Chapter 16: Meeting of the Minds
Mikey managed to salvage some of Wind's cooking and after many jokes on Wind's behalf and an all around chipper breakfast, Wind was beginning to feel the need for level of attention and interaction he was receiving was new; both wonderful and overwhelming.
Besides that another weight was beginning to weigh on the wander, he hadn't spoken to Leo yet. Donnie mentioned over breakfast that the blue banded turtle had awoken during the night, much to his brothers' relief. Wind was very relieved to hear the good report, Leo's injuries at the hand of the Shredder were quite severe and Wind had worried about the blood loss.
Wind listened distantly to Donnie and Mikey's chatter about the probability of some absurd notion Mikey had mentioned, only paying half attention to the conversation as Wind let his mind drift.
In the wake of his arrival, many questions had remained unasked but Wind felt that time drawing to a close. Soon there would be questions. Questions Wind wasn't sure he was ready to answer.
For one where he had been these past many years.
He let his eyes drift back toward the turtles. How would they react to him being raised by the Ortianians? He wondered distantly.
For another, he had arrived injured leading the brothers on a chance through the sewers toward an injured Leo. Especially now that Leo was awake the story behind that would be told.
Neither set of brothers knew about the fight with Shredder. He wasn't sure how everyone would take the news and to be honest, Wind was very nervous about that. In the moment his actions had seemed justified. Self defense, the only option he could think of fighting for his and Leo's life in a desperate situation. Even understanding the details between the move he pulled, Wind was shocked that it worked. It was risky to say the least to use one self as a conduit for that much electricity. He'd never spoken to the weather before as he did the trees and now without the amplifiers it was something he'd probably never do again.
He had no doubt that the Shredder was dead.
How his new found family would react to that Wind had no clue.
Wind began to fidget in his chair. His eyes darted to the lab door, swallowing past the growing feeling in his chest wind rose to his feet, letting his path be directed toward the lab. His brothers' chatter grew distant as he stood frozen at the metal door of the lab. Hesitantly he knocked, before pushing the door open.
He smiled sheepishly, his heart in his throat as he squeezed through the door. Four sets of eyes turned to him as the metal door slid closed behind him. Three brothers were gathered around the injured and returned fourth. Four brothers. Wind felt a lump in his throat.
"Hi" he waved awkwardly at the four turtles.
"Hi Wind" Leo smiled, his sapphire eyes tired as he gestured for the Ortianian raised wander to come in. Hesitantly Wind came into the lab his eyes darting skeptically to the array of machinery and devices scattered about skeptically.
"It's alright" Leo smiled. "It's just Donnies'" Wind nodded. He knew his brother was a scientist but still seeing the lab was still unnerving. As a mutant the reality of what his life in a lab would be like was still a haunting nightmare, one he'd come close to living at the hands of the Krang too many times for comfort.
"How are you feeling?" Wind asked, his eyes wandering over his wounded comrade happy to note the obvious care he received.
"Like I got hit by a bus" Leo smiled weakly.
Wind returned the smile, having felt the same way when he woke up. "Guy packs quite a punch doesn't he" he joked.
Leo frowned. "Sure did"
Wind sensed the nervous energy of the brothers beside him and with a look from Leo knew better than to stay on the topic.
"Hi, I'm Wind" he introduced lamely, turning to Leo's three brothers. It was still quite a lot to take in. They looked almost identical to the three turtles he'd left in the kitchen. The only noticeable difference was that these three turtles were not wearing a blue band around their arms, as his brothers did. Wind began to wonder what the band his brothers wore signified, if it in fact signified anything.
"Donetello" purple introduced, "and this is Rapheal and Michelangelo" he gestured to red and orange.
"Yeah, we decided to go by our full names to make things easier." Michelangelo explained.
Wind nodded with a smile.
"Hey guys, would you mind giving us a moment?" Leo asked with a smile.
Michelangelo's blue eyes widened, loathing to leave the returned brother.
Raphael shuffled awkwardly, obviously just as uncomfortable to leave Leo's side as his brother was.
"Sure" Donetello answered, though his eyes portrayed his own unease and curiosity. "But just for a few minutes, you just woke up, you don't need to be talking about anything distressing. Maybe you should wait until.."
"Don" Leo cut off his brother with a look, his voice gentle but firm. "It's fine, I promise. A lot has happened just give us a few minutes."
The three brothers nodded their heads, questions on their tongues that they held.
"Okay Leo" Donatello nodded, motioning for his two brothers to follow.
