Mikey stood before Leo, the muscles on his arms and shoulders flexing and relaxing impatiently. He was facing his eldest brother, Leo, waiting for a sparring match that would help drive the edge off. Mating season was a joke and a poor one at that. He wasn't usually an angry or overly aggressive person and turning into an imitation of Raph was something he certainly did not enjoy. Leo attacked, Mikey defended. Their weapons had been left aside. Using them during season was a bad idea. Muscles strained. Joints popped. Sharp blows were exchanged. Mikey was a tough opponent when the season hit. It brought all of his usually scattered thoughts and focus to one thing, dominance. Back and forth they sparred. Heavy blows rained from each of them. Mikey kicked low. Leo jumped up and slammed a fist into his head hard enough to make the room spin. Mikey went down and Leo stood the victor. That, of course, made Mikey mad.
"Why you always gotta beat me, man?" He asked.
"Cuz I have more discipline." Leo answered. He extended a hand to help his brother up but Mikey slapped it away like a petulant child.
"Fine. Be that way." Leo said, walking off to gather his weapons.
Mikey got to feet, grabbed his nunchucks, and stormed off. He strode through the halls and off into the hazy morning light. It was cold and overcast but that didn't stop him from leaving the warmth of the compound. He quickly made his way into the calm of the forest and found a sturdy oak tree that had branches perfect for climbing. He went as high as he dared and then sat and looked out over the forest. Birds chirped and the occasional squirrel scampered here and there. He took some time to center himself and was thinking of heading back to the compound when he heard a strange shriek followed by the howls of wolves not too far off. He quickly dropped from the tree and ran for the source of the commotion. He ran hard and about ten minutes in he almost ran headlong into the second craziest thing he had ever seen. It was…a…a…. a werecat? She was in her hybrid form and was taller than Mikey who stood at six feet. Her head was that of a cougar, shifting into a mostly human upper half until her mostly lion looking legs ant tail started. She stood on large paws where a human would have feet. Mikey was stunned by the exotic creature and she was staring at him with an equal mixture of awe and curiosity. Mikey realized she was wearing the same kind of outfit his pack had in their hybrid forms and his eyes searched her neck. There it was! The same amulet that let the girls in his pack shift into clothes hung around her neck. The werecat shifted back to human. She had tawny waves down to her waist and tan, glowing skin. It was here cat-green eyes though that caught his attention.
"I need to see Gabby." She said to Mikey but a bunch of wolves burst in on them and she shifted into her full cat form. If Mikey thought the wolves were big, he hadn't seen anything yet. This mountain lion easily had fifty pounds on the largest wolf in the group that faced her down. She was growling deep in her chest at them, warning them to stay back.
"Whoa, whoa!" Mikey said, getting into the middle of everything. "This is Storm Pack business. She needs to talk to Gabby."
One of the Thompson Betas shifted human so he could speak with Mikey. "We won't let her any closer to the compound without Carl's permission. Call your she-alpha and she can come here to see this cat." He eyed the growling beast distastefully.
Mikey used his growing bond to Gabby to tell her where to meet them. She showed up quickly, arriving in wolf form and shifting human. She stared when the werecat shifted back to human and still had her clothes.
"I was sent to meet you." The werecat said.
"The Triplets?" She asked.
The werecat nodded. "They saved me recently. I consider them close friends and when they asked me to come find you I gladly took the chance to repay some of what I owe them."
"Where are they? What are they up to? Do they know that Aiden's getting ready to attack the Thompson Pack and their allies?"
"Woah, give the girl a break!" Mikey said.
"I'm sorry. I can't answer the first to questions because I honestly have no idea. We were out in the Ozarks for a while but they were packing up when I left to find you. They had an important trip to make before they could come here, and they are coming. I'm just not sure when."
"A trip?" Gabby asked. "Maybe back to Minnesota." She contemplated.
"It was going to be a long one." The werecat said. "They told me to let you know it would be months probably before they could make it here. They asked me to help should the war start early. Werecougars don't have large packs like the wolves do, but we do have small prides and we also have allies. I'll do what I can to rally my people to your cause."
Just then, Raph came through the forest, breathing hard. He had obviously run all the way there.
"Who is this?" He panted. Gabby looked to the newcomer.
"Melody." She said. "I'm a werecougar."
"A werecougar." Raph repeated, disbelieving.
"I've seen it, bruh." Mikey confirmed.
"What does she want?" He asked bluntly.
"The Triplets sent her." Gabby replied.
"Oh shit." Raph said. He knew about the Triplets. Gabby had told him about how she had run into them back in Minnesota before Aiden had moved them out. Gabby had been a huge help to Riley when she had started her first heat.
"Yeah." Gabby replied. "Let's get her into the compound and fed. Then we'll talk." And that's exactly what they did.
