Chapter 4: Getting to Know You

"Do you know how to handle that?" At the sudden question Wind looked over his shoulder toward the voice. Not repeating himself Leo gestured to the blade Wind had strapped to his shell, in clarification. Surprised by the question, Wind grabbed the hilt and gave the instrument an experimental turn. "Traneil instructed me in the ways of the warrior from a young age." He shrugged, sheathing his weapon. "I'd like to say I know just the basics but I've fought the Krang too many times for that to be true. How about you?"

Leo fingered the handle of his own weapon. "Master Splinter raised us in the ways of Ninjitsue. My brothers and I fight with honor, we have also faced many opponents including the Krangg, whom we've had to protect ourselves and the inhabitants of New York from."

Wind nodded.

Looking over at his counterpart it was clear from the many scars and indents in his shell that Leo had experienced battle. Internally he winced at the scrapes that crossed the caprese of his counterpart; he could only imagine what had caused that wound. He himself had his own array of scars that portrayed his story. It was a story he was proud of, as it was one of service. When he had fought it had been out of honor and defense to protect his family and to protect the innocent.

He couldn't help but wonder how different his fighting style was to that of Ninjitue. He spent most of his life in forests and jungles but he wasn't completely cut off from human culture and knew the basics of the fighting style, it was in essence similar to that of Oritian.

"Right now we are in the heart of Boise National Forest, our best bet is heading toward town and catching a train. If we are lucky it should take us just short of a week but I'd estimate closer to a week and a half considering that we need to stay out of sight." Wind pulled himself out of his wandering thoughts by sharing his plan with his newest and most unexpected companion. Not sure of all aspects of the situation, getting a head start as soon as possible was crucial. "We are roughly about two thousand and four hundred something miles from New York right now. We'll travel by foot and catch a train or car when we can."

"Have you done this before?" Leo's eyes were searching, cautious. It occurred to Wind that his counterpart was worried about the other's ability to handle himself. A grin covered Wind's face. "Oh trust me I know what I'm doing. I've traveled all over this country. Usually staying in nature. I'll let you take the lead when we reach New York but the woods" Wind's mouth curved upwards in a confident smile. "The woods are my domain."

Without any further clarification he strapped the travel bag securely onto his shell and bounded into the nearest tree, grateful when he sensed Leonardo close at his heels. Soundlessly he maneuvered his way through the branches of the familiar forest, reveling in the feel of the wind on his face and the push and pull of his muscles as he sailed from one tree to another.

Despite his apprehension Leonardo had no difficulties keeping up with him. If anything the determined turtle continued to push his pace.

One, two, three steps. Feet squared firmly against the tree trunk, a lunge into the next branches, one two three steps, body perfectly angled, another lunge, a twist mid air to grab a nearby branch to change trajectory. His foot tapped firmly against another trunk, hands reading above him to haul himself onto the next branch, one two, three, four, five more steps and then another lunge this time letting his feat meet the ground. Wind let a satisfied grin spread across his face. He couldn't understand how anyone couldn't enjoy this.

He really did enjoy running like this, pushing his body to its limits to see just what he could do. From the grin stretched across his counterpart's face he could tell Leonardo was enjoying the run as much as he was. A frown spread across Wind's face. He honestly hadn't seen his counterpart let down his guard much this trip. Since he arrived the turtle has been one-track minded. He couldn't suppress the shudder that went down his spine. If he had been separated from his family without any clue to what was going on, he'd be just as dedicated and straightforward as well.

His family.

As much as he tried fighting it, Wind's mind kept wandering back to the possibilities Leonardo's arrival entailed. If his counterpart had brothers in his world then maybe..just maybe. Wind shook his head. As much as he wanted that to be true, they had all been raised separately. There was no guarantee that his brothers would welcome a stranger into their world if he just turned up out of the blue.

Because that was what he was to them and what they were to him: strangers.

He couldn't let his emotions get in the way of reality.

He was helping Leonardo. And that was it.

It was close to dusk before they finally slowed to a stop.

"Why have we stopped?" Leo asked, already on high alert, sapphire eyes scanning the surroundings hands nimbly at his side, ready to grab his weapon or disappear into the shadows at any moment. Raised by warriors, Wind recognized the stance of a warrior.

"Thought you might be tired." Wind commented crouching by the stream to splash his face.

"Seriously?" a wolfish grin. "I run patrols like this all the time with my brothers." The masked turtle looked around the forest wistfully. "Though usually not in paradise like this."

Wind smiled wistfully at the comment, taking a moment to also take a look at the wonder around them.