"We'll go see what Mikey of this world is cooking," Rapheal responded.
Wind bowed his head sheepishly. "Actually I cooked."
Leo gave him an all so annoying knowing smile. "A lot harder than campfire cooking isn't it."
"So that is the commotion we heard earlier" Donetello mused with a smile.
"Well in that case I guess I'm cooking," Michelangelo smiled.
With a laugh, grateful that it wasn't his cooking skills being teased, Leo turned his attention away from his three brothers as they left the lab, and turned his eyes to the fidgeting turtle in front of him.
"Not at all what you were expecting, was it?" Leo asked with a knowing smile.
Wind just stared at his double, needing no further explanation to know what he was referring to.
"Not at all" he breathed, a hand running down his face. He had expected a great many things when arriving in the city: suspicion, indifference, possible non-existence of said turtles. The last thing he'd expected was to be received as a long lost brother.
Leo just smiled. "So are you staying?"
Wind looked up and met the sapphire eyes of his double knowing that no answer was expected. Leo knew as much as he did.
"I've been an alien among aliens my whole life." Wind let his eyes drift down. "But I always figured that it was as close as I'd ever get to belonging…." Wind felt the emotions that had overwhelmed him yesterday rise in his chest once more as he lifted his gaze to meet the sapphire eyes of his double. "I am where I belong."
As the words left his tongue Wind knew them to be true. He may have only known his brothers for a short while but in his heart of hearts he knew he belonged here. Here with the crazy ninjas who fought the Krangg. Who ate pizza and watched cartoons. With the genius who could build anything. With the protective hothead with the truly sweetheart. With the baby brother who had a smile that could melt anyone's heart. With the ninja master who was their father. This was where Wind belonged. Among them.
He would do whatever it took to keep them safe. To keep them happy.
He wanted to be their friend. Their teammate. Their brother.
He wanted to be a friend, a teammate, a brother, a son.
He wanted to be their fourth.
He wanted to belong there. With them.
Leo smiled and for the first time Wind saw that he knew all along. Leo hadn't needed Wind to get back to his brothers. The ninja was fully capable of making this journey himself. No, he had brought Wind along because he wanted to help his double find his fit. His belongings.
Wind felt a lump form in his throat as the rest of the puzzle fell into place.
He let his eyes drift down not knowing what to say.
"Thank you," he said at last.
"Your welcome," Leo smiled. "And thank you"
Wind's head shot up in surprise.
"Without you I would never have found my brothers again" Leo's eyes were serious. "You saved my life in that fight."
Wind nodded.
"I…I killed him" his voice was barely a whisper as he admitted a terrible truth. Tears formed in his eyes as horror and guilt crept into his heart. He knew of the wickedness of the Shredder. Knew what he and his gang were capable of. Maybe the madman had deserved death, but who was Wind to dual out that punishment? Tears fell from sapphire eyes.
"Hey" Wind's voice was gentle as he reached over and grabbed his counterpart's hand. "You did what you had to do. You saved my life." his eyes were understanding as he met Wind's gaze.
Looking into the twin pair of eyes, Wind realized something.
"This happened in your world too didn't it?"
Leo let his gaze drop. "The Shredder had gone too far" Leo's voice was hollow. "With the mutagen he'd truly become a monster. He…he killed…" Leo trailed off closing his eyes. "I'm not proud of what I did..but I had too…I needed to protect my brothers." Leo raised his eyes and a communication beyond words was shared.
Wind looked down.
The two sat in silence for a long time.
Wind's mind was spinning when he finally left the lab. Leo had drifted back to sleep, unsurprising considering that he was still healing from his near fatal wound. A lot had been said and Wind was hoping for some time and space to process it all.
He needed to tell his brothers about the Shredder.
Hopefully they would be relieved that they were now safe from the madman. Wind only hoped they wouldn't see him any differently once they learned the truth of the tyrant's fate.
"You're kidding?" A voice came from the pit. Wind perked his ears curiously, his hand slinking to the back of his shell instinctively, when his hand didn't meet a familiar hilt he was reminded of the lack of his sword. Feeling greatly out of his comfort zone, Wind dropped to a crouch slinking forward to investigate the new voice.
"Why didn't you call?" A boy asked this time his voice pitching in excitement. "That's totally metal!"
"But I thought you didn't have a Leo..I thought.." it was a girl's voice this time and from the high pitched stutter it seemed as though she was close to tears.
"We thought so too" came Donnie's voice.
