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", "count": "23", "submission_left_submission_id": "816388", "submission_left_file_name": "1107162_Applepye_wild_west_15.rtf", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1107/1107162_Applepye_wild_west_15.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1107/1107162_Applepye_wild_west_15.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1107/1107162_Applepye_wild_west_15.jpg", "submission_left_thumb_huge_x": "141", "submission_left_thumb_huge_y": "200", "submission_left_thumb_large_x": "141", "submission_left_thumb_large_y": "200", "submission_left_thumb_medium_x": "85", "submission_left_thumb_medium_y": "120", "submission_right_submission_id": "846011", "submission_right_file_name": "1149560_Applepye_wild_west_17.rtf", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1149/1149560_Applepye_wild_west_17.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1149/1149560_Applepye_wild_west_17.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1149/1149560_Applepye_wild_west_17.jpg", "submission_right_thumb_huge_x": "200", "submission_right_thumb_huge_y": "200", "submission_right_thumb_large_x": "200", "submission_right_thumb_large_y": "200", "submission_right_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_right_thumb_medium_y": "120" } ], "description": "", "description_bbcode_parsed": "", "writing": "Warning: Bloody and serious injury. \n\n\nRaphael didn’t think he would be able to love again after Casey’s death. The thought of it still pained him and the scars on his plastron were a constant reminder. But, despite the pain and the guilt, Raph felt joy and at peace when he was with Traximus. \n\nRaphael shivered and wrapped his arms around himself, moving closer to the fire. The temperature had dropped dramatically once the sun had gone down. He hated nights out on the open plains.\n\n“Here,” Trax said as he draped his long coat over Raph’s shoulders. \n\nIt still had Trax’s lingering warmth and scent. Raph pulled it around himself as he inhaled deeply. “Is nice. I not give back….”\n\nTrax let out a hearty laugh. “You can keep it. I have another. That one was getting to be a little too small for me any way.” Trax made his way over to the cart in search of his other jacket. \n\nSlipping his arms through the sleeves, Raph stood up. He looked down at the oversized coat that draped his body. This was getting to be too small for Trax? “It’s too big,” Raph said.\n\nTrax stopped in his search and turned to look at Raph. With a smile on his face he did his best to stifle a laugh. “You’ll grow into it. You just need some muscle.”\n\nRaph scowled and rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the deep blush that burned his cheeks. “I fucking hate you.” He had managed to pick up some of the more colorful words in the common language over the past few months. \n\n“Love you too,” Trax teased, winking at Raph before he turned back to searching. “There are some buttons on the coat that can be used to adjust the size a bit and I can hem it so it doesn’t drag. It might always be a little big on you, but that’s okay.”\n\nRaph stood, waiting for Trax. Once Trax had found what he was looking for he made his way back over to Raph. “You can have this too,” Trax said, placing his hat on Raph’s head. He then got to work adjusting the coat. \n\nWhen Trax was done, the coat was still oversized but it fit Raph better. \n\nRaph looked up into Trax’s eyes and said, in his own language, “I love you.”\n\nTrax smiled down at Raph. He had heard Raph say it often enough that he knew what the words meant. Cupping Raph’s face with his large hand, Trax ran his thumb along the emerald cheek. “I love you too.”\n\n…..