Chapter 22: The Elder

Leo attempted to stand up but only collapsed back down as it only tended to cause more pain with his broken bones as he tightly grasped his side painfully. April placed a hand on his shoulder to reassure him and to keep him down, she didn't want him to hurt himself further than where he already was at.

She knew he was attempting to stand in order to possibly fight with this sudden dragon that appeared, April came to the conclusion it was here to make sure no one was breaking in and breaking rules where couples were only allowed. She also came to the conclusion it posed no threat to them as it only stared at them, just like the Z-Dog did back in the Sakura forest path.

Leo glanced up at the creature with a painful small stern look, he immediately gave a small surprised look as the dragon was directly staring at him, it had the same gentle and unsure look in its eyes like the Z-Dog. Leo glanced down at Jogo quickly and she wasn't showing any signs of defense or a possible fight with this dragon, moving his look back at the creature both him and April also realized that this dragon was this Dimension's dragon, not a Den Na' Vor despite it looking like one.

The dragon slowly approached them, but it was focused on Leo for some reason and it really made April confused. They both noticed the creature had a collar on it, which provided a name for it in large bold letters, The dragon had a name, Marol, and they both knew Marol was a female.

April felt bad for the creature, it was chained up and it looked sad and miserable, and lonely. Marol lowered her head down to Leo's level and stared at him, April only watched in confusement and hoped she wasn't planning on biting his head off.

Marol lowered her head to where Leo was grasping his side painfully and forcefully lifted Leo's hand off his side and placed her snout under his hand, Leo was confused just as much as April was.

Marol let out a small gentle purr, "What's with the creatures here and you…? Are you secretly able to communicate with them?" April questioned Leo in confusement as she gave him a small stern look as well. Leo had a very confused and surprised look on his face and didn't even look at April as he continued to look at Marol, "Its.. gone."

April only looked at him in even more confusement, unsure what he meant. "The pain, it's gone…" Leo remarked more specifically as he glanced up at April, he was confused himself. "What..? Did she heal you?" April stared at Marol who continued to purr as she enjoyed the attention, Leo shrugged lightly, "I don't think she healed them, just took the pain away."

Leo stood up as Marol followed and lifted her head up as well, Leo continued to give her attention as they both knew she probably has never had any love and affection in ages based on how miserable she looked and the fact she was chained and most likely forced to be here. "You really have a way with these creatures we've encountered... Are you sure you're not somehow communicating with them?" April questioned him again.

"I don't know… but it's like somehow I can feel their pain and suffering and also know what they're feeling and thinking." Leo was unsure himself, at first he figured it was Jogo that could've been communicating with them and telling them it was ok, but Jogo was the same exact way when he first encountered her, she also stared at him just like this dragon and the Z-Dog before approaching and being friendly.

"Maybe it's the Elder Blood in you?" April remarked unsurengly, Leo shrugged, maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Leo couldn't see how elder blood could help him understand what these creatures were feeling and attempting to say, then again, the elder blood in him also made him somewhat part dragon, but it was also most likely to be something else that none of them know about yet.

April gave a small sigh, "We should go find the elder, we're not here for a dragon, I'm sure this is enough we can give her." Marol already knew this and had already turned away and slowly walked off back to her dark spot of the room before April even said anything, giving her the love and affection is all she wanted.

Leo glanced at the chains on Marol one last time and noticed the only way to get them off was literally breaking them, they also looked like magical chains that were very likely to be unbreakable, so much for lock picking. Leo didn't have any of his weapons as Arna and the others took them considering weapons weren't allowed either, so the LynBlade was also off the list.

April knew Leo felt pity for Marol and was trying to think of multiple plans and ways to break those chains off her so she could be free, but based on his sad and unsure expression, he couldn't come up with anything. Jogo let out a small meow and started to trot down the hall, she was already ready to go and get this over with it seemed, April did as well as she started down the hall after Jogo, Leo gave one last glance at Marol as she rested and laid down facing her back at them before he followed behind.

