Okay, cue responding to review.
Procyon's Tears: Haha, I tried to time it just right so they could meet up in an interesting way. And I dunno, maybe her balance will improve. That's something I hadn't really considered, but will def from now on. As for the other comments, thank you! Your feedback is appreciated and inspired me to keep writing!
Leo was right. Meditating did help.
Rayn had started doing it daily, in addition to helping Don in the lab and playing games with Mikey. Leo had quietly become a meditation partner to her, but she partially suspected he was just keeping an eye on her.
In fact, they all seemed to. Since her episode on the rooftop, they all had kept a watchful eye over her.
Even the rat, Master Splinter. She had started coming across him more in her daily life as they kept meeting at nearly the same time in the kitchen to make indivisual prefernces of drinks. Rayn would always let the older rat go first and prepare his tea, to which he seemed grateful.
In fact, as time passed, Rayn had started to get up a little bit earlier and boil some water for him. It was a small gesture she didn't mind doing at all, in exchange for him allowing her to stay with them.
And she had also consulted with Master Splinter about her dreams and their connection to the weird behaviors she was experiencing. The rat had told her he'd meditate on it, and to come to him or his sons with any other dreams she may have so they could help.
Rayn stretched and sat up from the couch. She had been laying quietly pondering her thoughts, but decided to get up finally and accept she wasn't going to sleep anymore.
Putting on some slippers she had scavenged from her apartment, Rayn walked quietly to the kitchen. Her tail swished behind her absently. Even that was something she had grown used to.
Rayn started pulling out various kitchen materials to start to make breakfast. For the past week, she had taken it upon herself to make breakfast for everyone. Scrambled eggs, toast, and pancakes. Even Raph had commented about the pancakes, teasing his youngest brother always burnt them.
With her mutation, she also gained better abilities to see in the dark, so she didn't bother turning on a light. It was one of those weird things she came across about her mutation.
By the time the eldest turtle arose, usually the first up, the smell of pancakes had started to drift through to the upper rooms of the lair. Soon the rest of the family would be up and digging into the breakfast.
"Want a hand?" Leo asked Rayn as she flipped the last pancake onto the top of the tower.
"Sure. You can take the—"She paused as she noticed the ninja had taken all three plates and carefully placed them on the table with extreme grace.
"Well, okay." Rayn laughed lightly and carried the plates and glasses, while Leo opened the fridge to fish out orange juice.
"I smell fooood!" A voice came from the top level as Mikey jumped down and raced towards the table, grabbing a plate and heaving it with pancakes.
"Hey, I made enough for everyone to share." Rayn snatched a thin stack of pancakes off the stack, adding it back to the original pile.
Mikey went to protest, but just then Don exited his lab, racing over to grab his own plate before it was all gone. "Yeah, Mikey, you heard the nice lady." Don teased his brother, stealing a pancake off Mikey's plate.
"Hey, no fair!" Mikey complained. "Now I only have four!"
"Relax, I'll make some more." Rayn smiled and went back to the kitchen to prepare more batter. She also started to boil water for Master Splinter's tea, as per habit.
Soon, even Raphael emerged from his quarters and joined his brothers at the table. As they dug in, Mikey drowning his pancakes in syrup and creating a huge mess to the annoyance of his brothers, Rayn started to zone out of their conversation.
This was the happiest she had been in a while, even before her mutation. She felt hopeful that maybe, once they figured out how to fix whatever kept happening to her, she'd live a normal live. Well, as normal as a mutated cat-girl could have.
She brought the last plate of pancakes to the table and settled for leaning against the counter as she ate her own food. Her thoughts settled back on her daydreams about the project she and Don were working on. She had designed some blueprints and collected different shirts she could bring together for her "costume", while Mikey had blabbed to her about superhero team-ups and she could join the Justice Force. After they figured out why she kept having visions, of course.
Rayn stared into her eggs, frowning. If only it was that simple.
She kept thinking of that dream she had, and wondered what would happen if she actually entered the doorway.
Despite the whole ominous feel, she didn't get a bad vibe from the dream itself. It seemed almost purposeful, as if the dream was trying to tell her something.
And as her thoughts drifted further, she found herself completely zoning out and leaving the lair and entering the scene from the dream. As if by just thinking about it triggered this reaction.
Rayn looked around. She hadn't experienced any pain this time, so it wasn't one of her attacks. Maybe it was a result of her meditation, and the whole mind-body stuff Leo talked about, but she found herself in her vision.
The girl took a hesitant step forward, walking towards the edge of the cliff. She swallowed and looked over towards the dark pit before her. If she fell in this trance-like state, would that affect her in the real world?
It didn't matter to her at the moment. All she could think about was that stupid door, so she forced herself to continue on.
Rayn took a running leap towards the first rock, using her momentum to propel herself onto it. As she landed, she felt the landscape around her shift. She blinked and the colors around her seemed more vivid, as if a light had been turned on.
Moving quickly, Rayn once again leaped to the next rock. She crouched on her feet and observed the scenery shift again keenly.
Taking a deep breath, Rayn took another running jump towards the final rock and came fast-to-face with the door.
This was it. She was finally going to see what was behind it, Rayn thought to herself.
Then, with a flick of her tail, she put both hands against the door. It was made of heavy wood, she realized, which was dark in color. But the color seemed to shift and swirl, causing her to almost get lost within its depths.
She braced herself for whatever awaited her and shoved all her strength against the door.
What do you think is behind this..door? Let me know!
