Getting June Free

When a Purple Dragon answers the door, it's a child with a dragon tattoo. "Daddy," the young girl says, trying to pet me gently, "there's a dog out here and it looks like she's in pain!"

"Just shut the door, Cloud," I hear Hun's voice say. "Ignore it. That dog's going to die anyway, so let it die on the street."

Cloud, a black-haired and grey-eyed girl of around 9 years, puts a piece of rope around my neck, guiding me inside. "Be quiet girl. I'll take care of you." She takes me to a large room filled with boxes of stolen items and June's tied to a chair that's tied to a pole. "Hey, June." Cloud takes me to her and gently places me on her lap and petting me.

"Hey, Cloud," June whispers, petting me the best she can with her arms chained to the arms.

"This dog seems to like you. winged wolf."

"Yeah." June's voice fills with confusion as I see the turtles go to the rooftop and look in the skylight. "But I don't know her."

Cloud looks at me and takes the rope off from around my neck slowly and I lick her hand, quietly whimpering.

"Now," I hear Leo say, jumping down and getting in a fighting stance.

Cloud nearly screams but I go to her side quickly, quieting her down.

"Guys," I say, looking to them, "she's fine. This is Cloud and she helped me."

"You talk," June and Cloud ask me and I nod.

"Yes, but you need to keep us a secret. June, you know me already."

The door to the room opens and Xever (an African- American bad guy working for Shredder & the PDs that is also known as Fishface when he's mutated with Bradford, aka Dogpound) comes in.

"The turtles," Xever says, taking out a little pocket knife. "You and your little pooch won't escape."

I turn into a dragon and roar loudly, pinning Xever to the ground with my tail until he slashes his knife at it, making me move it. "You're going to regret that, Xever!" I slash the chains holding June back and guard her as she climbs onto my back. "Climb on, Cloud!"

Cloud hesitates but eventually gets on and I put the turtles on my back.

Blowing fire and setting the room on fire, I fly out with everyone on my back and go to a rooftop a few blocks away before landing. My tail lowers so everyone can use it as a slide to get off, but Cloud declines, refusing to slide down my tail so I lower my head and she gets off that way.

"Why did you save me," Cloud asks as I turn into a human, "I'm a part of the Purple Dragon gang. Even though I don't WANT to be."

"You'd not a bad person, Cloud," I say, seeing Mike playing a game on his T-Phone. "Where are my manners? I'm Faith. These are my friends: Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo. You already know June."

"It's nice to meet you," Cloud says with a dip of her head.

"Faith," June echoes in a shadow-y, questioning tone, "Is it really you?"

I nod and turn into a human with dazzling blue eyes. "It's really me." She runs to hug me but stops within feet of me, realizing that I'm not a huggable person except when it comes to Raph's hugs.

"Sorry," June says, smiling slightly while she feels awkward.

"Don't worry about it." Raph puts his hand on my shoulder and motions to further back before walking that way. "Excuse me for a moment." I follow Raph and stop short of him, looking him in the eye. "Yes?"

"I was wondering why you're not a huggable person because you let me hug you but nobody else. How come?"

Sighing and turning to the edge of the roof, I look straight ahead at a group of stars that seem to shine brighter than anything else. "Because... since my mom died, I didn't want to get close to anyone anymore because of what happens. Whenever I get close to anyone, they either die or get really hurt. I just can't go through that again... ever." Raph puts his hand on my shoulder and comforts me the best he can. "I only let you hug me because I'm closest to you and I feel safe in your arms."

Raph's eyes hold happiness and pride. "Really?" I nod and he hugs me gently, smiling.

I hug back and smile slightly. "I also like group hugs because they help me calm down, too... and I also feel safe when everyone joins in."

Just then, we go to the others and start a group hug.

"Is it OK to hug you," June asks, hesitantly hugging me.

"It is," I reply, smiling. "Come on, Cloud!"

Cloud joins in on the group hug and tears escape her eyes. "Thank you... for trusting me and helping me out."

"You're welcome." The turtles and I chime in at once, smiling.

"Thank you for keeping me alive, Cloud," June says, smiling and breaking from the group hug.

"You're welcome, June." Cloud also breaks from the hug and hugging June, same thing for June.

Raph, Leo, Don and I stop hugging, as well with smiles on our faces.

"We should get home," Leo says, turning to June. "Do you want us to walk you home, June?"

"Just Faith, Raph, and Cloud. Thanks, Leo."

Leo nods, starting for the lair with Don and Mikey behind him.

"Come on," June says, starting for the north and walking by my side.

Cloud and Raph follow on either side, not talking to each other.

"Faith," June speaks up, breaking the silence, "How did you meet the turtles?"

"Raph was hurt," I start, "and I helped him out."

As I continue explaining, June's eyes light up when I mention Mikey's name. "Mikey?"

Raph and I nod as Cloud's eyes light up slightly when Leo's name is mentioned, but not because she has a crush, but because she's happy to know him.

"And now, I couldn't be happier because..." I stop because I don't know how to explain or how she's going to take it, so Raph cuts in.

"We're dating."

June's eyes widen as she hugs both of us happily. "I'm so happy for you two! I can tell you're perfect for each other. Raph, you couldn't have been luckier to get Faith's heart."

Cloud scans the surrounding rooftops and her eyes stop in the shadows to our left. "We have company."

I draw my katanas and Raph gets his sais as we stand in front of June, ready for battle as Bradford jumps out.

"Looks like I got lucky," he says, smirking. "I was just after June, but I got three others."

He doesn't know about Cloud's family so he just assumes she's with us.

"Over my dead body," I say, charging.

Not too long after, he leaves quietly.

"What gives," Cloud says, calming down as Raph and I put our weapons away. "He's always doing this."

We continue toward June's house and get to a huge mansion with a long driveway, a limo, black gate, people bustling about, stables, a training ring, paddock, and a guest house about the size of a two-floor house. "Wow, June," I say, my eyes wide, "You're... it's... wow!"

We say our goodbyes and watch as she goes into the house before turning to Cloud.

"Do you have a place to stay," Raph asks.

"No." June's eyes start to house tears.

"I know someplace you can stay for the night," I say, going off a few blocks from June's house with them following. "It's not much, but at least it has four walls and a roof."

We arrive at an abandoned building, but it looks brand new: White siding and bright blue door with rainbow shingles on the roof.

"Thanks, Faith," Cloud says with a yawn before heading in.

"Lets go home," Raph says, turning to me.

"Sounds good," I say, yawning and growing sleepier every minute. Raph picks me up and carries me home and I fall asleep in his arms.