Leonardo shot upright from his slumber, breathing hard with sweat pouring down his face and neck. Just a nightmare he told himself as he glanced around the damp walls of his cave; it had sprinkled on and off last night, so the air was more humid than normal. The dim light of dawn was just beginning to creep into the dark. Leo turned to drape his legs over his bed and grabbed his head with both hands, as if massaging away the fear that had plagued him only moments earlier.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he tried to recall what his horrific dream had been about, but to no avail. The nightmare had slipped away like water through open hands. He stood up with a long sigh, and started doing his stretches.
Leo noted how dark it actually was in comparison to when he normally wakes in the morning, and briefly wondered if he should go back to bed for an hour or so. The idea was promptly brushed aside. He couldn't fall back asleep; not halfway through his warm up. He wasn't sure if he even wanted to, for fear of the continuation of the nightmare that woke him in the first place- whatever it was.
After warming up his muscles, the turtle strode over to his meager supply of food. Out of the stash he brought out a few berries that he deemed edible through experience, a root whose unfortunate taste taunted him, and some ever-refreshing water. Leonardo sat against the wall and started to eat unconsciously while staring at the blank wall across from him. His mind drifted, but couldn't get past a single melancholy thought: what a pitiful existence mine has become.
Once finished gnawing on the awful root, Leo stood up and went over to gear up. He shrugged on his katana, slipped on his knee and elbow pads, and then wrapped his cloak about his form. He spared a glance towards the object that lay against the rock near his bag that he brought along. Don's glider, or whatever he had decided to call it, remained untouched, gathering dust. An increasingly rare pang of guilt stung his heart, and he wondered if his brothers were aware that he had been gone longer than proposed. He knew he was, but by how many weeks or months, he knew not, for he had stopped counting long ago. Never would he have guessed that he was coming up on a year since his expected return.
Ignoring his guilt, his thoughts shifted over to the fact that he would need to start paying more attention to the smaller villages he was charged with. He acknowledged that he was obsessing over Astilla and that the less populated areas required more care and vigil also.
Without warning, Leo's head lifted upright and his pupils dilated, snapping him from his ponderings. Something like a sixth-sense was picking up a disturbance, and his other senses strained to pick up any leads. With no avail, Leonardo spun on his heel and sprinted out the front door.
He was vaguely aware that it had already gotten much brighter and somewhere in the back of his mind he wondered how long he had been staring at his brother's gift to him.
Adrenaline had already started coursing through Leo's blood stream. His limbs carried him swiftly through the tangle of foliage with practiced ease. No specific thoughts drove him other than the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Before he knew it, his sixth-sense had brought him to Astilla. Of course it's Astilla.
Leonardo's heart jumped at the sight of Colonel Santino and three of his men, two of which were the biggest brutes he had ever laid eyes on in this part of the world. Like that will save him, his face twisted into a sadistic and disgusted grin. The four were standing in front of the villagers, with the woman whom he had passed the amulet onto laying on the ground, and her son whose hand was held firm in one of the muscles' grip. For a quick moment, his insides turned to ice when Santino made a move on the woman in the dirt. However, Leo noticeably calmed when the Colonel yanked the necklace from her neck and made no move to hurt her physically. The monster said some grumbled words about how the jungle is a dangerous place before the boy was released and stumbled over to his mother.
Santino laughed and then motioned for his group to move out. Getting in the jeep with all of the goods and supplies that were stolen, they proceeded to drive out of the village, laughing at their work.
Leonardo's face twisted into a more recognizable smile, and whispered to deaf ears, "I will show you just how dangerous this jungle can be," before taking off through the trees to cut his quarry off on the road.
A shortcut took him to the road well before Santino had a chance to get that far. As if on autopilot, Leo began looking around, taking note of his surroundings. A plethora of possible plans whizzed through his mind before he spotted a tree that was rotting at the base. Without missing a beat, he made his way over and began hacking at the rotting roots. Once the tree was cut through to his liking, Leonardo stood on the other side and with all of his might and a grunt or two, the intact wood splintered and the great severed log fell across the path. The ground shook when it landed and caused the trees to tremble, sending various birds flying. The loud crack from the separation, from where Leo stood, was deafening. This however, did not overly bother him as he was currently living in his own mind, trying to make a successful ambush by weighing odds and probabilities in his planning.
Having thought the yet-to-take-place event out, Leo felt around in his cloak for some rope that he had come across only days ago. He looked up to a tall tree that leaned over the road near his makeshift road block. Not long enough. He searched around once more and gathered some vines which he quickly tied together to lengthen the rope, making sure it kept a reliable strength.
After making a slip-knot, he tossed the loop up and over a branch with force and precision that his Master would be proud of. He slackened and tightened the length before he gave an approving nod at how it slid about the branch without a hitch.
The faint sound of an oncoming vehicle could be heard from up the trail. Leo dashed behind the tree holding the rope and tied it so that the loop was high enough and out of sight. When the noise became louder, his muscles clenched and he jumped behind the log, awaiting his prey to fall into his trap.
He peeked over just enough to see but still hidden enough to stay out of sight. Just as the vehicle came around the corner, it skidded to a halt.
"Idiota!" Santino yelled at his spindly driver, smacking him on the head, "watch where you're going!"
The smaller man answered shakily, "there's a log on the road, Señor!"
