Well, next chapter, as promised. This one is shorter than the last.

After he received his katanas, Leo trained with the sheaths on his shell so he can get used to the feeling of carrying them when he fights without the swords. Heather had left him to his schedule after doing her own workout. He sits down to meditate, already mastering the technique. He clears his mind and thinks back to one of the lessons he had been taught by Heather. She had started his forest tag exercises again. He was faster, but he still couldn't find her. Then he got an idea. An idea that had a one in a million chance of working in his mind set.

He grabbed a branch and climbed up. He stood on the strong limb and looked down. He remembers his head swimming at the height, even if he knew it wasn't much. He forced himself to look up and search the trees. He sees Heather not to far off. He stepped to the branch in front of him and reached up to another branch and pulled himself up. He goes a little farther and then he sits down, overcome by the height he had gotten to. Heather had kept that going a few times each week and Leo steadily got better at climbing up and moving through the trees. When he finally caught up to her a few weeks ago, she had him look down. He wasn't scared anymore. He wasn't scared of falling.

He was so proud. Leo breaks out of his meditative state and breathes a sigh of content. Meditating always did that to him, gave him peace of mind. He gets up and walks into the weapons vault to put them away. A clearly labelled katana display has been added. He takes the swords out of their holders. He looks at them and vows silently that he will be the greatest swordsman he can be. He puts them on the display and lays the leather strap and belt under them.

Minutes later, Leo walks into the A-house and stomps his boots on the rug. He pulls them off and tugs at the velcro of his jacket. He has worn clothes during his time at the Ranch, but he isn't a big fan of winter. The clothes during the cold season are extra tight and constricting. He likes being able to have flexibility. So the moment he goes into a warm building, the winter gear comes off and he breathes a sigh of relief. There are only three things in winter that he likes- Heather's birthday, Christmas, and the anniversary of Heather rescuing him.

He walks up to the bedroom and changes out of his gi and into a pair of cotton pants. He leaves his t-shirt on, which is altered for his shell. He sits on his bed. His blue blanket is there, still folded. He picks it up and scowls at it.

Outside the door, Heather hears him say, "Why am I still attached to this? It's a blanket for a little, scared turtle tot." He scoffs, "I am never going to be scared again. I will never let fear control me." Heather peaks at him discard the blanket under his pillow. He gets up and goes to the bathroom. Heather retreats to the stairs so he doesn't see her.

When Leo gets back to the room after his school session in the living room, his blanket is gone. For a moment, he's completely fine with it. But then panic sets in. Where did it go? Did he truly wish it into oblivion? He searched through his bed, under his pillow, inside his pillowcase. He takes it back, he needs his blankie. He can't sleep without it. He just put it under his pillow for later. He runs down the stairs.

"Heather!" he yells. Heather walks in, her hand behind her back.

"What's wrong, Leo?" she asks, calmer than she usually is when he's distressed.

"My.. my blanket is gone," he says, "I didn't mean to say I didn't need it. Deep down, I know I do. But now I can't find it anywhere!"

"Hmm, where do you think it went?" Heather asks, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"I don't know! I checked my bed, I checked my pillow. It couldn't have walked away! …Heather? Why are you laughing!?" Heather couldn't help it and started chuckling. She covers her mouth until she can speak.

"It didn't get up and walk away, Leo. I took your blanket."

Leo stares at her. "Why?"

"It doesn't have a purpose anymore, am I correct?" Leo thinks about it and nods. "I decided to repurpose it." Leo looks at her arm that is hidden behind her back.

"Into what?" He says, silently wishing he didn't even ask. Heather smiles and produces the blue fabric. It had a portion cut away and it has wide tassels on it's sides. Two holes are cut near the edge.

"I remember that Donnie had a purple mask when we last saw him. I thought that you would like your blanket made into one for you. You can still use it, just not considered a blanket." She hands it to him, hoping he likes it. She knows how mad she would be if someone took the wood of her guitar and made it into something else. He stares at it, not sure what to make of it. Then he looks up at Heather, which isn't much since he's still growing.

"Can you help me put it on, Heather?" Heather smiles and helps him tie the mask in the back of his head. It covers the top of his head and goes over his eyes. The ends tie in the back, making two short tails.

"All done," she says. Leo turns around and looks at Heather. His blue eyes stand out all the more with a similar color enclosing them. He runs to the bathroom and looks at his reflection. Heather stays in the living room. She doesn't see him start to vibrate with excitement. But she does hear what he has to say about it:

"Awesome!"

Now he has his swords and his mask. I was waiting until I could change his mask into something else.

Now.. what am I going to put up next for this story..?

*sings* Problem~~!