Chapter 29: Something New
"April…"
"No…"
"April please…" Arna began, rubbing her paw gently along the overwhelmed and devastated orange haired girl who held onto her dear friend that was now passed.
April shook her head, crying like an incoherent baby at this point. "No… no no no.." she sobbed once more, "He promised…" she added, her grip tightening on the motionless and now lifeless blue turtle.
"He promised…. Arna.. he promised no more would die.." She started, finally lifting her head and looking at the fox. Her eyes were red and full of tears as Arna gave her a saddened expression, unsure what to say or do really other than allow her to let it all out.
Peering over her shoulder, she glanced at the turtles. Everyone was injured, badly. So this was what a Den Na' Vor was capable of, and to think there was the possibility of more out there, and some even greater than others. Though right now wasn't the issue as both her and April shot their heads up at the sudden loud rustling and movement of rubble being heard in front of them.
"You…" A familiar menacing voice echoed the temple, rubble crumbling down partially before coming to a halt. "You will all perish..!" They added, the familiar evil appearance of none other than Dragor himself arising from the ground he originally collapsed onto, the pool of blood below him growing as more spilled and splashed onto the temple grounds from the part of his body that was now cut off and separated.
This left everyone baffled and in awe, "No way…" Donnie began, "How is he still alive..!?" Arna added, immediately reaching and trying to grab April to pull her away, they needed to escape and get out of here, now.
But… Arnas attempts only seemed to fail as April wouldn't budge. Arna assumed she refused to leave Leo like this despite what was appearing and happening right in front of them. "April..! April snap out of it, we must go!" Arna finally snapped at her, but even that seemed to fail, her expression from fear to worry to shock as she noticed the look April gave Dragor.
"No…" April started once more, but instead of crying and sounding broken, she sounded angry, very angry, more so pissed. Arna at this point froze, seeing the menacing glare April gave that was directed at Dragor who struggled to stand with just 3 limbs, blood oozing from his wound and mouth.
"No more. This ends now, you've taken so much away already!" April snapped, making Dragor shoot a look down at her. This surprised Arna and the turtles who were awake, that is, seeing the fear in Dragors eyes arise, it was almost like a rush of something burst through his body but primarily his chest.
Instantly after April's words, Dragor seemed to only stand there, shocked himself. That was until suddenly even more blood simply oozed from his mouth and nose, even his eyes as if something inside of him was punctured, no… completely gone.
A loud thud was heard in the silence and shocked expressions of everyone but April, Dragor who had gone completely silent and collapsed suddenly back down, this time… fully dead.
Arna glanced from Dragor back to April who was now back to simply tucking her head down and holding Leo tightly close to her, back to silently crying. Did she do something? Leo mentioned to everyone what she was capable of but she couldn't control it. Then again… powers were always based on the users emotions, and that anger she showed and dwelled had to be an indication.
"Oh my…" A voice approached, interrupting the silence as several minutes passed. Donnie at this point was the only one up and over aiding his 2 brothers who were still alive and breathing, Mikey was still unconscious and Raph was just silent no differently than everyone else as he rested against the wall beside Mikey.
Donnie was tending to their wounds and injuries but since Mikey had a broken leg and Raph a broken spine, moving for either of them was going to be very difficult to near impossible for awhile. Arna knew April cared deeply for these turtles and a lot has happened to them all, and now she lost one of them, or so she presumed to lose yet another close person.
Arna has only known these turtles a good week or two, but in that time it felt like she's grown an attachment to them. She for once didn't feel… alone. And in a way, losing Leo also honestly hurt her… it was like losing her friend all over again even though now she had many.
Arna and Donnie were the first to shoot a glance at the voice, "Who are you..?" Arna asked, a meow being heard in the process, a familiar one at that. This caused April to finally lift her head and peer around at whatever was being heard, god she could feel her eyes filling with tears again, one of which was partial happiness.
"Elder Marwin… Jogo…" she sobbed lightly, Elder Marwin from back at the bar stood at the large door opening beside Jogo who had perked ears, her gentle wide pure blue eyes looking directly at April before immediately running her little legs over to her.
"This sure wasn't the outcome I expected." Marwin said, using a cane as he slowly walked down, following Jogo to the girls who had Leo. Jogo immediately ran around beside Leo, lifting herself some onto him and meowing, sadly.
"Oh Jogo… I'm sorry…" April began, tears filling her eyes once more as she gently patted Jogo behind the ears. "Jogo was the one who came to me and brought me here." Marwin said as he approached around, taking a moment to crouch down and glance over poor Leo.
"Please… is there something you can do..?" April pleaded, sorrow in her voice and eyes as she looked at Marwin. Marwin only looked from Leo to April, a smile on his face that formed of reassurance.
"Remember what I warned back at the bar?" Marwin questioned, placing a gentle hand along Leo's forehead who rested emotionless in April's arms and legs. April only gave the elder a confused expression, she remembered but what did he mean by it? That was the part she didn't understand. Was this supposed to happen?
