildly in their spots. Sinai swarms over them and releases more attacks against the cawing mermaids. One leaps out of the water, grazing at Sinai, hoping to grab and snap it in half with its teeth. Sinai drifts dangerously close and manages a good save. Losing steam fast, Zera holds Leonardo close and waits for the next wave to carry her to the growing shoreline. Almost there, almost there!

Also noticing the shoreline, the pair of disgruntled Littos flip their bright silver fins back in the ocean and leave the prey in peace, for now.

Finally hitting land elates her weary mind and body. She collapses on shore, feeling the cold water wash over and soaking the sand under her face. Her arms and legs tremble from the labor, and it takes her a long moment to recover. All she thinks about is keeping a tight hold around his arm and never letting go.

A small hand pats the top of her head lightly. "Lady Zera!" comes a routine, blubbery cry. She achingly looks up, and through a thin fog sees Nipal waddling in view, his huge eyes patching into hers. She's extremely relieved and motions towards Leonardo.

"The Rook is safe! Oh, I know you could do it, my lady."

She croaks, "Nipal, relieved to see you. Please," she coughs and tugs at his feet with her free hand, "help me get him to the hill."

"Certainly."

The helpful rabbit, with Zera's diminishing strength, drag the comatose Leonardo up a small hill, leaving dark skid-marks and holes in the sand. She trips and falls up the hill, and Nipal lets go of the Rook to help her. She stumbles through a couple of steps, stuttering her words, "Just let me rest for a moment."

Nipal hooks both of his arms around Leonardo's left armpit and digs his feet in the ground trying to move him. He trips and shakes on the ground before giving up and sitting under Leonardo's hand. "He won't wake up?"

"No," Zera croaks; she whaps her ears free of water and smacks her head to rid the rest. "I met him like that. What happened? Do you know?"

"We fought the Lucaracs and he was knocked off me by two of them. He fell into the ocean!"

"And that's where we met. And you fought the Lucs, too, frazzled Nipal?" she gives a tired grin his way.

"Y-yes!" he swells his chest and picks up Leonardo's hand and places it on his own furry head. "Nipal was brave, like a Reformer should be." He pats his head with the Rook's hand. "I did my best!"

"He taught you well."

"You taught me, too."

"I only berated you," she quietly says, her eyes peering between droplets of water sliding off her forehead. "Thanks for your help. I'm sorry we were separated." She rips off her soggy boots, tossing them to the side and checking over Leonardo's body. A quick shake of his shoulders fields nothing again; only water drips from his body and caresses over his placid face.

Nipal lowers Leonardo's hand like a rock; his eyes pop out of their sockets. "Zera! Zera! What are the Littos doing on land!" Rocking back and forth, he tugs down his ears, blubbering more nonsense while she watches, in terror, the same Littos, one with a bloody eye and another with short crinkly hair, snarling, running on their hands, and beating their silver tails in the air.

"Zera! Above us!" Nipal cries woeful tears, pointing wildly at a flock of Lucaracs circling the thin, burned sky.

Disoriented, Leonardo licks his dry lips, feeling a cool sensation over his cheeks, and hears a flurry of voices around him. Panicked voices. Are the Lucaracs still attacking, he wonders and fights to open his eyes. The last thing he remembers is falling from a great height, having been knocked off Nipal, and his shell crashing through a fence of air.

"Please wake up!" a voice shrills, rattling his eardrums.

I'm trying! He shouts, although it feels more inside his head than out of his mouth.

"Leonardo!"

Just a little more.

"Open your stupid eyes!"

No need to be rude, he snorts. His eyes split onto a muddy ceiling and into the caring, boisterous eyes of his loving, worried family.

Don speaks first. "That is you, right?"

"Of course it's him!" Raph pushes Mikey aside. "It better be him."

"Hey..." Leonardo squeaks, dashing his eyes around the room and taking in home sweet home. "It's me."

"Damn, it's good to have you back!" blubbers Mikey, wrapping his weak brother in the biggest hug known in the world. He and Don help Leo sit up, and after a moment of sweet relief from the family, Mikey frowns. "So why do you look so sad to see us?"

Leo's forehead wrinkles, and he hasn't the heart to answer right away.

Next chapter: As Zera and Nipal fight to stay alive, Leonardo has to make a tough decision regarding his fate back in Anavrin.