A month. It didn't seem that long to Raph. Melody had walked into their lives, told them she and hers were at their command, and then settled right into the pack. She was always present now that Raph had finally begun training directly under Carl. Leo had reported that their raids were becoming less and less successful as Aiden started to alter his times and routs. He started setting up dummy convoys and wolves had died for it. Still hundreds of soldiers were pouring in to where Aiden was planning on making his battle front. They needed to do something, anything, to keep the evil Alpha from being able to launch his first attack. Wolves were gathering on the Thompson Pack lands now. The compound was filled as were many of their properties as allies massed. Gabby had suggested raiding the compound directly, freeing as many wolves as they could before Aiden returned. It was a crazy plan. One that involved Gabby using herself as bait for the Alpha and his best betas. Raph was furious.
"Are you crazy?" He asked. "What if he catches you?"
"As long as you can cripple his efforts, then fine." Gabby replied.
"No." Raph said firmly. "I won't risk you or any of my pack just to free a handful of Weres to join our cause."
"We need to do something to keep his efforts at home." Gabby pushed.
"Well letting him get close enough to scent you ain't happenin'." He said.
"It's going to happen, Raph. Whether you like it or not." She said.
"I will order you." He threatened. She glared daggers at him.
"Raph, we have to do this." She said.
"Someone else." He said.
"No one else will draw Aiden out. He wants me."
"That's why you ain't goin' anywhere near that compound."
"But Raph."
"I said no and I mean it!" His command reverberated through their bond and she saw red.
"If I wanted to take orders like a little bitch I would've stayed with Aiden!" She yelled and then she stormed out.
Raph put his fist into the wall. That girl was driving him crazy the last few days with this ridiculous plan.
"It looks like you could use some advice." Came a voice from behind him. Raph turned to see his father standing in the doorway the Gabby had stormed out of only moments before.
"What?" He asked, maybe a little more sharply than he had meant to.
"Gabby has lived all of her adult life under the thumb of a tyrant. Perhaps it would be best if you allowed her freedom to do what she deems right."
"You mean let her go through with this crazy ass raid?" Raph asked.
"My son, if you, her own Alpha and close friend, do not believe in her, who will? I believe if you give her the chance, she will prove herself to you."
Raph's shoulders were tense. "I don't need her to prove herself to me. I need her to be safe." He said.
"You may not need her to prove herself to you, Raphael. She, however, may need to prove herself to you or even to herself. Trust her as I know she trusts you. Let her lead as she was born to do." Splinter turned and left Raph to his thoughts.
Late that night, Raph tossed and turned in his bed, trying to find sleep that just wouldn't come. His father's words ran through his mind. Should he allow this stupid mission? He stared at the ceiling and then with an irritated huff he threw back his covers and went barging into Gabby's room. She had a book in her hands. It was a photo album. She was flipping through the pages, her face soft in a way he had never seen before.
"The only photos we were able to get a hold of after Aiden." She explained without looking up. He took that as an invitation to approach. He came to her bed and settled in next to her, looking over her shoulder at the images of people long dead. Her father and brother smiled up at him along with uncles and cousins and aunts and grandparents. She had been a normal kid living a normal life before Aiden had come along.
"He took all of this away from me." She said, brushing her fingertips over a family picture. "I want to take things from him now." She closed the book and gently laid it on her night stand. She looked into Raph's eyes. "It's been months. I need to start doing something to bring him down. The pack was more important before but now your training is almost over and I trust you to be able to handle what's coming. We need to start."
That pleading look in her eyes was killing him. She sure knew how to work those doe eyes of hers. He sighed and looked at her.
"I want a detailed plan, Gabby. Every step of the process. What we're gonna need. Who's gonna do what. When, where, how. Got it?"
Her eyes lit up and she smiled. "I promise." She said.
"And back up plans." He said. "I want to know what you think you're gonna do if shit goes south."
"No problem." Gabby said and then she threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. "You can never know how much this means to me, Raph."
Raph squeezed her tight. This was the closest they had been since he had kissed her and he wasn't about to ruin that. "You can thank Splinter." He said. "He had to talk a little sense into me."
"That's what the elders are for." Gabby laughed as she pulled away. Her face went somber as she looked at him. "You really do amaze me." She said. He looked away, embarrassed by the praise. "I'm really proud of you Raph. You've done so much for me; for the pack. You're everything we've ever wanted. Don't ever doubt that."
He gave her a half smile and tugged a strand of her hair. The way she talked to him made him want to just pull her close and never let her go but he knew better.
"Work on your raid plan." He said. "You'll present the rough draft to me and Carl in two days. We'll make suggestions and tweaks and we'll go from there. Good?"
She nodded and he stood. "Get some sleep then. We need you sharp if you're going to pull this off."
"I won't let you down. I promise." Gabby said as he headed for the door.
"I know." He said and he left the room to return to his own bed.
Mikey sat with Gracie in her room. He was braiding her hair which was a lot harder with three fingers than it was with five, but Gracie needed help with her hair and he was always up for trying new things. Besides, she was helping him so he felt like he had to help her.
"So did you even get a chance to talk to her?" Gracie asked as he weaved her hair in and out.