\n\nWith one of the turtles Saki had wanted in custody, Leatherhead followed his leads to where the other one might be. He had overheard some town’s people talking about a turtle traveling with a triceratops and that they avoided towns because the turtle was wanted. \n\nThe encounter they were discussing had occurred only a few days ago so Leatherhead set out to find them. Even if he wasn’t the turtle he was looking for, Leatherhead would capture him anyway. It didn’t matter to him. All turtles were the same. \n\nHe walked out of the bar and headed for the stables where his horses and wagon were being kept. No one cared that he had a cage full of natives and the stable boy gladly took the extra payment to keep an eye on them. \n\nAs he rode out of town people waved at him, some commending him on the work he was doing while others handed him money to aid him in his endeavors. They knew that his work made the country safe for the settlers. \n\n……\n\nIt had been over a year since Raph had started traveling with Trax. Raph had put on a few more pounds of muscle and he filled out the coat a little better. It was still kind of big on him but at least he no longer looked like a child trying on his father’s clothes. Traximus trained him hard in the use of the bull whip and Raph picked up the technique quickly. \n\nThey continued in their travels. There was no destination in mind as they made their way across the land. They went where the fates took them and helped people whenever they could. “Do good things and good things come to you in return,” Trax would say. It helped to alleviate Raph’s guilt. He often wondered the fate of the turtle he had stolen the documents from. \n\nPart of him wanted to return to the town and undo the damage but he knew that would be foolish. Saki would kill him as soon as he saw him. Raph had seen the wanted posters; it was the reason they had to stay out on the plains. \n\nRaph tended to the fire and started dinner while Trax set up the tent. They were fortunate that they had come across one large enough to accommodate the two of them. Raph supposed that it only proved Trax right. Despite the fact that they were living the life of wanderers, they wanted for nothing. \n\nAny time they were in need of something, they would somehow find it. They either gained it in a trade or as a reward for helping someone or they would get the money needed to buy it. It had been a long time since Raph had been so happy. \n\nAfter dinner Raph crawled into the tent with Trax following in after him. Stripping off all of their clothes, they lied down together. \n\nRaph kissed along Trax’s neck, occasionally nipping at the orange flesh. When he felt Trax’s fingers trace down his center line, Raph parted his legs and dropped his tail. Just as Trax’s fingers ghosted over Raph’s cloaca they heard the sound of an approaching wagon. \n\nQuickly redressing, they exited the tent as the wagon pulled up. A large crocodile sat in the driver’s seat of a large cart that needed to be pulled by two horses. \n\n“Can we help you, friend?” Trax asked as he walked up to the stranger. “If you need something to eat and a fire to warm yourself, you are welcome to join us.”\n\n“No,” the crocodile replied. Lifting his hand he pointed at Raph. “I’m here for him.”\n\n“You are a bounty hunter,” Trax said, nodding his understanding. “I ask that you leave this one alone. He is atoning for whatever crimes he is accused of.”\n\nThe crocodile scoffed. “I am no bounty hunter. I am Leatherhead the turtle hunter.” As he spoke, Leatherhead pulled out his tomahawk and threw it at Trax. The blade imbedded itself in Trax’s chest and he fell back. \n\n“Trax!” Raph called out, running towards him. “Trax? Hold on.” Raph dropped to his knees when he reached Trax. His hands wrapped around the handle of the tomahawk and he was about to pull it out when Trax grabbed his wrist. \n\n“Don’t,” Trax rasped out. “Run.”\n\n“No!” Raph stood up and faced Leatherhead as the large crocodile stepped down from the wagon. Pulling out his whip, Raph uncoiled it and stood ready to strike. “I’m not leaving you.”\n\nAs soon as Leatherhead was in range, Raph snapped his whip. It struck the crocodile on the snout, leaving a long gash in the hard scales. “Vile creature,” Leatherhead spat out.\n\nLeatherhead charged and Raph struck out at him again. The whip grazed Leatherhead’s shoulder as he managed to duck out of the way. For someone so big he had fast reflexes. \n\nBefore Raph was able to ready his whip for another attack, Leatherhead was on top of him. “You are lucky that I do not wish to kill you here,” Leatherhead growled. After a brief struggle the large crocodile landed a solid blow to the side of Raph’s head, leaving stars in the turtle’s eyes. \n\nDazed, Raph was thrown into the back of the caged wagon. By the time he was able to collect his thoughts, they were moving. Pushing himself up off the floor, Raph looked through the solid bars. “Trax!” he yelled despite the screaming headache. “Trax?”