Raphael ran as fast as possible in the direction from which Michelangelo's scream had come, while in his head he continued to curse himself; he shouldn't have let him go, he should have at least accompanied him or dissuaded him! The words of Leatherhead, who followed him with the same urgency, a short distance away with the same urgency, had struck him: he was his older brother, his task should have been to protect him, not to let him go towards a suicide mission! If something had happened to Michelangelo he would never have been able to forgive himself!

Another scream, much more shrill than the previous ones, made his heart skip a couple of beats and accelerate its run to an almost impossible pace and which would probably cause him a lot of pain later, but he wasn't interested in that; all he could think about was saving his brother at any cost!

- MICKEYYY! -, he didn't even care anymore whether or not the possible enemy could hear him, on the contrary, he hoped that whoever was trying to harm Mickey would understand that he was about to be hit by his anger and skewered by his own hands!

He quickly turned the last corner at the end of the tunnel, weapons ready and heart pounding. - MICKEY! I AM HERE! I... -, his voice died in his throat, however, at the scene he found himself in front of: a half-woman, half-snake creature with skin as white as snow, blond hair and a long scaly tail holding Michelangelo in its coils, making him swinging back and forth on his scales as if they were some kind of slide...and Michelangelo squealed and laughed enjoying it like crazy!

- Higher! Please Shitsu, lift me up a little more! -.

- Michelangelo, don't overdo it, you risssk hurting yourssself - the woman retorted, finally putting him down with a strange grimace that must have resembled a smile, if it hadn't been for the protruding and lethal-looking canines.

- M-Mickey? What is happening? -, Raphael advanced cautiously, weapons ready to use, moving his gaze from the "woman" to his brother, incredulous and still worried although he realized that the young turtle was not in serious danger.

- Raphael! Hi bro, how are you doing? -, Michelangelo greeted him with warmth and a toothy smile, - Come on! I want to introduce you to my new friend, Shitsu! -, then his gaze narrowed, while a sly smile appeared on his face, - I told you she existed, maybe this time you'll learn to listen to me! -.

Raphael's gaze hardened, while a hint of anger could now be heard in his voice: - Stop being a "know-it-all" Miky! I was... I mean...-, he immediately corrected himself, not wanting to reveal his anxiety for his little brother, - Leonardo and Donatello were worried sick! And as usual I had to go to all the trouble to come and fish you out! -.

However, Michelangelo knew his brother too well not to know that in reality he too was worried. - Calm down dude, as you can see I'm fine! -, he smiled at him again, climbing down from the tail of the "woman", who in the meantime was observing them.

- Exssscussse me Michelangelo -, Raph moved his gaze to the "woman", carefully following her movements as she approached them slowly, sliding on the damp floor, - Isss it perhapsss one of your older brotherssss? - she asked in a sweet, almost maternal voice.

- Shell yeah! This is Raphael! He seems grumpy and a bit hot-headed, but in reality he is a softie! -, explained the younger turtle, laughing when he caught the glare thrown at him by the older one.

- Try saying it again Miky and I swear...! -, Raph however did not complete his threat, nor did he approach the minor as he usually did to intimidate him; he remained in place, his gaze fixed on the woman, keeping an eye on her movements, weapons in hand.

Shitsu seemed to notice, but she didn't feel offended nor threatened by the aggressive prudence of the turtle with the red bandana; she sinuously retreated to the side, away from Michelaneglo so that she could reach her brother, bringing her attention to the enormous crocodile that was silently but attentively staring at the situation.

- I don't think I've ever ssseen you before in thisss sssewer pit... Are you perhapsss a friend of theirsss too? -, she addressed him, always in a calm and kind tone. Leatherhead stared curiously at the strange half-human, half-reptilian creature, its yellow eyes roaming over his sinuous, shining form.

-Yes... My name is Leatherhead and Michelangelo and his brothers are my dearest friends -, he replied with his deep voice trying to smile at her, while she replied with one of her strange pointed smiles.

- I'm happy to know that Michelangelo enjoysss the protection of hisss brothersss and of a powerful guy like you. Tell me though, if I'm not wrong, you don't belong to thisss world... Are you perhapsss from Dimensssion Xsss like me? -.

- What? You're from the Kraang dimension? -, Raphael couldn't help himself from exclaiming, before Michelangelo could stop him, mindful of what happened every time the name of those aliens was pronounced in front of the crocodile: in fact his eyes lost in a second all their benevolent light and the poor reptile found himself once again sinking into his trance of self-defense that had developed over the years due to all the tortures and abuses suffered by those creatures when they had dragged him into their dimension; Leatherhead charged with a mighty roar at the first person (or in that case, mutant) who came in front of him.

Shitsu.

And unfortunately for her both Michelangelo and Raphael were too far away to be able to defend her from that blind fury...