"I'm beyond old and my time has come, i've lived long enough. And I will lend my remaining soul, life to this boy. But I warn you now Ms. April, something…. Someone powerful dwells deep inside this boy that may or may not awaken, only you can keep him in check." The elder warned, giving her a soft smile as he did so.
April was speechless, along with Arna who was still beside her. She didn't want the elder to sacrifice himself to save Leo, but at the same time… she did, she was honestly desperate and wanted him back after all that he's done for her up to this point, he didn't deserve this. None of them did and that included the elder as tears were brought to her eyes once more, she couldn't express or find the words needed aside from a small nod.
God she felt selfish but could she really be blamed? She cared for the only people she had left now which were the turtles, and now losing one of them who she grew closest to actually hurt, a lot. More than she could honestly bear or resist along with losing Xen who had passed many days ago while Dragor rested here to regain power and heal, now look what ended up with him.
April's thoughts were interrupted as a glow emitted from the hand of the elder, resting his head down and closing his eyes. The glow grew and flowed all up his arm and eventually covered his body, slowly he was fading away, almost like a ghost leaving this world into particles.
"You two will accomplish great deeds. Farwell." Elder Marwin said softly, giving April a final but happy look on his face, as if he was happy to finally be free himself. Both Arna and April jolted once everything seemed to calm down and go silent, Elder Marwin had vanished as the particles faded into Leo and suddenly… he began to spring to life.
"Leo!" Both April and Leo sparked up as he began to cough and gag for air, just happy he was suddenly alive. April placed a hand to his cheek as he slowly calmed down, he was very weak and exhausted, nor could he seemingly stay awake as he immediately just passed out again, but what was important is that he was alive.
Donnie and Raph seemed no different, happy and relieved smiles on their faces as they watched from the distance. Arna glanced at them with a smile of her own, seeing them with almost happy tears to top it off, such big babies. Jogo was no different as she meowed happily and loudly, giving both Leo and April's hand a few licks.
"Hate breaking the moment… but we must leave this place." Arna started, placing a hand onto April's shoulder who gave the fox a confused look. "Where though… everyone is…" she started, unsuringly but was interrupted by Arna with reassurance.
"There's a cabin not far, an old lady lives there but she's very sweet. I know her, she's accepted me once before." Arna explained as she stood up, glancing around and debating how they'll move everyone, but honestly she was unsure since most of the strong ones were unconscious or immobile.
"It's ok. Jogo can carry Leo. Donnie can Raph and ill help Mikey walk while you lead." April suggested with a reassuring smile, Jogo released an agreed meow before shifting into her sudden but unique large wolf form where she was more than capable of carrying Leo alone.
Within several minutes, it didn't take long to get Leo rested onto Jogos back. Donnie had to frighteningly wake his unconscious brother with no luck but eventually managed with some food, Mikey was in pain no differently than everyone else due to his broken leg, otherwise he was just his usual hungry prankster self most the way out of the temple while Donnie struggled to carry Raph, but managed thankfully.
It took almost 30 minutes to get to the cabin as it came into view, a happy sigh releasing from everyone's mouth. Upon arriving, Arna began to knock on the wooden door in the hopes the elder women would answer that she knew, but nothing seemed to happen.
Arna glanced back at everyone unsure, April wasn't taking any chances. They needed a place to stay and rest, heal. Raising her hand and eyeballing the lock, the door's lock flipped as it opened, a creaking sound being heard from the door as it slowly opened.
Arna was the first to go in, everything looked and seemed the same. But… it all looked bare, as if left unattended for months and no signs of anyone living here recently, it honestly worried Arna. The lady who lived here had lost her husband, and she lived alone here. She was such a sweetheart but there was no sign of her anywhere.
"It seems abandoned." Arna stated sadly, maybe she left for a new life elsewhere? She didn't know but they were lucky this place was still intact and in good shape, a place to stay. "That's fine. We need a place to rest whether the owners are here or not." April stated as she helped Mikey inside and to one of the large chairs with a leg rest, perfect.
Donnie came inside shortly after and rested Raph on the couch, the one place he'll be stuck to for awhile as he and April went to retrieve Leo off of Jogo. Arna decided to quickly scrounge around the home, digging through cabinets and shit to find some medical stuff.
Luckily Arna discovered several bandages and medicine, a relief off their shoulders which would mostly be used for Mikey and Raph to make splints for their broken bones. Luckily Donnie and Arna only suffered minor injuries, small treatment was needed and would be easy, Leo surprisingly was okay and rested on the bed in the single bedroom upon the request of Raph and Mikey.
It took several more hours to get everyone's injuries treated, cleaned up and settled in the new home. A fireplace was lit and going, the bedroom door was cracked open as a blanket rested over the blue turtle and others who all rested in the living area, a lot of their gear and clothing discarded.
April remained beside Leo in a chair, it was mostly just silence after everything that had happened. And now… it was just a waiting game.
