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Then came the day he was invited to the estate of the Hamato Clan, and his entire life turned upside down.", "count": "16", "submission_left_submission_id": "2255930", "submission_left_file_name": "3280934_Sundayeyes_bell_flowers_13.doc", "submission_right_submission_id": "2261714", "submission_right_file_name": "3289697_Sundayeyes_bell_flowers_15.doc" } ], "description": "Michelangelo had never been known to stay in one place for very long. Taverns and street corners were his hearth and home, because roots can?t take hold if you just keep moving, and why would anyone want to sink into the ground so deep that you got stuck?\n\nThey were smart words to live by and had done a good job of keeping him happy enough. At least until the day he was invited to the sprawling estate of the Hamato Clan, and his entire life was turned upside down.\n\nAlternate Universe, AU\nPairings: Leonardo/Michelangelo, Raphael/Donatello\n\n~*~*~*~\n[url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2255930]<--- Chapter Thirteen[/url] __//__ [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2261714]Chapter Fifteen --->[/url]\n~*~*~*~", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Michelangelo had never been known to stay in one place for very long. Taverns and street corners were his hearth and home, because roots can?t take hold if you just keep moving, and why would anyone want to sink into the ground so deep that you got stuck?

They were smart words to live by and had done a good job of keeping him happy enough. At least until the day he was invited to the sprawling estate of the Hamato Clan, and his entire life was turned upside down.