After leaving Marol and walking down a hallway for sometime, they finally reached a large active room. Just as Arna mentioned, it was literally full of the cult members, they stood up on an upper floor apparently whilst glancing down and noticing a massive amount of people all having a good time, whether it be dancing, drinking, playing cards, you name it.

April remembered Arna giving a brief description of what the Elder looked like, he was literally the only Elder here in the Stranglers cult castle and she mentioned he would literally stand out the most when it came to looking for him, April wasn't fond of this place but she wasn't going to lie as she was also amazed out how beautiful the inside was, it was like a literal twenty one or older party happening here as it was entirely mostly full of men dancing and doing unnecessary things with the women here.

Jogo seemed to know this place as she was always taking the lead, April didn't realize that Jogo and Leo started to walk off and approach the activities to search for the Elder and she quickly ran up to catch up to them. Leo didn't seem entirely interested at all with this place or the people having a good time below them, this included above on the same floor as well as there were small bars aligned in a circle with people sitting and drinking at them.

Remembering what Raph said yesterday made April leave the searching and browsing to Leo, considering Leo apparently had spectacular eye's when it came to searching for one thing in specific, she already knew he was great at observation as well and it honestly made her somewhat jealous.

April was lost in thought that she didn't hear Leo calling out to her until he had to literally shout her name slightly which made her jump, "You ok?" Leo questioned her and gave her a somewhat confused look, April glanced at him and immediately became embarrassed as she had suddenly clinged herself to his arm without realizing it and let go timidly.

"Sorry… I've never been fond of large parties or bars… brings back bad memories." April remarked as she glanced down sadly a bit, Leo wasn't going to question the past incidents or memories, especially after all that's already happened, she's already lost enough loved one's and that was another bad memory and most likely the worst because of Dragor.

Leo gave her a reassuring small smile, April noticed this before he continued his search with Jogo also helping, she already knew he was telling her she wasn't alone here in this place and the fact she was with him and Jogo did help.

She still didn't like how the others saw them, she couldn't get it off her mind with how they all looked at her and Leo, though they weren't entirely wrong either and she accepted it, her and Leo have been building a much closer relationship than the others for quite sometime now. There was also the fact that April herself has always wanted a brother and of course Leo himself in regards to a sister, so it was also understandable and the others still didn't know about Leo wanting a sister as she also has been keeping it from them for him.

Though April honestly forgot about that little so called secret as she had already considered herself a sister and family to all the turtles and Casey, and if Leo and the others taught and/or showed her anything, anyone who is willing to aid, protect and die for you is more than just a friend. They were all she had left now, and just the thought of losing any of them devastated her.

April immediately snapped out of her thoughts again as she noticed Leo and Jogo waiting for her, she gave a happy smile as she quickly caught up to them, they were going to find Xen no matter what, she was considered family as well with her help and aid.

Jogo let out a meow that the two could hear over the music that was also playing in the place, both April and Leo glanced down at Jogo knowing that when she meowed, it normally meant something. Jogo trotted towards one of the bar stands with her happy tail perked upward, April instantly had a happy expression on her face when she realized and noticed what, no, who Jogo found, The Elder.

The Elder sat at a bar stand that was empty aside from himself and the bartender, Jogo sat down below him and let out another meow as she was glancing up at him. The Elder was taking a sip of his drink and then stopped when he heard the meow Jogo gave and glanced down, "Oooh, a Felynx? What're you doing in a place like this?" He remarked as he turned himself around in the chair and lowered himself slightly to look at Jogo closer.

He was about to reach out to Jogo only to be rejected as she stood up immediately and turned back around with her tail perked once again, she trotted back towards April and Leo who approached the Elder and sat down next to Leo. The Elder glanced up at the two with a small reassuring look on his face that only confused April mostly, "Ahh you've arrived finally."

"You knew we were coming?" April questioned him confusingly, The Elder grabbed his drink and took a sip as he turned his back at the two not saying anything more, April clearly knew he didn't want to talk and it made her somewhat disappointed.