\n\nAs they pulled away he could see Traximus lying on the ground next to the dim fire. It was too dark and they were too far for Raph to be able to tell if he was breathing or not. “Trax,” Raph yelled again in desperation but Trax did not move.\n\n….\n\n\nRaph felt numb as he sat on the floor of the wagon. There were other turtles in the cage with him, all male, two children. They sat in silence as they traveled down the bumpy path. \n\nAfter a day the wagon came to a stop and Leatherhead passed canteens through the bars. The others accepted theirs but Raph simply glared at their captor. \n\nLeatherhead laughed. “You will want it soon enough. Thirst will have you begging for it. I don’t want you to die before we get to where I want to kill you.”\n\n“I’ll rip your head off first,” Raph growled. \n\nWide eyed, the other turtles in the wagon looked up at him. With a deep chuckle, Leatherhead made his way back around to the driver’s seat and urged the horses forward. \n\nOnce they were moving again one of the turtles leaned forward and said in the native language, “You speak the language of the settlers but do you speak the language of the tribes?”\n\nRaph nodded and answered. “I can speak both, yes.”\n\nThe elder of the group squinted his eyes. “You speak with a Snapper’s accent.”\n\n“I was a slave to the Snappers,” Raph replied. \n\n“And it seems that you are going to be a slave again,” another sighed. “I have heard that out kind was being captured to be used as slaves. I never thought that I would become one. We were on our way to find refuge in a new tribe. Ours was displaced by the settlers and we lost many on our journey. He captured us but the others were able to get away.”\n\nRaph shook his head. “I don’t think intends to sell us as slaves. He intends on killing us.”\n\n“Why would he keep us alive if he wants to kill us?” the elder asked. \n\nRaphael could only shrug. “He said something about taking us to a special place.”\n\nAfter a few moments of silence, one of the other turtles addressed Raphael. “You speak the common language?”\n\nRaph glanced over at him and nodded. “That was already established,” he answered in the native language. \n\nSighing in frustration the turtle shook his head. “I do not speak the native language.”\n\n“How is it you not know the language of the tribes?” Raph asked in the common tongue. \n\n“I was not raised by the tribes,” the other answered. “I was found by the side of the road and raised by some settlers. My name is Leonardo.”\n\nRaphael leaned back, unable to hide the surprise. \n\nLeonardo rolled his eyes and asked, “Why do turtles keep doing that whenever I tell them my name?” He pointed to the others. “When I introduced myself to them they had the same expression but I don’t understand what they are saying.”\n\n“You don’t know what it means?” Raph responded. \n\nLeonardo shook his head. “I do not. What does it mean?”\n\nRaph leaned in. “A settler found you by roadside and you have a name from the tribes but you don’t know what it means?””\n\n“That’s what I said,” Leonardo nodded. “Now please stop asking me questions and answer mine.”\n\n“Your name is… complicated,” Raph answered leaning back. “It has….” He snapped his fingers and he thought about what he wanted to say. He had come a long way in his understanding of the common language but it still managed to trip him up. “It has many meanings.”\n\n“Give me one,” Leonardo said, looking agitated. \n\nRaph ran his bottom lip through his teeth. He debated in his mind on whether or not to hold back. In the end he decided to be blunt. “Your name means that you were found in a sea of dead by the roadside. Your name means that out of everyone, you are the one survivor. All others are dead. Whole tribe lost.”\n\nLeonardo’s expression dropped and he sat back against the bars. “My father never told me that part. All he told me was that he found me by the side of the road. He and my mother couldn’t have a child of their own so they saw me as a gift. I thought I was abandoned.”\n\n“Turtles don’t simply abandon their babies,” Raph said. \n\n“I guess the name fits,” Leonardo scoffed. “Everyone I have ever cared for has died. Now Saki is going to get away with murdering my parents. He’s going to win.”