Santino looked at the log with a snarl, "well, if you're not too busy, REMOVE IT!" He threw his hands up to show his draining patience, "Cortez, ándale!"
One of the big guys got out and grabbed the winch, then proceeded to stretch it out towards the fallen tree. Leo coiled his muscles, ready to act on his plan. No mercy for these men. I gave them fair warning, he told himself over and over.
As soon as Cortez reached over to grab the hook from his other hand, Leo shot a hand over the man's mouth and grabbed at his shirt to pull him over to his side of the log. He quickly moved his hand clutching at the fabric to the back of Cortez's head and, with his other hand still muffling his trembling mouth, gave a quick twist. The sound of popping cartilage never got easy to listen to, nor the feeling of tendons snapping below a firm grip, but Leo laid the man down and returned his attention to the remaining flies in his web.
The other guard had already stepped out of the vehicle and was making his way to the log. Like a bolt of lightning, Leonardo went to where he had tied the rope off. He peeked around the tree to check on his whereabouts and, just as he cocked his gun, he stepped into the slip-knot's range. Leo cut the knot and the big loop descended upon it's victim. Before he could react, the ninja yanked at the rope with all the strength he could muster, effectively lifting the man swiftly enough to make him drop the gun. He disappeared up in the leaves of the tree, with a yelp of fear.
At this point, Santino stood up and yelled at the attacker, "who are you? Show yourself!" Leo noticed the slightest hint of fear in his voice before he moved up to the treetop to finish his current victim.
He stopped when he got to the man, who was beginning to hyperventilate, and crouched down, giving an obscure view of his form. The militia soldier's eyes grew wide with horror at the unknown predator, while distantly listening to words from below him.
"It's the Ghost of the Jungle, he punishes those who prey upon the weak. He's coming!"
Always one for theatrical shows of prowess, Leo waited for the last word to be said before he lunged at the man, effectively cutting through the rope at his waist. The man leaned back to avoid the Ghost, but went too far and fell from the tree without so much as a word.
As if pre-planned, he fell in front of the scrawny rambler, who let out a scream.
"I-I Just remembered, I left the stove on! And my wife, she hates that!" With another raspy yell, he took off into the forest, removing himself from the scene. It took all of his men to abandon him to get Santino out of the jeep and face his doom.
"Get back here!" he yelled at his deserter, who's reply was "you're on your own, Jefe!"
By this time, Leo had made his way down and hid behind some big green leaves. Santino brandished his machete and called out, "show yourself," and then pointing the blade at the various trees went, "do you realize who you're dealing with?"
A few moments passed when the only thing that could be heard beyond the rainforest chatter was Santino's uneasy breathing. Leo stood up with the slightest of noises, causing the Colonel to turn and look behind him, where he spotted the all-too-apparent eyes of the one who was hunting him. He let out a surprised yell, while Leonardo just intensified his glare. He watched on as Santino turned and ran, tumbling over his own feet before hastily getting back up and slicing his way through the jungle. Leo moved higher to get a better view from the trees, keeping up with ease. He was near enough to see the wretch trip again and fall down a hill, machete flying from his grasp.
Recovering his weapons, he again called out to the forest, "I am not afraid of a myth! I am not afraid of a ghost!"
There was his cue. Leonardo pulled off his cloak, tossed it onto the branch, and leapt from his perch. He landed with an intentional thump , drawing Santino's full attention. Here they were at last; turtle versus man, good versus evil. Leo could only stare, a strange mixture of giddiness and revulsion played in his gut.
He reached back with his right hand and drew a katana with his usual grace and speed, further intimidating the machete wielding pig. Leonardo heard him whisper, "what are you?" before the staring match was over and Santino raised his blade and, letting out a war cry, rushed at the shadowy figure.
Leo didn't hesitate for a second, but still had time for one thought: finally. He hunched over, grabbed his sword with both hands and charged, cold steel leading the way.
The machete was raised to strike, but it did not descend fast enough. The katana blade pierced his shirt and, soon after, buried itself in his stomach. He let out a deafening cry before becoming silent. His eyes opened only to be met by Leonardo's. Leo watched as fear and shock danced in the dark irises of his foe before pulling at his sword with an all-too-familiar sound of blade on skin. Santino crumpled to the ground, clutching at the now heavily leaking wound. Even while consumed by pain, his curiosity of the one who had killed him etched at his mind.
Leo stood in front of him, kicking away the fallen machete, and just watched as the brown forest floor turned red. The man looked over Leo one more time before his gaze fell on the creature's face.
"Wh-what are you?" He asked through labored breaths.
Leo crouched down so that he was closer to his prey's ears, "My name is Hamato Leonardo, and you already know what I am." Santino gave a face of disbelief before his eyes closed and his body went slack. Leo let out a breath of relief. "It's done," he assured himself. It felt like a great weight had been removed from his shoulders and he was able to breathe clearly again.
Before going to retrieve his cloak, Leo noticed something in the dead man's pocket. He reached for it and was surprised to bring out a well-know, golden amulet. He closed his eyes and smiled, clutching it to his chest, a promise.
Alright, so I guess there's still a bit more to cover which means there will be one more chapter. You guys can probably guess what's going to happen, but I want to put some closure in here. Thank you everybody for the reviews! You guys are great!