Alternate Universe, AU
Pairings: Leonardo/Michelangelo, Raphael/Donatello

~*~*~*~
<--- Chapter Thirteen __//__ Chapter Fifteen --->
~*~*~*~", "writing": "[center]~*~*~*~\n\nChapter Fourteen: Many the Miles\n\n~*~*~*~[/center]\n\nWhat Michelangelo was hoping to do was make it into Hun's camp and back out again before the challenge even started. In order to do that he needed to be quick, but even knowing that, he still took the small risk of moving further east than was really necessary before circling around and approaching the camp in a straight westward line down the gully.\n\nAs he moved, he tried to focus like he knew he should, carefully scanning the trees for any sign of threat or ambush, shaking his head every time his mind started to wander.\n\nHe had said it. Whispered it right into Leonardo's ear like some unknown spirit had taken control and done it for him. More than that, he had meant it. That was the craziest part and that knowledge had him vibrating, every part of his body shaking as he replayed the moment in his head over and over again. It was scary, it was exhilarating, it was confusing.\n\nHe expected his normal feelings of fear and self-preservation to be clamoring their alarms in his head, like they always did, screaming at him to flee from the dangers of letting someone in, of relying on anyone other than himself. On any other day, at any other time, released from the confines of the estate it never would have occurred to him to go back, he would have simply kept walking east. He would have taken his first chance of escape and left the panic and worry behind him.\n\nIt was a revelation to realize that he didn't feel even the slightest urge to do that now.\n\nHe almost didn't recognize himself with so many strange sensations swirling through him, this feeling of peace and contentment, this complete certainty that he would never walk a path that didn't lead him right back to Leo ever again. He almost couldn't even remember that there was a world that existed outside of Leonardo's arms. Everything that he'd lived through before was a fading dream that he never wanted to see again.\n\nHe had never been so sure of anything in his entire life.\n\nStepping over a fallen tree an image of his mate flashed in his vision, hovering over him, intensely focused on where their bodies were joined. Mikey closed his eyes for just a second, shivers coursing through him as he remembered completely surrendering and the heady rush that came with it.\n\n[i]Trouble, thy name is Leonardo...[/i] he thought, distracted, not seeing the thin dead branch across his path until he stepped on it, the crack of the dry wood bouncing off the trees surrounding him.\n\nA snorting grunt made him freeze, ears straining for the source of the sound, which he found only a few feet away from where he stood. A single sentry posted close to the creek bed, half drunk and propped up against the base of a tree, dozing in the warmth of a sunbeam breaking through the branches over his head.\n\nMikey held his breath until his lungs started to burn, waiting for the guy to snap his eyes open and shout an alarm. But the thug didn't wake, he only shifted and snuffled, lifting a hand to scratch at his beard before letting it fall limply back into his lap. He didn't even twitch as Mikey passed silently behind him.\n\n[i]Come on, Mikey, get it together. That was too close, and you know it.[/i]\n\nHe couldn't afford to let thoughts of his lover distract him now. Leo and Raph and Don, they were counting on him. The whole clan was counting on him. This was important.\n\nDetermined to do better, he carefully hid himself in a large leafy bush just inside the tree line, watching the camp through holes in the foliage carefully.\n\n[i]Time to get serious...[/i]\n\nOf course, there was one glaring problem he hadn't really considered before volunteering for this mission. Usually all of his sneaking was done under the cover of night, when the shadows were deeper, and the darkness was a tool he used to hide his movements. Now, facing the blazing light of midday, he was starting to realize that he would need to adjust his strategy if he had any hope of being successful.\n\nChewing on his lip, he carefully considered his options. Hun's camp wasn't really all that big, only fifty or so tents surrounding two massive pavilions, one larger than the other, but they were spaced in such a way that would make it difficult for him to move around without being seen.\n\nThe good news was that most of the tents were old and roughly patched, their colors faded to dull browns and grays. At Leo's insistence, Mikey had changed into a muted beige colored tunic and pants with a matching hood that covered almost all his face. The garments made it easier for him to blend in with the landscape, and now he could see it would also help him blend into the camp itself.\n\nTo his left, the men of Hun's clan had fashioned makeshift hitching posts with downed tree limbs where all their horses and mules were tied securely, making a stamping and snorting wall that he could possibly use to mask some of his movement. Mikey narrowed his eyes as an idea started to form in his mind.\n\nReturning his attention to the camp he could see that almost all of Hun's men were nowhere to be seen. As he had predicted, the lure of joining their lord to watch him fight Raphael was something he knew they never would have been able to resist. But, as expected, there were still a dozen or so guards scattered throughout the area sporting grumpy scowls on their faces.\n\nMikey smirked, their attitudes about being left behind was something that would hopefully be to his advantage. He spent a few minutes watching them closely, they seemed to be keeping to assigned posts with a man positioned every hundred feet or so around the perimeter. He also spotted two teams of two men walking a slow path through the tents.\n\nFirst impressions were that it was a lot of security for such a small camp, almost excessively so. His thoughts about Hun keeping his captives with him wherever he went must be true, the rival leader wouldn't be acting so paranoid about maintaining his secrets otherwise.\n\n[i]Well, at least that means I'm not risking my shell for nothing.[/i]\n\nSlowly slipping out of the bush he moved back into the trees and made his way toward the horses. Two small mules were tied up at one end of the hitches, heads hung low as they dozed in the sun. Carefully grabbing a handful of spiky brambles from a nearby thorn bush he eased his way over to the creatures, their ears twitching as he approached.\n\n\"Sorry, little guys, I hate to do this, but I need a distraction.'' He whispered, untying their leads.\n\nAs gently as he could he placed the sharp brambles right up underneath their chins where their heads bent to meet their necks, tangling them in their fur until they held. Then, with a sympathetic grimace, he took the last one he had and shoved it into one of the mule's nostrils, darting away to hide between two horses further down the line.\n\nThe effect was immediate, the poor mule jerked back from the poking in its nose, tossing its head against the brambles stuck to its neck. It brayed with discomfort, knocking against the other mule, causing it to move against its own brambles. Both mules panicked, unable to get away from the sudden pain, and ran off toward the tree line, kicking and snorting and making a good ruckus the whole way. The two closest guards shouted in confusion and Mikey heard the stomping of their feet as they ran off after the frightened animals.\n\nTaking a quick look around the backside of the horse he was sheltering against he made sure no one was left close enough to see him and darted across the small open space to the nearest tent, hiding behind a stack of crates stored next to the thin fabric. He crouched down, steadying his breathing, listening for any sound of alarm.