"It will be dark soon. We should make camp here." Wind commented. Although he had no opposition traveling at night they had been traveling all day and it would be wise to pace themselves especially if there was a fight waiting for them at the end of this journey. And considering they were heading to New York: Krangg headquarters, that was a real possibility in Wind's book.

Leo nodded. "I'll get a fire going."

Hearing the babbling of a brook nearby, Wind nodded. "I'll catch us some fish."

With the sun returning to rest behind the distant mountains sending an array of color across the vast sky, two turtles sat beside a roaring fire both eating delicious trout.

"Where did you learn to fish?" Leo asked conversationally.

"Amos" Wind responded. "We taught me to center my energy to feel vibrations and energy in the water."

"Sounds like Chi." Leo commented, taking another savory bite of cooked trout before asking "Whose Amos?"

"The leader of the Ortainians ."

Leo looked up waiting for further clarification, receiving none he let out a breath preparing himself for the needed conversation.

"Wind, it's pretty clear that our lives took two separate paths. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious and I'm guessing you are as well." The leader settled himself comfortably next to the fire, extending his hands toward the warmth. "I won't push you to tell me more than you are comfortable with" the leader continued keeping his posture relaxed hoping to put the other at ease. "But I was hoping to hear how you ended up out here and why you are not back with your family in New York."

Wind sat in silence for a moment. "For a very long time. I was sure I was the only one of my kind." Leo stiffened at Wind's words. "There was a time when I wondered if I had a family. Others like me." Wind's eyes didn't leave the fire. "But to me my family were those who raised me. The Ortianians"

"The Ortainians?" Leo asked.

Wind nodded. "Their planet was destroyed years ago, Amos and the others crash landed here about twenty years ago on their way to a refugee planet." He let his eyes drift down. "They are a good group of people. They've risked their lives in the past to protect people from dangers such as the Krangg or smug drug lords or other criminals. It was how they found me. They saved me from the Krangg." Wind let his eyes drift down.

"So the Ortainians are aliens?" Leo questioned his mind spinning.

Wind nodded. Fighting for the words to explain yet coming at a loss. It was easier to show. Closing his eyes, Wind centered his energy inward. The Ortainians were telepaths who could communicate with the world around them. Raised by these off-worlders Wind had picked up on a few things. He was by no stretch of the imagination a telepath himself but with the aid of the Krangg amplifiers had been able to communicate with his adopted family as well as the world around him as they had.

Finding his counterpart's mind closed, as all non-telepathic minds would be to him unlike if he were Ortianian; he stretched his Chi out toward the wind instead. He felt the breeze whirl around him as the gentle friend helped him see the activity going on in the vast forest he called home.

Saying a farewell he opened his eyes and met the gaze of a contemplative turtle.

"Okay" Leo let out a sigh. "I don't know what that was..but I recognize the use of one's chi..meditation?"

Wind shook his head. "An ancient technique unfamiliar to this world. Basically I can communicate with the wind…it's where I get my name." He bowed his head bashfully. "I was raised by a group of telepathic warriors."

Leo's eyes widened. "You're a telepath?!"

"No" Wind let out a sigh. "Not really" raising his arms he showed his counterpart the wrist wraps that held the Krangg amplifiers. The krangg aspect of the technology was evident but the light brown wrappings that held them were Ortianian. They had modified the tech to some degree. The device was small; no larger than a human watch all in all. The purple hue to the device still seemed ominous to Wind but having to live with it all these years he had grown accustomed to it.

"This is Krang tech," Leo frowned.

"Yeah" Wind rubbed the back of his head. "Mendon modified it." He looked down at the wraps. "They were intended to help me communicate with my family." He noticed Leo twitch surprised by the use of the word.

Wind continued. "Being raised by telepaths while not being one myself presented some…challenges. And after some training I could…but I can't communicate with anyone else in that way. Ortainians can communicate with anyone even if they are not telepaths. Well at least send one-way messages which was my level of telepathic communication with them before the amplifiers." Wind let out a sigh. "But after some years and a lot of practice I realized that I could also communicate with the world around me. At a much more basic level than the Ortainians but still!" A smile spread across Wind's face remembering the accomplishment. "I can sense the energy around me." Wind tried to explain. "I can't really manipulate or change it as the Ortainians can..despite how much they tried to train me." The last part was whispered to himself.

"They could manipulate energy?" Leo asked worriedly. If there were aliens with those types of abilities on Earth it was definitely something to be on guard for.

"Yes, but don't worry" Wind smiled reassuringly, sensing Leo's apprehension. "The Ortainians are peaceful. Yes they can change weather to a small degree or affect the water." Not the wind though, the wind had a mind of its own. "But it doesn't mean that they do! There is a balance to things that goes above our understanding and all Ortainians have to follow it. Plus" he added. "Like mutants, they wanted to stay undetected by humans."