"Every time I see her she's surrounded by people." Mikey said. "It's like, impossible to get her on her own."
"Did you try knocking on her door?" Gracie asked.
"Dude, too creepy." Mikey said.
"Hmmm." Gracie said. "Maybe I'll have to do some recon. If I can figure out her schedule maybe I can set up an "accidental" meeting."
"That would be sweet." Mikey replied.
"Why Melody anyway?" Gracie asked.
"None of your business." Mikey snapped at her.
"Dude, just a question." Gracie said, used to the unusual irritability that rampaged through her friend over the last month. Luckily their mating season was almost over. Only about another two weeks and they'd all be back to themselves. Not that Donnie and Raph had been any different, but they were both getting some. Leo wasn't around much so she didn't have to worry about that but she wondered why Mikey hadn't found a girl yet. It wasn't as if there weren't interested girls around. Word had spread of the turtles' rather large appendages and there were a number of wolf girls that were more than a little curious.
"Sorry, Gracie." Mikey apologized.
"Yeah, yeah. Answer the question." She waved his apology off.
"I don't know. She's smoking hot but there's lots of smoking girls here. I'm just drawn to her. Ya know? Like animal attraction or somethin." He replied.
"Well I'm going to find a way to reintroduce you two. Just give me a couple of days."
"You're the best, Gracie." Mikey said.
"I know I am." She teased.
"So what have you heard about Gabby's latest fight with Raph?" Mikey asked her.
"Well you know how she's been pestering him to raid the compound to free some of the pack that's living there. Raph thinks it's ridiculous and he wasn't about to let Gabby anywhere close to that place. Well I walked in to Gabby's room today and she was drawing up plans. It looks like a bomb went off in her room. There are papers everywhere. I think she borrowed every bit of Intel Carl has to get the plan right. Looks like Raph finally caved."
"He always does when it comes to her." Mikey said as he tugged her hair into place.
"I think he loves her." Gracie said.
"We all do." Mikey replied.
"No, Mikey. I mean I think he's in love with her." Gracie corrected.
Mikey's hands stilled in her hair as he thought about it. "You just might be right." He said. "They're always fighting like a married couple anyway." He laughed.
"He's overprotective of her." She said. "She fights it and he gives in. That's how a mated Alpha pair works usually. They're not mated, but there's something there."
"I wonder why Raph hasn't made a move yet." Mikey wondered.
"He probably has." Gracie said. "Gabby would have shut him down in a heartbeat. I know my sister. She won't let herself get that close to anyone. She won't let herself be happy because Aiden could use that against her. I think that's why she's so eager to get started on bringing his reign of terror to an end. She wants to move on with her life."
"I don't blame her." Mikey said. "It's gotta suck having that hanging over your head all the time."
"It does." Gracie said. "It's not as bad for me as it is for her because not only does she have a pack to worry about, but she's the main target of Aiden's obsession. He wants a legacy born from her."
"Poor Gabby." Mikey said. "We'll just have to do everything we can to help. We want Aiden gone too."
"I know." Gracie replied. "And he will be. I just hope we get out of this alive."
Mikey pushed her playfully. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
Gracie laughed. "I think it's going to be the other way around. I'm going to have to be running around after your ass cleaning up all of your messes."
"As if." Mikey smiled. Gracie stood up and went to the mirror to check the braid Mikey had finished. He had been practicing on her a lot and it showed.
"Perfect." She said. "Thanks Mikey."
"Any time angel cakes." He replied.
"I'm going to go do some recon after my date. I'll report back tonight after sunset. I'll meet you in your room."
"Deal." Mikey said and they went their separate ways.
Gracie found out a lot about Melody in the next couple of days. She was either in the training room learning what Master splinter had to teach her, running around in the forest, in her room, relaxing with one or another of their pack, or in meetings with the Alphas and the scouts. She was a busy woman that was for sure, but she seemed to have a morning routine of climbing trees and sharpening her claws. That was when she planned to have Mikey run into her.
Mikey ran off into the woods. He knew where she would be and his nerves were all jumbled and twitchy. He wasn't used to chasing around after girls. He was determined though. He had always been a good judge of character and there was something special about this one. Something more than the other girls at the compound.
Mikey neared the spot he knew she would be and slowed down. He was going to go in there, acting like he had been training in the woods. He climbed a tree and used his strength and agility to move swiftly and quietly until suddenly she dropped onto a branch before him, shifting from her massive cat form to her human form.
"We meet again." She said.
"Oh hey." He replied, acting like he didn't know she was out here. "I was just getting some agility training in. It helps take the edge off. It's mating season for us so I gotta keep busy to keep my mind off things." Shit. Shit. Shit. He had not meant for all of that to come out of his mouth. She probably thought he was some creep who wanted to mate with her or something. Not that he would mind but that was beside the point.
"Well then." She said playfully. "Let me give you a challenge. Catch me!" she shifted and took off into the woods and with a wild grin, Mikey took off after her. The chase was on.