\n\nWith everyone gone it was so quiet. He could hear the wind rustling through the trees and the low thumping flaps of the tent fabrics surrounding him. Occasionally a cough or a grunt came to him, muffled by the stillness of the camp.\n\nAfter a few minutes he heard the guards coming back, grumbling to each other, \"Stupid damn things always messin' with the bushes.'' A gruff voice said.\n\n\"I hate being on animal duty...'' The other responded.\n\n\"This bites, I wanted ta go watch the fight! Why do we always gotta be left behind?''\n\n\"Yeah, Hun's always givin' us the shit jobs, it's not fair.''\n\n\"I say screw it!'' The first said with an angry growl, \"He'll never know if we ditch for a while ta go watch. We can be there and back and no one'll notice.''\n\n\"That's the best idea you've had all day!'' The second agreed enthusiastically, and Mikey couldn't believe his luck as he listened to the sound of their boots fade away.\n\nThis left a wide-open window in their security that he could use to make his escape once he found what he was looking for. Perfect.\n\nThere was another row of tents between him and the pavilions, but nothing directly across from him had crates next to them he could use as cover, so he would have to be quick.\n\nAiming for the biggest pavilion, he dashed across the open space, sliding up against the side of a small threadbare tent. His feet squelched in the mud as he came to a stop. As he paused, the distant sound of a drumbeat reached his ears followed closely by the roar of an excited crowd.\n\nThe challenge was starting.\n\nMikey frowned, the plan had been for Lord Hamato to stall Hun for as long as possible, and he was sure the lord had done all he could to keep the brute at bay, but still, he had hoped for more time.\n\nNow he [i]really[/i] needed to be quick. He knew Raph would be able to hold his own against Hun just fine. The second son was well trained, obviously more so than a thug like the rival leader. It was Donatello that he was truly worried about. Leo had said Don was good, and he doubted there was anyone who could have trained him better than the heirs to the Hamato Clan. But the fact remained that his friend didn't have a lifetime of experience like they did, and Mikey had no idea if what he did have would be enough to keep him from getting hurt.\n\nRaphael would sacrifice himself to stop anything from happening to his mate without hesitation, and the reality of that actually happening was too terrifying to linger on.\n\nIf either of them died before he could complete his mission Mikey would never forgive himself.\n\nA shiver passed across the back of his neck at the thought just as he heard the steady thump of footsteps and the low sound of voices. One of the two-man patrols was close, and he didn't have anywhere to hide...\n\nLooking down at his feet he grabbed the bottom edge of the tent next to him and lifted the fabric. It didn't move far, but it was enough for him to squeeze under. Hitting the ground, he made a face as the mud spread across the front of his body. He rolled and scooted into the tent, letting the cloth flap fall back to the ground behind him, holding his breath as the guards passed by inches from where he lay.\n\n\"How long do ya' think it'll take Lord Hun to kill the sonofa bitch?'' A gravelly voice asked.\n\n\"Hell, I don't know, I've never seen the guy fight before.'' Came a quiet answer, \"Hey, do you think we can see the action from here? Maybe over by the mess tent?''\n\n\"Shit, I hope so. Let's go find out.'' The first voice said eagerly.\n\nMikey released his breath as the voices faded away, slapping his hand across his face as an overpowering stench filled his nose. The tent was only big enough for two bed rolls that reeked of sweat and urine, not to mention whatever foul odor was coming from the questionable looking bucket near the tent flap. Swallowing back his gag reflex he got out as quickly as he could, shooting for the pavilion only a few feet away and sliding under the fabric at the ground like he had just done with the tent.\n\nLuckily, he rolled in behind a stack of crates, hiding his movement from anyone that might be inside. He stayed perfectly still on his plastron, listening. All he could hear was the low sound of breathing and soft sad whimpers.\n\nRising silently to his feet he curiously peeked over the top of the crates at his side and his heart stopped.\n\nThe pavilion was a large wide-open space separated into two sections. Near the front flaps was a seating area with a table he assumed Hun must use with his higher-ranking members to discuss clan business. Beyond that, set up behind wide standing screens, was the sleeping area. Blankets and tapestries were hung from the wood beams holding the pavilion up to keep the space warm and there was a large cushion covered thick with furs to sleep on.\n\nBut that's not what made Mikey's eyes widen and his breath catch in fear.\n\nHuddled in the shadows in front of the bed, bound together by lengths of rope tied to posts jammed into the ground, were seven of the saddest figures he had hoped to never see.\n\nHe'd known they would be here but seeing the reality of their despair with his own eyes tore a hole right through his heart.\n\nThey were clean and well dressed in rich looking simple garments, a man like Hun would never allow those under his control to appear to be anything other than perfect, but even with all the silk and fur and perfume he could never cover up their hollow glassy stares, could never disguise their sagging shoulders and shallow breaths.\n\nMost of them were asleep, using their only escape as efficiently as they could now that Hun wasn't here to terrorize them. The few that were awake stared into nothing, twitching at every small sound. But a young woman with thick black hair and eyes so brightly green they shined in the low light caught his attention. There was still fight in those eyes, Mikey could see it flash as she held a small trembling figure tightly to her chest.\n\nHe was halfway across the room before he even realized that he had moved. Was it the stupidest thing he had ever done? Probably. But there was no doubt in his mind that he needed these poor dejected souls to know they weren't alone. That Lord Hamato and Leo and Raph, that the entire Hamato Clan, knew they were here and were trying to find a way to save them.\n\nThe woman tensed as she spotted the shadow moving toward her, clutching the small woman in her arms closer.\n\nMikey raised his hands and crouched, speaking low, \"It's alright...don't be scared, I'm not here to hurt you.'' Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, looking him over, the others watched him with wide fearful eyes. She didn't speak.\n\n\"What's your name?'' Mikey whispered, but she just glared at him warily, so he continued. \"Ok, that's alright... listen, I'm here to help... you're, well you're not safe yet, but things are happening right now and if it goes the way it should then hopefully you won't be here for much longer. Just... just hang on...''\n\nHe wanted to untie them all and lead them away, out of this camp and back to the estate where they would never have to look at Hun's ugly face ever again. It broke his heart that he knew he couldn't. He would never make it to safety with so many people trailing behind him, they would be spotted as soon as they left this pavilion. But even knowing that, he wasn't sure how he was supposed to find the strength to leave them behind now that he knew they were here.\n\n\"Where are we...?''\n\nThe quiet whisper pulled him sharply out of his thoughts. Looking down he saw another set of bright green eyes peeking through a messy curtain of black hair so much like the young woman he had been speaking to he was sure they were related, sisters probably. With sympathy he smiled at her, this young girl who couldn't possibly be any older than fifteen.\n\n\"In the Hamato valley.'' He answered softly, \"The clan knows you're here and Lord Hamato is doing what he can to make Hun answer for what he's done to you.''