Curious Wind leapt into the rafters. The turtle gritted his teeth in pain at the effort, the events of the other day still leaving him weak and in pain. Silent as the wind he crept forward to look over the pit. His sapphire eyes widened in surprise. Humans. There were humans in the lair! And his brothers were talking to them? Talking to humans!
It took all his self control not to drop down then and there and whisk his oblivious brothers off to safety.
"It's a miracle!" Mikey's eyes were bright.
"Yeah it is," the red haired girl smiled, whipping tears from her own eyes.
Watching the strange interaction, Wind relaxed. Okay…so friends? His brothers evidently had two human friends. That was..interesting.
Not wanting to drop right on them, Wind bounded toward the dojo before letting himself slip down from the rafters. Looking toward the dojo doors Wind debated his options. On one hand he had wanted some time to think. On the other hand, he was presented with an opportunity to meet his brothers' friends. Taking a breath, Wind turned away from the dojo doors.
"So the other turtles are still here?!" the boy asked.
"So you found Leo…both Leos?" The girl asked.
"yes and yes" Raph answered, juggling both conversations. "I promise you will hear the whole story later but right now you need to leave. Our brother has been through a lot and I don't know how he will respond to humans so right now it would be best if you would…"
"Guys?" Wind's voice was questioning as the turtle walked up his gaze skeptical as he took in the two newcomers.
"Hey Wind!" Mikey bounded over. Wind opened his arms to receive and return the hug nuzzling his brother's head kindly.
"Hey bro" Raph smiled, stepping toward his brother.
"Wind, I'd like to introduce you to our friends." Donnie smiled. "This is April and Casey."
"Casey Jones" A boy in a tattered hockey shirt replied, a painted hockey mask resting atop thick black hair. Despite his original unease Wind gave the human a general smile finding nothing threatening about the teen. Casey gave a genuine smile, showing his missing teeth. The red haired girl covered her mouth, tears forming in her green eyes.
"And this" Donnie rested a hand on Wind's shoulder. "Is our long lost brother..Wind"
Wind smiled, his heart soaring at the title. Brother.
"It's nice to meet you." he nodded his head respectfully before reaching out a hand.
"Pleasure to meet you Wind" Casey replied his voice choked with emotion. The baller had grown close to the mutant family and had been there when the absence of a fourth was revealed. The turtles were like family to him, and the teen had felt the loss also, for the brother he never got to know.
Not able to contain herself any longer, April leapt forward wrapping her arms around the turtle. Stunned, Wind just stood there.
"Sorry..sorry" April apologized, backing away, rubbing at her tears.
"It's okay," Wind clumsily replied.
"How about Pizza?!" Mikey commented. "We still have some left over from yesterday."
"That sounds great!" Wind smiled. He'd never had pizza before yesterday and finally understood Mikey's ramblings about it being the quote 'best food in the entire galaxy!' Wind had no qualms about having more of the culinary masterpiece and was honestly relieved for the transition.
Lunch had been a great ice breaker. Wind found that he genuinely liked April and Casey. He could tell that they were good friends to his brothers. He hoped that they could one day become good friends too.
Wind let a wistful smile spread across his face at the thought.
Wind was unconscious of the habit as he let his mind reach out telepathically to find purchase.
It was a practice he'd been doing for years and wasn't something he could just turn off. He was still getting used to the closed minds surrounding him and was making an effort to communicate with words.
It caught him completely unaware as his mind connected with another.
Eyes wide Wind sat stunned pizza raised half way to his mouth as his mind collided with another.
He was used to the smooth ripple of Amos's thoughts, the meticulous workings of Mendon, the controlled rhythm of Traneil's consciousness, even the intertwined and steady beat of the forest: this was nothing like that. Wind closed his eyes as the jumble of thoughts and emotions hit him one after another like waves of a sea. It occurred to him that the mind that had met him was untrained, unfocused.
Wind was unfocused without his amplifiers. He was not a telepath and without the aid could not initiate conversation on his own with non-telephats and even with those like the trees conversations were difficult and tiring. But this..this held no comparison. Even with Kashikoi Ki, Wind had been able to understand the conversation and had been able to converse back even though without the amplifiers it was energy-consuming and difficult.
Pain grated against his mind at the swirling consciousness of thought. Dropping his pizza Wind lifted his hands to his ears.
Was this the Krangg? Fear pulsed through Wind at the thought. He remembered a cold lab, purple walls, blaring lights. They had probed him. When captured they had tried to communicate with him, seeing him with the Ortainians and assuming him as a telepath as well. It was not a pleasant memory.