Leo glanced at April as she gave a somewhat annoyed look at the Elder, The Elder was clearly wanting to ignore them and not provide any info or answer questions though it didn't stop Leo. "Look, we just want to know about a certain De-" Leo began but was stopped when the Elder immediately turned around in his chair, placed a finger against Leo's mouth to shush him.

This sudden action spooked April slightly but she honestly couldn't help but to let out a small chuckle as Leo was forcefully shushed like a child, she could also tell Leo was going to react defensively and perform an defensive counter if he was about to do an attack at Leo, but Leo already figured it was a matter of being shushed so he didn't result to any drama.

The Elder looked at them both angrily, "Do not mention that name here. I wanted to finish my drink but clearly it isn't an option, come then." The Elder removed his finger and stood up from the chair he was sitting on, turning around and slowly walking towards the stairs that led down. April glanced at Leo as she couldn't help but to let out another small chuckle at him, "Not a word to the others…" Leo growled lowly at her as he was clearly not amused at all.

April raised her hands innocently acting as if she saw nothing as she followed behind the Elder and catching up to him, Leo only continued to give an unamused expression before also following up behind along with Jogo.

The Elder led them down the stairs and into the large circular room where all the live action was in regards to all the dancing and drinking, practically where everyone was, the fact that a lot of men gave April a nasty look frightened her slightly and she picked up her pace to be closer to the Elder.

The Elder hesitantly rushed April and Leo to hurry up into a room so they could chat in private without any of these cult members hearing them, and based on the Elders reaction earlier, these people must know about Den Na' Vors.

"So what's the big idea and problem of not mentioning the name here?" Leo questioned somewhat angrily, still somewhat upset about most likely being shushed, but April knew something else was upsetting it and it was most likely Marol. "And how did you know we were coming?" April added confusingly.

The Elder closed the door before they asked their questions and sat at a small table in the corner of the small room, he only slightly smirked at the two before answering, "These cult members know about the Den Na' Vor species, in fact, they've hunted one long ago, though it was a weak one. Now it's a history in their name and anyone that knows about Den Na' Vors outside their cult tend to start drama with that person and attempt to torture or kill them, thinking they know their cults secrets. And I knew you were coming here even before you arrived here."

The fact the Elder continued to have a gentle smile somewhat creeped April out, and his knowledge about them also added onto that, making her think he was some spy on them. April quickly glanced back at Leo who suddenly became surprised with realization which confused her, "You're Marwin?! Aren't you!?" Leo remarked surprisingly, April immediately turned her attention back at the Elder who continued to give a reassuring smile, "Wait you mean Elder Marwin back on earth? That turned to literal stone?! No way." April stated confusingly.

"No no, you're correct boy. I am indeed, Elder Marwin, the dragon that protected the gem and turned to stone." The Elder stated, he gave no action or state of change of expression that he was lying, he was telling the honest truth and April knew he was and she only said nothing as she was entirely speechless.

"But… aren't you supposed to be dead?" April asked unsurengly as she was trying not to be rude, though her curiosity was overcoming her like always. Marwin placed a leg over his other and leaned back in the chair, "My dragon form is, yes. But I'm guessing Xen or Dragor didn't tell you anything else about what we Elders can do." Marwin could tell based on their questions and sudden surprised looks that they didn't know at all.

"We can transfer our soul into another being only once our original body dies, I transferred my soul into an unborn baby here on this Dimension and have grown up as this human form for ninety three years" Marwin stated, April was curious about the strange occurrences of the creatures they've encountered and how they acted towards Leo, and the fact the only thing she could think of was the Elder blood in his system was the cause of it in order for him to also understand those creatures, but the other fact that Marwin seemed to know just about everything about them she wanted to make sure.

"Do you know why the creatures here have been acting the way they have towards Leo by chance? I figured it's the Elder Blood, but you're an Elder yourself and thought you might know…?" April questioned Marwin as she gave him a confused look.