\n\nThe older sister swallowed, her eyes shining with just the slightest flicker of hope. \"Hamato?'' She whispered. \"Truly?''\n\nMikey nodded, \"I wish I could take you all with me now, but there are too many guards, we'd never make it out without being caught.'' He looked down at her arms, motioning toward the jagged purple lines on her skin, \"The priest that did this to you, is he here?''\n\nThe young woman nodded, her eyes darting to look at the tent flaps, \"The other pavilion... but... he's dangerous.''\n\nMikey had to lean forward to hear her terrified whisper. Nodding his understanding he looked behind him, squaring his shoulders with resolve. \"This will all be over soon.'' He said, standing to leave, ``Don't give up.''\n\nShe looked up at him with an unreadable expression. He didn't think she believed him, but that was alright, [i]he[/i] knew they wouldn't be abandoned here and hopefully that was enough.\n\nMoving quickly to the front flaps he carefully peeled one back and looked outside. The opening to the second pavilion was directly across from where he stood, one side fastened open, but it was too dark on the inside to see anything.\n\nHe looked back over his shoulder to see multiple sets of eyes blinking at him in the gloom, most noticeable of all, the sisters. Their faces were in shadow, but the glow of their matching green eyes reached him from all the way across the space. He gave them the most confident nod he could muster and slipped away before he did something [i]really[/i] stupid, like actually releasing them and trying to fight his way through the guards to get them out.\n\nNot wanting to draw attention by using the front entrance, he slipped around the side of the second pavilion. With no guards in sight he slid under the bottom edge of the fabric, blinking to adjust his vision once he was inside.\n\nIt was dark, only a sliver of light from the half open tent flap offered any illumination. He struggled to take a breath, the air was damp and heavy with smoke, a cloying perfume that tickled the back of his throat. He eased his way behind a length of cloth hung from above his head, looking around its edge to get his bearings.\n\nThis tent was different, far more cluttered and chaotic than Hun's. Crates and trunks and boxes of all shapes and sizes were scattered around the space overflowing with a mess of random, dangerous looking things, too overwhelming to identify.\n\nMikey couldn't make sense of it. Hun and his men had only been in the valley for two days. How this priest had managed to travel with such a massive amount of junk and make such a storm of confusing debris in that short amount of time was unbelievable.\n\nHe inched his way around the back of the tent, the clutter making it easy to hide his movements, itching his nose to try and rid it of the overpowering scent of incense.\n\nThere was a soft sphere of light coming from the center of the space and Mikey craned his neck to see over a stack of old trunks. A low table was placed on a plush rug with an ornate lantern the source of the glow. Scattered across its surface was an array of objects that made him twist his lip in disgust. Skulls and bones, feathers and fur, small bowls filled with dark thick liquids. It was enough to make his skin crawl and in front of it all he spied a hunched figure, bent over the table, making small scraping sounds as he worked on something Mikey couldn't see.\n\nThe priest was strangely dressed in bright flowing robes cut jagged and heavy in dozens of colors. His head was hidden under a tall headdress that covered his scalp and looked like it was made from torn feathers and spiked bones tied with string and shiny fabric, it was gaudy and more than a little bit terrifying.\n\nReaching a tall crate and slipping behind it, he leaned to the side carefully, barely moving his head past the corner of it to try and get a better look, and froze, eyes widening in shock.\n\nThe priest was gone.\n\nPulling sharply back he quickly looked around him, trying to find his target, trembling as a low murmur reached his ears.\n\n\"I know you're here...'' The voice hissed in the dark, \"I can hear you breathing... sneaky and silent... come to steal my master's secrets...''\n\nMikey dropped into a crouch, straining to hear any sound that would alert him to where the priest was.\n\n\"I won't let you...'' The voice drifted from somewhere to his right, \"I warned my lord Hun that Hamato would try something deceitful... and here you are... and yet... you are not one of the sons... the scent of the bell flower on you is too faint...''\n\nHow he could smell anything other than the heavy smoke, Mikey had no idea and he wasn't interested in sticking around long enough to find out. The priest was moving slowly, invisible in the shadows, but drawing closer with each word. Scowling with frustration Mikey crawled away, looking for better cover and finding it as he flattened himself against the side of a tall wardrobe.\n\n\"Show yourself... I won't hurt you... Lord Hun will want to meet you...'' The whisper was too close, with a lance of fear he fought the urge to stumble out of the dark into the safety of the light, he needed to find something he could use to defend himself.\n\n\"How did you make it all the way here without being seen? That's very clever... perhaps you will be allowed to live... perhaps my lord Hun would be interested in putting your skills to better use...''\n\nThere was a knife on the table next to the lantern, it looked dull and worn but it was better than nothing. Standing still as stone he closed his eyes and listened. The priest was quiet now, no hissing whisper, no rustle of cloth as he stalked. Silence fell heavy in the small space as they each waited for the other to make a move.\n\nMikey knew that if the priest was going to shout for the guard, he would have done it already. No, he had other plans for his unexpected intruder, that much was obvious. His only chance now was to somehow get the upper hand and surprise the creep.\n\nThe faintest swish of fabric sounded in his ears and he tensed, realizing the priest was only a breath away on the other side of the wardrobe.\n\nKnowing he had no other choice, Mikey took a deep breath and darted away from his hiding place straight for the golden lantern light.\n\nHe heard an enraged growl from over his shoulder but didn't stop to look, leaping over a rusty trunk that stood in his way. He dove for the table, grabbed the knife and rolled to the side, sliding a little on his shell.\n\nBillowing robes passed over his head as the priest lunged for him and missed, not having expected Mikey to hit the ground so suddenly he crashed into a stack of boxes behind them.\n\nLeaping to his feet Mikey spun, backing away as the creep recovered. He didn't even have time to think, all he could see was snarling teeth and bright yellow eyes charging at him, feathers and fabric fluttering around his wrinkled face. A flash of silver in the low light drew Mikey's eyes to a short sharp blade clutched in the priest's gnarled old fingers.\n\nThis freak was quick, far quicker than should have been possible judging by how old he looked. Intuitively knowing he couldn't dodge the attack this time, Mikey sucked in a gasping breath and leaned to the side, his arm shooting out to block the priest as they collided.\n\nThey caught each other sideways but Mikey had the leverage, with a grunt he pushed, lifting his opponent off his feet, but not before the shining blade sliced across his upper arm, making him hiss as he felt the sting of it cutting through his sleeve into his flesh. He shoved as hard as he could and the priest stumbled away, bouncing off another stack of crates.\n\nGritting his teeth and clutching his arm, feeling wet warmth spreading on the fabric, Mikey backed away, praying to any higher being that would listen that the blade hadn't been poisoned. He only just caught himself from falling backward as his shell thudding against a large rusty trunk. The metal clanged as he hit it and the latch popped, allowing the lid to spring open.