Leo nodded. "Fair." Looking around, the young leader had to ask. "So where are they? Will they be alright with you taking off like this?"

Wind let his eyes drift down. "They met up with the rest of their team a few months ago."

"And you didn't go with them?" Asked Leo, his blue eyes understanding yet questioning.

Wind hesitated, it was hard to communicate. Twine sapphire eyes met and the rouge mutant found himself diving deep into his backstory.

"You chose to stay behind?" Leo's voice was even full of compassion and depth.

"In the end it was Amos who decided I should stay. He knew that even with the amplifiers I would never fit the lifestyle the Ortainians lead." Wind bowed his head. "That and he also knew how hard leaving Earth was for me."

Leo felt a pain of sympathy stab his heart. "But it was also hard to have them leave without you."

"You have no idea." Wind let his eyes drift away.

Leo let out a huff. It was a lot to take in. His heart ached knowing that his counterpart had been initially in Krangg custody he had a suspicion that it was the Krang's fault he'd been separated from his family to begin with, most likely on the day they were all mutated. It was a relief to his heart to learn of the amazing team of Ortainian warriors who had taken this Leo in as their own. It was an odd twist of fate, one that Leo was still trying to wrap his head around. One matter of humor though was that Orianinan fighting technique sounded a lot like Ninjisue just as Wind's altered technique of telepathy was similar to centering and using one's chi. Leo had no doubt that if the turtle returned with him he would have no trouble harnessing these two skill sets into the intricate life of a ninja.

Leo winced internally just the notion of his counterpart being separated from his own brothers' tour at the blue clad leader. He couldn't imagine a world without his brothers and just knowing that there was a dimension where this was in fact a reality broke Leo's heart.

He could only imagine the internal debate the turtle across from him was going through.

"You okay?" Wind asked.

"Yeah" Leo ran a hand over the top of his head. "It's a lot to take in." Raising his eyes from the ground he met the searching yet familiar eyes of the turtle in front of him.

"When I was transported here" Leo began "I was transported to your coordinates." Leo watched his counterpart's expression trying to gauge his reaction as he continued. "Chances are that if my brothers were brought here as well they are with your brothers."

Leo watched as Wind's eyes widened in surprise and hope before darkening with pain. "I didn't know about them." Wind's voice was a whisper " if they do exist, they might not know about me."

Leo nodded his heart wincing in compassion. "If that is the case I'm sure my brothers have informed them."

Wind wrapped his arms around himself in a comforting hug looking away; Leo's words seeming to bring more internal debate upon him instead of relieving it.

"Leo…I can't just step into their lives..things…things are different here then they are in your world."

"So?" Leo questioned tilting his head. "Yes, the circumstances are different but I highly doubt Mikey, Donnie and Raph are." Leo narrowed his eyes in determination, willing his counterpart to hear the honesty in his voice. "Once they learn they have a brother, they will do anything to find you. Family is everything to us. I know my brothers and I'm sure their counterparts would feel the same way. Whether they know about you already or not, they are going to want you in their lives." Leo met his counterparts eyes. "They would want to be your brother."

Sapphire eyes clouded with confusion. "They don't even know me!"

Leo sat for a moment in thought. "Do you want to be their brother?"

A myriad of emotions passed across sapphire eyes and Leo didn't have to be a telepath to know what Wind was thinking. Because as his counterpart, he knew. If he was in Wind's shoes he knew exactly how he'd react to that question.

Reaching over Leo rested a hand on Wind's shoulder. "Hey"

"I don't know why I'm feeling so protective of them." Wind mumbled. "I don't even know them. We weren't raised together! We're strangers!" Wind shook his head in exasperation. "But of all the places for a Mutant to live they stay in New York!" He throws his hands in the air. "Don't they know that it is basically Krangg headquarters on Earth? Don't they realize what danger they are in?! What if the Krang discover their existence? Or not even the Krangg, there are gangs in New York? How are they supposed to stay hidden?!"

Leo let out a sigh, his hand subconsciously sneaking toward the crack in his plastron.

"Leo" terrified sapphire eyes turn toward him. He could see the internal debate beneath the depths. Fighting on whether or not to ask the question that tugged at his mind.

"Are my… are the other turtles in danger?"

Leo let out a sigh, closing his own eyes. It was time to tell his counterpart about his life.

Author's note: Wow. I really hope that it all makes sense.

I hadn't intended to leave this on a cliffhanger but it just felt like the right time to pause. I originally wrote this chapter with more inward debate and reflection but I wanted more dialogue so I rewrote it. I will probably use much of that first draft in the a future chapter though!