"What is going on?" distantly Wind could sense the confusion and distress of the other. Awareness like a cold splash of water spread over Wind. Grounding his own self, he reeled back his spiraling thoughts, pushing the memory from his mind and calmed his racing emotions.
The mind was not the Krangg. But it was unfocused and uncentered, meaning Wind needed to be the one that was centered and focused; he couldn't let his own spiraling thoughts and emotions spill over to the other consciousness. Or at least any more than it already had.
Letting his calm spread through the connection, Wind felt the hold loosening. It was tiring but Wind pulled back, never more grateful for Traneil's training. Finally free of the connection Wind closed the door to his mind. Both grateful for the break of connection as well as shocked that his mind had collided with another. He had thought that besides the trees the Ortianians were the only telepaths on earth.
Distantly the voices of his brothers and Casey grew louder. Before they were a hushed murmur over the noise of the other's mind now the concerned voices were close and present.
"What's going on?! What's happening?" Raph demanded, the red clad turtle close to hysterical.
"I don't Know?!" Donnie admitted the genius's eyes wide.
"wind…wind…Wind!" Mikey's voice was pleading as his hand patted his brother's face.
Wind released his ears to grab Mikey's hand and halting the patting.
"Wind!" Mikey sprang forward wrapping his brother in a hug.
"Thank goodness!" Donnie breathed.
"Dudes! What happened?!" Casey asked the baller looking back and forth between April and Wind.
Wind turned his gaze toward April O'Neil. Her green eyes were wide and a thin layer of sweat was forming on her brow. From the way his brothers and Casey were fussing over both of them Wind could easily surmise that it was her mind he collided with.
"You're a telepath?" the words fell out of his mouth as soon as he processed them.
The kitchen suddenly fell quiet.
"Uhhh" Mikey scratched his head confused.
"Technically she's a psychic but honestly we haven't explored all her powers" Donnie's brow was furrowed in concern and confusion as he answered looking between the two at a loss.
April continued to stare her eyes wide. "The Krangg…"
Wind's heart was in his throat immediately, had the Krangg done something? Is that what she was saying or was she talking about…
"What did the Krangg do to you..?" Tears were forming in her green eyes.
Wind felt the air rush out of him at the words; the memory that had been brought unbidden to his mind in the chaos resurfacing. Had she seen that? In the connection had she seen his memories or at least that one.
His heart beating Wind fought to find the words to explain, to deny but he just sat there at a loss.
"Wind?" Donnie's voice is hesitant as it reaches forward to comfort his brother, Wind flinches as the purple clad turtle's hand touches the still tender skin on his forearm. Anger flares in Donnie's brown eyes.
The same anger is echoed in Raph's green eyes.
Heart in his throat Wind looks up and knows what he needs to do. He sees them connecting the dots and knows what assumptions they are making. His heart breaks at what they must be feeling.
"I wasn't in the Krangg's hands very long" his voice is quiet but it breaks the silence.
He can see the fury in not only his brothers' eyes but Casey and April's as well and decides to continue. "I told you that I thought I was the only one of my kind…" he took a deep breath. "Well I also used to hope that I wasn't that I had a family out there, others like me" Wind let his eyes rest on each of his brothers. "But I knew that was selfish because chances were if I had a family they were in the hands of the Krangg" he looked down again his heart aching "because that is where they found me."
Raph's knuckles were white with how tight his fists were clenched. "Who, who found ya"
"The Ortainians," Wind answered, raising his gaze. "They rescued me from the Krangg. They also raised me."
"Wow" Casey ran a hand through his hair.
Donnie's eyes widened at the statement before narrowing in thought. Raph looked conflicted between gratitude and jealousy, Mikey's expression was thoughtful yet perplexed.
"Who are the Ortainains?" April was the first to break the silence.
"They are aliens" Wind chuckled sheepishly, running a hand over his head. "They crash landed on earth years ago…they really don't get along with the Krangg."
"So you were raised by Aliens?" Casey asked the baller, looking much more impressed by this fact than the brothers. "That's so metal!"
"That's not exactly the term I would use right now Casey" Donnie hissed through gritted teeth at the human teen before turning to his brother. "Wind I need to know, how did the Ortainians treat you? Were you treated fairly? Were they cruel in any way? If this is too much to talk about right now that's alright."