\n\nDaring to take his eyes off the crazy priest for a quick second he looked back, seeing nothing but folded cloth and old books in the trunk. Nothing except... laying conspicuously on the very top was something he could possibly use. Grinning he reached down and grabbed it, twirling it clumsily.\n\nHe had seen a few of the Hamato soldiers training with these weapons just a few days ago. Two long rounded pieces of wood connected by a short chain. He remembered liking the way they looked as the men expertly spun them around their bodies, and even though he knew he wouldn't wield them as gracefully as the soldiers had, he hoped he would at least be able to get in a lucky shot.\n\nThe priest was back on his feet, circling the table with narrowed eyes, \"My master is very angry... the second son stole his prize... but you... my lord Hun will be so pleased when he returns to see I have you to offer him as a replacement...''\n\nMikey shuddered, an image of himself bound and glassy eyed, huddled with those poor people in the other tent flashing behind his eyes. Leo would come for him, try to save him, but would he make it before it was too late? He knew he couldn't risk that reality. He couldn't risk losing Leo's life in defense of his own.\n\nHis heartbeat was pounding in his throat, knowing there were only two possible outcomes, either he would win, or he would be dead. There was no way he would ever allow himself to fall under Hun's control.\n\nPlanting his feet and squaring his shoulders, he glared at the priest, \"Come on then. Come and get me.''\n\nA blink, a snarl, the figure before him blurred as it shot forward. Mikey held his ground, counting the footsteps and at the last possible second, he twisted and swung with his good arm as hard as he could. But it was a second too late and he felt the bite of the priest's clawed hands as they closed around his neck.\n\nEverything seemed to move in slow motion. The whistle of wood sounded through the air, a loud dull thud echoing around them as the weapon he held miraculously connected with the back of the frantic head that filled his vision. Crazed yellow eyes widened and unfocused, a grunt escaping through his clenched teeth as the priest sagged, slumping to the ground like a sack of potatoes.\n\nTaking a staggered step back, Mikey ripped the hood off his head as he heaved and coughed, feeling the raised welts on his skin where the priest's jagged nails had scratched him through the cloth, but when he pulled his hand back to look there was no blood. Swallowing he stared down at the unconscious priest and blinked, squeezing his eyes shut and open again with difficulty, everything was going fuzzy and fading, he couldn't quite make sense of what he was seeing. A wave of dizziness threatened to send him to the ground alongside the priest.\n\nThe elaborate robe and the headdress vanished before his eyes, leaving only a frail old turtle curled on the ground in nothing but a faded long tunic, his skin so cracked and dry it was more grey than green. Around them the overwhelming clutter was starting to fade away, the smoke and the perfume and the strange mystical objects losing substance and disappearing. Within a minute he found himself in an almost empty tent with only a few crates and trunks scattered around the space, a single cot pushed off to the side, and the table in the center still covered in all of the questionable items from before.\n\nHis ears popped as a rush of sound filled them that he hadn't even noticed was missing. Suddenly he could hear the wind shaking the fabric of the tent, the muffled whinnies of the horses nearby, and the distant roar of the two gathered armies that let him know the fight was still taking place.\n\nAn illusion? Or a glamour of some kind. He had heard of strange men from far to the north who could manipulate what you thought you could see using only their minds. He'd never believed they really existed, but after all of the amazing magical things he had seen over the last few days he figured there were a lot of tales that might be real that he would have never considered to be before. Knocking the priest unconscious must have broken his control over the fantasy.\n\n\"Ouch! Ow, ow...'' His arm was stinging where the knife had sliced his skin, but the bleeding had already almost stopped. Prodding at the wound with his finger he stepped over to the table and grabbed a reasonably clean looking strip of cloth that he tied around his arm to staunch the flow. It didn't tingle or itch and now that the smoke was gone, and his thoughts were clearing he could tell it was a clean cut with no indication of poison.\n\n\"Well that sucked.'' He grumbled to himself, looking back at the crumpled heap on the floor. But he was successful at least. The priest was his captive... so long as he could figure out a way to get him out of the camp and back to the estate before the old man had a chance to wake up.\n\nHe looked through the crates and trunks, suppressing a gleeful laugh when he found a length of rope that he unraveled as he quickly returned to securely bind the priest's hands and feet.\n\nHe tucked his found weapon into his belt, thinking it might come in handy as he tried to sneak back out of the camp, then he slung the limp body over his shoulder and took a quick look around outside the tent flap. Stepping out into the sunlight he crouched as low as he could, the priest was light as a feather, but cumbersome to carry over one shoulder and it was throwing off his balance.\n\nIt took all his self-control not to step back inside Hun's tent to release the captives. His stomach turned at the idea of leaving them behind, but he knew there was nothing he could do for them right now. His job was to deliver the priest securely into Lord Hamato's custody. The best way he could help those poor souls was to get back to the estate as quickly as he could.\n\nCarefully slipping around tents, Mikey paused and ducked, straining his ears for any sound that one of the guards was near. But there was nothing. The farther he moved the more confident he grew that there were no guards to be seen, no coughs or grunts to tell him where they were. He frowned and wondered if they had all abandoned their posts to go watch the fight. It seemed too good to be true, but he wouldn't be surprised if they had.\n\nFor one irrational second, seeing there would be no resistance to their escape, Mikey considered going back for the prisoners, he even turned and took a step in that direction. But then Donatello's voice echoed in his mind, [i]`I can feel him... I can feel his heartbeat...'[/i] and that single thought made him stop.\n\nWith no way of knowing if Hun's perverted bonds worked the same way as a traditional one, he couldn't know if Hun would feel Mikey moving his bond prisoners. Would he be able to tell when their location changed from the camp to the estate? Would he feel them moving through the trees, out of his grasp?\n\nHe couldn't risk it and that was infuriating. They were scared and they were lost and even with a straight shot to freedom there was still nothing he could do. Sadly, he turned and kept walking, repeating inside his head over and over that he was only one turtle, that he [i]was[/i] helping, that what they really needed was the might of the Hamato army to save them.\n\nHe let out a heavy sigh of resignation once he was safely hidden back in the trees. His shoulders and back were starting to ache from the tension but at least he'd made it out, even if he was constantly glancing back over his shoulder as he walked. He never trusted a job that went as easily as this one had, but he also wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. If Hun's men were more interested in the fight, then they were in their own security then that was fine by him.\n\n[center]~*~*~*~\n\ntbc...[/center]", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
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Chapter Fourteen: Many the Miles