\n\n“Oroku Saki?” Raph asked. \n\nLeonardo nodded and tears filled his eyes. “Yeah. He wanted my parent’s farm and killed them to get it. But, I have the deed to the land and my parent’s will so he hasn’t been able to get the land yet. This is why he put the bounty on my head.”\n\n“Saki killed someone close to me too,” Raph said and looked down at his hands.\n\n“Saki probably hired this guy to kill us,” Leonardo stated as a matter of fact. \n\nThey all sat in awkward silence for several hours and Raph was starting to regret not accepting the canteen. After clearing his throat, Leonardo spoke again. “Since you can speak their language, will you tell them that he intends to kill us all.”\n\n“I already did,” Raph answered. \n\nLeonardo looked up at Raph. “Knowing that, will they be willing to fight him for our freedom?”\n\nRaph scoffed. “Turtles are not fighters. They don’t even eat meat.”\n\nShaking his head, Leonardo sighed. “I am not ready to die but I cannot fight him alone. I’ve tried. He is too strong.” \n\nCocking his head to the side, Raph smiled. “I will fight with you.”\n\n“Good.” Leonardo looked Raph in the eyes. “I have a plan. But I’m going to need you to tell them their part.”\n\n“They will not fight,” Raph insisted. \n\nLeonardo shook his head. “They won’t have to.”\n\nIt took some convincing but after a few hours of debate, Raph and Leo had managed to get the other turtles to agree to help. They had also agreed that once they were free they would travel together. \n\nThey had the two small children hold on to the bars on one side of the cage. The males readied themselves then threw all of their weight into the other side of the cage, making sure that they struck with their carapaces. \n\nAs a result the cage tilted and the children were able to hold on as the wagon fell on its side. A roar from the front told them that Leatherhead was not pleased with the delay. He stormed around the back with his tomahawk in hand. “You will all pay for that!”\n\nRaph and Leonardo rolled to their feet despite the pain while the others moved further back. Leonardo looked up and saw that his plan had worked. The hinge on the cage door had popped off. Grabbing the bars above him he swung with all of his strength as Leatherhead came into view. \n\nThe door flew open, striking Leatherhead and sending him to the ground. The tomahawk fell from his hand and Raphael rushed out to grab it. Before Leatherhead could recover, Raph sent the blade into Leatherhead’s chest. \n\nThe large crocodile cried out in pain, pushing Raph off of him. Leonardo plowed forward, colliding with Leatherhead. He landed a few solid punches to Leatherhead’s face then turned to the others. “We have to get out of here.”\n\nThey knew that they didn’t have time to look through all of the items to find a gun and they didn’t want to test their skills against the much larger hunter. If the tomahawk straight to the chest didn’t kill him, they knew that they didn’t stand much of a chance in a fight. \n\nThe other turtles got the wagon upright once again and collected the few supplies that had fallen out. Leatherhead struggled to get back on his feet but he still looked like he could fight. The turtles got back in the cage and Leonardo hopped into the driver’s seat next to Raph. \n\nRaph snapped the reins and got the horses running. Leatherhead was on his feet, running after them but he could not keep pace with the horses. It wasn’t long before they lost him. \n\nRaphael kept the horses running for as long as he dared. It was Leonardo who told him that he would have to stop if he wanted to keep the poor beasts alive. \n\nAfter a brief rest they were back on their way to their destination. Raph looked over at Leonardo. He had never met him before but they somehow had a common enemy. Maybe their meeting was destined. Raph knew one thing for sure; fate had chosen a cruel way to get them together. \n\nAs much as he wanted to go back for Traximus he knew that it would be nothing but a waste of time. It had been almost a full day and Trax had been gravely injured. So Raph fought the urge to turn the wagon around. Instead he swore to himself that he would make Saki pay. \n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Warning: Bloody and serious injury.