"It's fine Donnie" Wind cut off his worried brother's ramblings, patting his hand in reassurance "The Ortaininas are nothing like the Krangg." Wind fought for a way to describe them. "They are honorable."
"Honorable, how so my son?" Master Splinter asked, having been listening to the end part of the conversation. When the kitchen containing the chatty teens had grown suspiciously quiet he'd felt compelled to check up on them and had thus walked into the emotional conversation.
"Well, they abhor violence and aim for peaceful solutions whenever possible." Wind explained.
"What do you mean by peaceful solutions?" April asked, eyebrows raised. "Did they find themselves in situations requiring non-peaceful solutions?"
"Well they are enemies of the Kraang" Wind explained with a sigh. "Their planet was and their band of warriors continued to take down Kranng operations even after they crash landed on Earth."
"Wow!" Mikey's eyes were wide. "So you've fought the Krang?!" Everyone stiffened at the question.
"Yeah, more often than I'd like." Wind admitted.
"That memory I saw.." April trailed off tears in her eyes.
Wind winced, hating that she saw that.
"It was a few years ago.." Wind explained. "We were taking down the Kranng's bases in Japan when…I was captured..they were curious about me…I think they thought I was Ortaininan or at least like them." Wind trailed off not wanting to say any more than that.
"Oh Wind" April covered her face. His brothers looked pale, even his father looked angry.
"When Leo said that his brothers lived in New York." Wind began "I was worried that if you three exist then you would too." Shaking his head, Wind continued. "New York is literally Kranng headquarters on Earth, why out of all the places did you choose to live here?!"
"It's our home," Mikey answered.
"Yeah, we aren't going to leave just 'cause the Krang are here, this is our home turf. They'll have to leave" Casey added.
Wind smiled, shaking his head.
"So the Ortinians.." Raph's voice was hesitant. "Are they expecting you back?"
Wind could hear the worry in Raph's question as was quick to reassure his brother.
"They were able to contact another ship. They rejoined their group months ago. They offered for me to come with them…but I chose to stay." Wind looked up, meeting the gaze of his family.
"That was a very brave thing to do my Son" Splinter's eyes reflected his glad heart at his son's words. "I am indeed glad you chose to stay behind, though it is regrettable that we are unable to meet the individuals who rescued you from the Krangg and had become your family." Splinter remarked.
"I regret that as well." Wind replied with a sigh.
"Wow what a story" Casey laughed.
"I hope we can hear the more detailed version later." Donnie commented, hopeful eyes turning to Wind.
"You will" Wind promised, "as long as I can also hear what you three have been up to the last few years" Wind asked hopefully.
"Definitely Dawg!" Mikey answered with a smile, slinging a playful arm around his brother's shoulders.
April rubbed her forehead tenderly.
"Oh" Donnie's eyes widened in concern. "Would you like some ibuprofen for that headache?" He asked kindly, rising to grab the medicine. "Wind?" He offered as he gave two to April who took them gratefully.
Wind shook his head. "I'm fine, thanks."
"What was that?" April asked, her curiosity returning to the mind collision earlier. Wind raised an eyebrow surprised at her lack of awareness. So the girl had powers yet was unaware of them.
"April?" Wind asked his sapphire eyes to be trained on the Kunoichi. "Are you aware that you have powers of telepathy?"
"Cool!" Mikey and Casey responded at the same time.
"How do you know that?" Raph asked, turning curious eyes to Wind.
The unmasked turtle shrugged. "The Ortainians were telepaths, I was raised by telepaths, I'm used to their ways of communication." Wind noted before taking a drink of his water. "To be honest this last week has been more verbal communication than I've used in my entire lifetime!"
"Wait, so you're a telepath?" Raph questioned green eyes widening slightly.
"No" Wind corrected. "I was raised by telepaths. I have no abilities of my own. But" he raised a hand. "I was taught how to center and focus my mind. You don't grow up surrounded only by telepaths and pick up on nothing."
"Cool!" Mikey's eyes were inquisitive. "So you can communicate with your mind?!"
"Only with telepathic minds Mikey" Wind noted with a frown. "Honestly I thought I wouldn't be able to any more now that my amplifiers were destroyed."
"So that's what they are" Donnie mumbled to himself before turning to his brother. "I was going to ask you about them. I was worried that it appeared to be Krangg tech."
"It was," Wind replied. "But Mendon modified it, it's perfectly safe, or at least it was until it was electrified." Wind rubbed his wrists at the memory.
"What happened bro?" Mikey asked, his brow creased in worry. "Donnie said that like millions of volts of electricity passed through your being!"