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What Michelangelo was hoping to do was make it into Hun's camp and back out again before the challenge even started. In order to do that he needed to be quick, but even knowing that, he still took the small risk of moving further east than was really necessary before circling around and approaching the camp in a straight westward line down the gully.

As he moved, he tried to focus like he knew he should, carefully scanning the trees for any sign of threat or ambush, shaking his head every time his mind started to wander.

He had said it. Whispered it right into Leonardo's ear like some unknown spirit had taken control and done it for him. More than that, he had meant it. That was the craziest part and that knowledge had him vibrating, every part of his body shaking as he replayed the moment in his head over and over again. It was scary, it was exhilarating, it was confusing.

He expected his normal feelings of fear and self-preservation to be clamoring their alarms in his head, like they always did, screaming at him to flee from the dangers of letting someone in, of relying on anyone other than himself. On any other day, at any other time, released from the confines of the estate it never would have occurred to him to go back, he would have simply kept walking east. He would have taken his first chance of escape and left the panic and worry behind him.

It was a revelation to realize that he didn't feel even the slightest urge to do that now.

He almost didn't recognize himself with so many strange sensations swirling through him, this feeling of peace and contentment, this complete certainty that he would never walk a path that didn't lead him right back to Leo ever again. He almost couldn't even remember that there was a world that existed outside of Leonardo's arms. Everything that he'd lived through before was a fading dream that he never wanted to see again.

He had never been so sure of anything in his entire life.

Stepping over a fallen tree an image of his mate flashed in his vision, hovering over him, intensely focused on where their bodies were joined. Mikey closed his eyes for just a second, shivers coursing through him as he remembered completely surrendering and the heady rush that came with it.

Trouble, thy name is Leonardo... he thought, distracted, not seeing the thin dead branch across his path until he stepped on it, the crack of the dry wood bouncing off the trees surrounding him.

A snorting grunt made him freeze, ears straining for the source of the sound, which he found only a few feet away from where he stood. A single sentry posted close to the creek bed, half drunk and propped up against the base of a tree, dozing in the warmth of a sunbeam breaking through the branches over his head.