Raphael didn’t think he would be able to love again after Casey’s death. The thought of it still pained him and the scars on his plastron were a constant reminder. But, despite the pain and the guilt, Raph felt joy and at peace when he was with Traximus.

Raphael shivered and wrapped his arms around himself, moving closer to the fire. The temperature had dropped dramatically once the sun had gone down. He hated nights out on the open plains.

“Here,” Trax said as he draped his long coat over Raph’s shoulders.

It still had Trax’s lingering warmth and scent. Raph pulled it around himself as he inhaled deeply. “Is nice. I not give back….”

Trax let out a hearty laugh. “You can keep it. I have another. That one was getting to be a little too small for me any way.” Trax made his way over to the cart in search of his other jacket.

Slipping his arms through the sleeves, Raph stood up. He looked down at the oversized coat that draped his body. This was getting to be too small for Trax? “It’s too big,” Raph said.

Trax stopped in his search and turned to look at Raph. With a smile on his face he did his best to stifle a laugh. “You’ll grow into it. You just need some muscle.”

Raph scowled and rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the deep blush that burned his cheeks. “I fucking hate you.” He had managed to pick up some of the more colorful words in the common language over the past few months.

“Love you too,” Trax teased, winking at Raph before he turned back to searching. “There are some buttons on the coat that can be used to adjust the size a bit and I can hem it so it doesn’t drag. It might always be a little big on you, but that’s okay.”

Raph stood, waiting for Trax. Once Trax had found what he was looking for he made his way back over to Raph. “You can have this too,” Trax said, placing his hat on Raph’s head. He then got to work adjusting the coat.

When Trax was done, the coat was still oversized but it fit Raph better.

Raph looked up into Trax’s eyes and said, in his own language, “I love you.”

Trax smiled down at Raph. He had heard Raph say it often enough that he knew what the words meant. Cupping Raph’s face with his large hand, Trax ran his thumb along the emerald cheek. “I love you too.”

…..

With one of the turtles Saki had wanted in custody, Leatherhead followed his leads to where the other one might be. He had overheard some town’s people talking about a turtle traveling with a triceratops and that they avoided towns because the turtle was wanted.

The encounter they were discussing had occurred only a few days ago so Leatherhead set out to find them. Even if he wasn’t the turtle he was looking for, Leatherhead would capture him anyway. It didn’t matter to him. All turtles were the same.

He walked out of the bar and headed for the stables where his horses and wagon were being kept. No one cared that he had a cage full of natives and the stable boy gladly took the extra payment to keep an eye on them.

As he rode out of town people waved at him, some commending him on the work he was doing while others handed him money to aid him in his endeavors. They knew that his work made the country safe for the settlers.

……

It had been over a year since Raph had started traveling with Trax. Raph had put on a few more pounds of muscle and he filled out the coat a little better. It was still kind of big on him but at least he no longer looked like a child trying on his father’s clothes. Traximus trained him hard in the use of the bull whip and Raph picked up the technique quickly.

They continued in their travels. There was no destination in mind as they made their way across the land. They went where the fates took them and helped people whenever they could. “Do good things and good things come to you in return,” Trax would say. It helped to alleviate Raph’s guilt. He often wondered the fate of the turtle he had stolen the documents from.

Part of him wanted to return to the town and undo the damage but he knew that would be foolish. Saki would kill him as soon as he saw him. Raph had seen the wanted posters; it was the reason they had to stay out on the plains.

Raph tended to the fire and started dinner while Trax set up the tent. They were fortunate that they had come across one large enough to accommodate the two of them. Raph supposed that it only proved Trax right. Despite the fact that they were living the life of wanderers, they wanted for nothing.

Any time they were in need of something, they would somehow find it. They either gained it in a trade or as a reward for helping someone or they would get the money needed to buy it. It had been a long time since Raph had been so happy.

After dinner Raph crawled into the tent with Trax following in after him. Stripping off all of their clothes, they lied down together.

Raph kissed along Trax’s neck, occasionally nipping at the orange flesh. When he felt Trax’s fingers trace down his center line, Raph parted his legs and dropped his tail. Just as Trax’s fingers ghosted over Raph’s cloaca they heard the sound of an approaching wagon.

Quickly redressing, they exited the tent as the wagon pulled up. A large crocodile sat in the driver’s seat of a large cart that needed to be pulled by two horses.

“Can we help you, friend?” Trax asked as he walked up to the stranger. “If you need something to eat and a fire to warm yourself, you are welcome to join us.”

“No,” the crocodile replied. Lifting his hand he pointed at Raph. “I’m here for him.”

“You are a bounty hunter,” Trax said, nodding his understanding. “I ask that you leave this one alone. He is atoning for whatever crimes he is accused of.”

The crocodile scoffed. “I am no bounty hunter. I am Leatherhead the turtle hunter.” As he spoke, Leatherhead pulled out his tomahawk and threw it at Trax. The blade imbedded itself in Trax’s chest and he fell back.

“Trax!” Raph called out, running towards him. “Trax? Hold on.” Raph dropped to his knees when he reached Trax. His hands wrapped around the handle of the tomahawk and he was about to pull it out when Trax grabbed his wrist.