Leo glanced at April when she asked the question about him, he returned his look at Marwin as he himself wanted to know as well from the actual fact he was able to somewhat understand these creatures and feel their pain and sorrow as well when he actually came face to face with them. Leo also could also feel the same presence of Marwin from when he first was at his original dragon body that turned to stone with the gem, that's how he came to the conclusion this Elder was Marwin himself.

Marwin glared slightly at Leo and then gave a small shrug, "That I am unsure of myself honestly, though you.." Marwin began as he directed his attention back at April and pointed at her, "You're a kine." Leo instantly stiffened at the word Kine as he remembered what happened last time back at the volcano with the fight against Dragor, April immediately snapped at the fact of being called a Kine again.

Leo had to hold April back as she was about to angrily charge her way at Marwin and most likely do something she didn't want to mean to. "Do I need to embed the english terminology into that Den Na' Vors brains of yours! I'm not a damn cow!"

Marwin only smiled a bit as he lowered his finger, "Kine is known as something entirely different in the Den Na' Vor grammar, its nowhere near the meaning of a cow like in english knowledge."

April relaxed after his short explanation as she and Leo both looked at him confusingly, "A kine is known as the second most powerful being in history, someone who is born and has great power..." Marwin began, "Telekinesis." Both April and Leo remarked. Marwin nodded at them seriously, "And telepathy." Marwin added as he raised an eyebrow at them.

Without realizing it fully, April immediately and full of excitement pulled Leo into a hug which spooked him as he was face planted onto her chest as she stared at Marwin happily, "You mean I wont be useless anymore!?" Leo relaxed as he couldn't entirely breathe, April noticed this and let him go timidly and apologized. "You still have a long long way to go before you learn more towards your power young one." Marwin remarked seriously.

It was going to take time, and a crap ton of it before she would even begin increasing her power, and as of right now, she didn't even know how to even use it aside from when her thoughts just randomly overcame her for Leo's sake back at Emberheim.

April came to realize herself again and shot a quick look at Marwin as she was glancing down at her hands in regards to how long and how much work it was going to take, "Do you know where Dragor and Xen are?"

Marwin only looked at her somewhat shockingly, "I do not, but there is a friend of mine who would know. Her name is Jenna, she's a researcher on every unknown arrival onto this planet, in short, the sudden teleportations occurring of people arriving here suddenly, including Den Na' Vors."

Leo glanced slightly worriedly at April, the name Jenna must've hurt her. Jenna, her adopted sister, was killed by Dragor when he found out about her secretly going behind his back and forcefully having her display the location of her parents which resulted in them getting killed as well. April didn't react to the name at all or show any sad expression, but Leo could tell it was on her mind.

"Where do we find her then?" April questioned seriously, "Down in Annenberg city, hope you like festivals." Marwin remarked somewhat sternly, after the directions were given, April, Leo and Jogo were taking their leave as they thanked Marwin, "April." Marwin stopped her midway before she left the room, Leo and Jogo had already gone out the door, April turned to look at Marwin only to see a somewhat uneasy expression on his face which confused her.

"I warn you now, Keep a close eye on that boy of yours, I feel a strange presence from him." Marwin added seriously, the look on his face made April uneasy and also worried, "Leo?" April questioned him worriedly, Marwin nodded before turning his back at her, showing he was refusing to go any further with explanations. April really wanted to ask why as she was now scared for his sake, and just based on this, she could tell it wasn't anything good.

April gave one last uneasy look back at Marwin before exiting out the door where Leo and Jogo were waiting almost right outside as they had walked back realizing she stopped, Leo was giving her a somewhat worried expression knowing something was off and bothering her now as well.

April glanced up at Leo and only gave him a small reassuring smile, April knew Leo was worried about her being sad about Jenna, though she showed him she wasn't going to let the past and losses ruin her future and the people and family she still had currently and right in front of her.

The fact she had Leo reassure her and calm her down back when Dragor infiltrated the liar and told her about the deaths of just about everyone she knew her whole life made her accept it, he wasn't wrong, so long as you remember them, they're always with you. She refused to grieve and go down a ditch, knowing it would only result in making things worse than they already were.