Mikey held his breath until his lungs started to burn, waiting for the guy to snap his eyes open and shout an alarm. But the thug didn't wake, he only shifted and snuffled, lifting a hand to scratch at his beard before letting it fall limply back into his lap. He didn't even twitch as Mikey passed silently behind him.

Come on, Mikey, get it together. That was too close, and you know it.

He couldn't afford to let thoughts of his lover distract him now. Leo and Raph and Don, they were counting on him. The whole clan was counting on him. This was important.

Determined to do better, he carefully hid himself in a large leafy bush just inside the tree line, watching the camp through holes in the foliage carefully.

Time to get serious...

Of course, there was one glaring problem he hadn't really considered before volunteering for this mission. Usually all of his sneaking was done under the cover of night, when the shadows were deeper, and the darkness was a tool he used to hide his movements. Now, facing the blazing light of midday, he was starting to realize that he would need to adjust his strategy if he had any hope of being successful.

Chewing on his lip, he carefully considered his options. Hun's camp wasn't really all that big, only fifty or so tents surrounding two massive pavilions, one larger than the other, but they were spaced in such a way that would make it difficult for him to move around without being seen.

The good news was that most of the tents were old and roughly patched, their colors faded to dull browns and grays. At Leo's insistence, Mikey had changed into a muted beige colored tunic and pants with a matching hood that covered almost all his face. The garments made it easier for him to blend in with the landscape, and now he could see it would also help him blend into the camp itself.

To his left, the men of Hun's clan had fashioned makeshift hitching posts with downed tree limbs where all their horses and mules were tied securely, making a stamping and snorting wall that he could possibly use to mask some of his movement. Mikey narrowed his eyes as an idea started to form in his mind.

Returning his attention to the camp he could see that almost all of Hun's men were nowhere to be seen. As he had predicted, the lure of joining their lord to watch him fight Raphael was something he knew they never would have been able to resist. But, as expected, there were still a dozen or so guards scattered throughout the area sporting grumpy scowls on their faces.

Mikey smirked, their attitudes about being left behind was something that would hopefully be to his advantage. He spent a few minutes watching them closely, they seemed to be keeping to assigned posts with a man positioned every hundred feet or so around the perimeter. He also spotted two teams of two men walking a slow path through the tents.

First impressions were that it was a lot of security for such a small camp, almost excessively so. His thoughts about Hun keeping his captives with him wherever he went must be true, the rival leader wouldn't be acting so paranoid about maintaining his secrets otherwise.

Well, at least that means I'm not risking my shell for nothing.

Slowly slipping out of the bush he moved back into the trees and made his way toward the horses. Two small mules were tied up at one end of the hitches, heads hung low as they dozed in the sun. Carefully grabbing a handful of spiky brambles from a nearby thorn bush he eased his way over to the creatures, their ears twitching as he approached.

"Sorry, little guys, I hate to do this, but I need a distraction.'' He whispered, untying their leads.

As gently as he could he placed the sharp brambles right up underneath their chins where their heads bent to meet their necks, tangling them in their fur until they held. Then, with a sympathetic grimace, he took the last one he had and shoved it into one of the mule's nostrils, darting away to hide between two horses further down the line.

The effect was immediate, the poor mule jerked back from the poking in its nose, tossing its head against the brambles stuck to its neck. It brayed with discomfort, knocking against the other mule, causing it to move against its own brambles. Both mules panicked, unable to get away from the sudden pain, and ran off toward the tree line, kicking and snorting and making a good ruckus the whole way. The two closest guards shouted in confusion and Mikey heard the stomping of their feet as they ran off after the frightened animals.

Taking a quick look around the backside of the horse he was sheltering against he made sure no one was left close enough to see him and darted across the small open space to the nearest tent, hiding behind a stack of crates stored next to the thin fabric. He crouched down, steadying his breathing, listening for any sound of alarm.

With everyone gone it was so quiet. He could hear the wind rustling through the trees and the low thumping flaps of the tent fabrics surrounding him. Occasionally a cough or a grunt came to him, muffled by the stillness of the camp.

After a few minutes he heard the guards coming back, grumbling to each other, "Stupid damn things always messin' with the bushes.'' A gruff voice said.

"I hate being on animal duty...'' The other responded.

"This bites, I wanted ta go watch the fight! Why do we always gotta be left behind?''

"Yeah, Hun's always givin' us the shit jobs, it's not fair.''

"I say screw it!'' The first said with an angry growl, "He'll never know if we ditch for a while ta go watch. We can be there and back and no one'll notice.''

"That's the best idea you've had all day!'' The second agreed enthusiastically, and Mikey couldn't believe his luck as he listened to the sound of their boots fade away.

This left a wide-open window in their security that he could use to make his escape once he found what he was looking for. Perfect.

There was another row of tents between him and the pavilions, but nothing directly across from him had crates next to them he could use as cover, so he would have to be quick.

Aiming for the biggest pavilion, he dashed across the open space, sliding up against the side of a small threadbare tent. His feet squelched in the mud as he came to a stop. As he paused, the distant sound of a drumbeat reached his ears followed closely by the roar of an excited crowd.