“Don’t,” Trax rasped out. “Run.”

“No!” Raph stood up and faced Leatherhead as the large crocodile stepped down from the wagon. Pulling out his whip, Raph uncoiled it and stood ready to strike. “I’m not leaving you.”

As soon as Leatherhead was in range, Raph snapped his whip. It struck the crocodile on the snout, leaving a long gash in the hard scales. “Vile creature,” Leatherhead spat out.

Leatherhead charged and Raph struck out at him again. The whip grazed Leatherhead’s shoulder as he managed to duck out of the way. For someone so big he had fast reflexes.

Before Raph was able to ready his whip for another attack, Leatherhead was on top of him. “You are lucky that I do not wish to kill you here,” Leatherhead growled. After a brief struggle the large crocodile landed a solid blow to the side of Raph’s head, leaving stars in the turtle’s eyes.

Dazed, Raph was thrown into the back of the caged wagon. By the time he was able to collect his thoughts, they were moving. Pushing himself up off the floor, Raph looked through the solid bars. “Trax!” he yelled despite the screaming headache. “Trax?”

As they pulled away he could see Traximus lying on the ground next to the dim fire. It was too dark and they were too far for Raph to be able to tell if he was breathing or not. “Trax,” Raph yelled again in desperation but Trax did not move.

….


Raph felt numb as he sat on the floor of the wagon. There were other turtles in the cage with him, all male, two children. They sat in silence as they traveled down the bumpy path.

After a day the wagon came to a stop and Leatherhead passed canteens through the bars. The others accepted theirs but Raph simply glared at their captor.

Leatherhead laughed. “You will want it soon enough. Thirst will have you begging for it. I don’t want you to die before we get to where I want to kill you.”

“I’ll rip your head off first,” Raph growled.

Wide eyed, the other turtles in the wagon looked up at him. With a deep chuckle, Leatherhead made his way back around to the driver’s seat and urged the horses forward.

Once they were moving again one of the turtles leaned forward and said in the native language, “You speak the language of the settlers but do you speak the language of the tribes?”

Raph nodded and answered. “I can speak both, yes.”

The elder of the group squinted his eyes. “You speak with a Snapper’s accent.”

“I was a slave to the Snappers,” Raph replied.

“And it seems that you are going to be a slave again,” another sighed. “I have heard that out kind was being captured to be used as slaves. I never thought that I would become one. We were on our way to find refuge in a new tribe. Ours was displaced by the settlers and we lost many on our journey. He captured us but the others were able to get away.”

Raph shook his head. “I don’t think intends to sell us as slaves. He intends on killing us.”

“Why would he keep us alive if he wants to kill us?” the elder asked.

Raphael could only shrug. “He said something about taking us to a special place.”

After a few moments of silence, one of the other turtles addressed Raphael. “You speak the common language?”

Raph glanced over at him and nodded. “That was already established,” he answered in the native language.

Sighing in frustration the turtle shook his head. “I do not speak the native language.”

“How is it you not know the language of the tribes?” Raph asked in the common tongue.

“I was not raised by the tribes,” the other answered. “I was found by the side of the road and raised by some settlers. My name is Leonardo.”

Raphael leaned back, unable to hide the surprise.

Leonardo rolled his eyes and asked, “Why do turtles keep doing that whenever I tell them my name?” He pointed to the others. “When I introduced myself to them they had the same expression but I don’t understand what they are saying.”

“You don’t know what it means?” Raph responded.

Leonardo shook his head. “I do not. What does it mean?”

Raph leaned in. “A settler found you by roadside and you have a name from the tribes but you don’t know what it means?””

“That’s what I said,” Leonardo nodded. “Now please stop asking me questions and answer mine.”

“Your name is… complicated,” Raph answered leaning back. “It has….” He snapped his fingers and he thought about what he wanted to say. He had come a long way in his understanding of the common language but it still managed to trip him up. “It has many meanings.”

“Give me one,” Leonardo said, looking agitated.

Raph ran his bottom lip through his teeth. He debated in his mind on whether or not to hold back. In the end he decided to be blunt. “Your name means that you were found in a sea of dead by the roadside. Your name means that out of everyone, you are the one survivor. All others are dead. Whole tribe lost.”