Wind let his eyes drift down. "It's a long story, and it's not all mine to tell."
He could tell his brothers wanted to push the subject but thankfully Casey was either very good at reading social situations and was providing a safe or was being totally oblivious.
"So if Wind has learned telepathy or whatever and somehow passed that to April, is April a telepath now?"
"I didn't pass telepathy to April" Wind sighed, rolling his eyes. "It doesn't work like that." He rubbed the back of his head. "Honestly it's my fault. Like I said I didn't think I could communicate like that anymore without my amplifiers..I mean now I know I can because of Kashikoi Ki, but I had tried reaching out to your minds earlier and received nothing. I didn't even mean to reach out to April's..It's just habit now after living with telepaths my whole life." Wind explained.
"Wait, wait, wait" Mikey held up his hands. "You reached out to our minds?"
"Well, yeah" wind shrugged.
"When?!" Mikey demanded.
"When I first woke up" Wind answered with a shrug. "It didn't work"
"Well we weren't prepared" Mikey fidgeted on his chair getting settled before raising his fingers to his forehead concentrating. "Okay try now."
Indulging his brother Wind opened the door to his mind and reached out. "Sorry Mikey, even with the amplifiers I was only able to communicate with telepaths before."
"This is very interesting my son" Master Splinter's whiskers quivered in interest. "You have truly strengthened your mind to be able to communicate in such a way even with supports"
"But why did it hurt?" Casey asked, his face creased in confusion and worry.
"I'm curious about that as well," Donnie admitted. "You and April were both in distress. I am guessing that is not common"
"No it's not" Wind supplied. "I'm not sure myself. I think it's because neither of us were prepared and so our minds just collided. Without the amplifiers I had less control over my thoughts." he sent an apologetic look at April's way.
"I know I didn't have any control. I felt like I was falling through space." Her eyes were wide.
Wind nodded. "I'm guessing you've never communicated like that before and without training it's very daunting."
"Wow" Casey shook his head. "Okay, I'll admit I'm having trouble following this conversation."
"It is a lot to take in," Donnie admitted.
"Definitely," Raph agreed.
"My son," Splinter questioned, his old eyes deep in thought. "Something you said has me confused."
"What is that Master Splinter?" Wind asked.
"Earlier you mentioned that you were unsure that you could communicate telepathically anymore after the loss of the 'amplifiers' then you mentioned that you knew you could because of Kashikoi Ki" Splinter raised a questioning eyebrow. "Who then is Kashikoi Ki?"
"Is he an Ortainian?" Mikey questioned.
Wind shook his head. "No, I met him yesterday."
The brothers and Splinter shared a confused and worried glance.
"Wait, isn't Kashikoi Ki Japanese?" Casey questioned.
"It is" Splinter confirmed. "It translates to Wise Tree."
"Uhh" Wind nodded. "Kashikoi Ki picked the name out himself, he said his name in his own language would be too difficult to say in our own language." Wind explained.
"Wait" Donnie's eyes widened as understanding dawned. "Kashikoi Ki is a tree."
"Yep," Wind nodded his head. Not really understanding his brothers and friends bewildered glances.
"A tree…like a tree, tree." Casey clarified.
"Yes?" Wind was growing more and more confused. "In the dojo" Wind pointed as though that needed to be clarified. "Was I not supposed to talk with him?"
"No my son that is quite alright" Splinter reassured. "We were just surprised, communication with trees is quite unusual".
"I'll say" Raph commented, the red clad turtle crossing his arms in front of his chest. He was in fact really impressed.
"So you can talk to trees?!" Mikey asked, amazed.
Wind nodded suddenly, feeling sheepish. "Trees are telepaths."
"Wow!" Casey's eyes were wide. "That is so metal!"
"I don't see what the big deal is," Wind admitted. "I've been talking with trees my whole life."
Before he met Leo, the trees had been his only form of communication for months. He hadn't really anticipated his family finding this..odd.
"Well you totally have to introduce us" Mikey beamed. "I bet we would have so much to talk about! Too bad he already picked out a name I could have done much better."
"I bet" Wind smiled, grateful that the conversation once again steered toward lighter subjects.
Wow, that was a long chapter. At least it felt long to write. The characters took over for a while.
For those who are confused this story is set with 2012 TMNT characters and story aspects. April's powers in this world are not completely defined but she was able to use some form of telepathy in the 'Dream Beavers' episode in season 3. Thus my muse wanted some interaction between Wind and April.