Leonardo’s expression dropped and he sat back against the bars. “My father never told me that part. All he told me was that he found me by the side of the road. He and my mother couldn’t have a child of their own so they saw me as a gift. I thought I was abandoned.”

“Turtles don’t simply abandon their babies,” Raph said.

“I guess the name fits,” Leonardo scoffed. “Everyone I have ever cared for has died. Now Saki is going to get away with murdering my parents. He’s going to win.”

“Oroku Saki?” Raph asked.

Leonardo nodded and tears filled his eyes. “Yeah. He wanted my parent’s farm and killed them to get it. But, I have the deed to the land and my parent’s will so he hasn’t been able to get the land yet. This is why he put the bounty on my head.”

“Saki killed someone close to me too,” Raph said and looked down at his hands.

“Saki probably hired this guy to kill us,” Leonardo stated as a matter of fact.

They all sat in awkward silence for several hours and Raph was starting to regret not accepting the canteen. After clearing his throat, Leonardo spoke again. “Since you can speak their language, will you tell them that he intends to kill us all.”

“I already did,” Raph answered.

Leonardo looked up at Raph. “Knowing that, will they be willing to fight him for our freedom?”

Raph scoffed. “Turtles are not fighters. They don’t even eat meat.”

Shaking his head, Leonardo sighed. “I am not ready to die but I cannot fight him alone. I’ve tried. He is too strong.”

Cocking his head to the side, Raph smiled. “I will fight with you.”

“Good.” Leonardo looked Raph in the eyes. “I have a plan. But I’m going to need you to tell them their part.”

“They will not fight,” Raph insisted.

Leonardo shook his head. “They won’t have to.”

It took some convincing but after a few hours of debate, Raph and Leo had managed to get the other turtles to agree to help. They had also agreed that once they were free they would travel together.

They had the two small children hold on to the bars on one side of the cage. The males readied themselves then threw all of their weight into the other side of the cage, making sure that they struck with their carapaces.

As a result the cage tilted and the children were able to hold on as the wagon fell on its side. A roar from the front told them that Leatherhead was not pleased with the delay. He stormed around the back with his tomahawk in hand. “You will all pay for that!”

Raph and Leonardo rolled to their feet despite the pain while the others moved further back. Leonardo looked up and saw that his plan had worked. The hinge on the cage door had popped off. Grabbing the bars above him he swung with all of his strength as Leatherhead came into view.

The door flew open, striking Leatherhead and sending him to the ground. The tomahawk fell from his hand and Raphael rushed out to grab it. Before Leatherhead could recover, Raph sent the blade into Leatherhead’s chest.

The large crocodile cried out in pain, pushing Raph off of him. Leonardo plowed forward, colliding with Leatherhead. He landed a few solid punches to Leatherhead’s face then turned to the others. “We have to get out of here.”

They knew that they didn’t have time to look through all of the items to find a gun and they didn’t want to test their skills against the much larger hunter. If the tomahawk straight to the chest didn’t kill him, they knew that they didn’t stand much of a chance in a fight.

The other turtles got the wagon upright once again and collected the few supplies that had fallen out. Leatherhead struggled to get back on his feet but he still looked like he could fight. The turtles got back in the cage and Leonardo hopped into the driver’s seat next to Raph.

Raph snapped the reins and got the horses running. Leatherhead was on his feet, running after them but he could not keep pace with the horses. It wasn’t long before they lost him.

Raphael kept the horses running for as long as he dared. It was Leonardo who told him that he would have to stop if he wanted to keep the poor beasts alive.

After a brief rest they were back on their way to their destination. Raph looked over at Leonardo. He had never met him before but they somehow had a common enemy. Maybe their meeting was destined. Raph knew one thing for sure; fate had chosen a cruel way to get them together.

As much as he wanted to go back for Traximus he knew that it would be nothing but a waste of time. It had been almost a full day and Trax had been gravely injured. So Raph fought the urge to turn the wagon around. Instead he swore to himself that he would make Saki pay.
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