The challenge was starting.

Mikey frowned, the plan had been for Lord Hamato to stall Hun for as long as possible, and he was sure the lord had done all he could to keep the brute at bay, but still, he had hoped for more time.

Now he really needed to be quick. He knew Raph would be able to hold his own against Hun just fine. The second son was well trained, obviously more so than a thug like the rival leader. It was Donatello that he was truly worried about. Leo had said Don was good, and he doubted there was anyone who could have trained him better than the heirs to the Hamato Clan. But the fact remained that his friend didn't have a lifetime of experience like they did, and Mikey had no idea if what he did have would be enough to keep him from getting hurt.

Raphael would sacrifice himself to stop anything from happening to his mate without hesitation, and the reality of that actually happening was too terrifying to linger on.

If either of them died before he could complete his mission Mikey would never forgive himself.

A shiver passed across the back of his neck at the thought just as he heard the steady thump of footsteps and the low sound of voices. One of the two-man patrols was close, and he didn't have anywhere to hide...

Looking down at his feet he grabbed the bottom edge of the tent next to him and lifted the fabric. It didn't move far, but it was enough for him to squeeze under. Hitting the ground, he made a face as the mud spread across the front of his body. He rolled and scooted into the tent, letting the cloth flap fall back to the ground behind him, holding his breath as the guards passed by inches from where he lay.

"How long do ya' think it'll take Lord Hun to kill the sonofa bitch?'' A gravelly voice asked.

"Hell, I don't know, I've never seen the guy fight before.'' Came a quiet answer, "Hey, do you think we can see the action from here? Maybe over by the mess tent?''

"Shit, I hope so. Let's go find out.'' The first voice said eagerly.

Mikey released his breath as the voices faded away, slapping his hand across his face as an overpowering stench filled his nose. The tent was only big enough for two bed rolls that reeked of sweat and urine, not to mention whatever foul odor was coming from the questionable looking bucket near the tent flap. Swallowing back his gag reflex he got out as quickly as he could, shooting for the pavilion only a few feet away and sliding under the fabric at the ground like he had just done with the tent.

Luckily, he rolled in behind a stack of crates, hiding his movement from anyone that might be inside. He stayed perfectly still on his plastron, listening. All he could hear was the low sound of breathing and soft sad whimpers.

Rising silently to his feet he curiously peeked over the top of the crates at his side and his heart stopped.

The pavilion was a large wide-open space separated into two sections. Near the front flaps was a seating area with a table he assumed Hun must use with his higher-ranking members to discuss clan business. Beyond that, set up behind wide standing screens, was the sleeping area. Blankets and tapestries were hung from the wood beams holding the pavilion up to keep the space warm and there was a large cushion covered thick with furs to sleep on.

But that's not what made Mikey's eyes widen and his breath catch in fear.

Huddled in the shadows in front of the bed, bound together by lengths of rope tied to posts jammed into the ground, were seven of the saddest figures he had hoped to never see.

He'd known they would be here but seeing the reality of their despair with his own eyes tore a hole right through his heart.

They were clean and well dressed in rich looking simple garments, a man like Hun would never allow those under his control to appear to be anything other than perfect, but even with all the silk and fur and perfume he could never cover up their hollow glassy stares, could never disguise their sagging shoulders and shallow breaths.

Most of them were asleep, using their only escape as efficiently as they could now that Hun wasn't here to terrorize them. The few that were awake stared into nothing, twitching at every small sound. But a young woman with thick black hair and eyes so brightly green they shined in the low light caught his attention. There was still fight in those eyes, Mikey could see it flash as she held a small trembling figure tightly to her chest.

He was halfway across the room before he even realized that he had moved. Was it the stupidest thing he had ever done? Probably. But there was no doubt in his mind that he needed these poor dejected souls to know they weren't alone. That Lord Hamato and Leo and Raph, that the entire Hamato Clan, knew they were here and were trying to find a way to save them.

The woman tensed as she spotted the shadow moving toward her, clutching the small woman in her arms closer.

Mikey raised his hands and crouched, speaking low, "It's alright...don't be scared, I'm not here to hurt you.'' Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, looking him over, the others watched him with wide fearful eyes. She didn't speak.

"What's your name?'' Mikey whispered, but she just glared at him warily, so he continued. "Ok, that's alright... listen, I'm here to help... you're, well you're not safe yet, but things are happening right now and if it goes the way it should then hopefully you won't be here for much longer. Just... just hang on...''

He wanted to untie them all and lead them away, out of this camp and back to the estate where they would never have to look at Hun's ugly face ever again. It broke his heart that he knew he couldn't. He would never make it to safety with so many people trailing behind him, they would be spotted as soon as they left this pavilion. But even knowing that, he wasn't sure how he was supposed to find the strength to leave them behind now that he knew they were here.

"Where are we...?''

The quiet whisper pulled him sharply out of his thoughts. Looking down he saw another set of bright green eyes peeking through a messy curtain of black hair so much like the young woman he had been speaking to he was sure they were related, sisters probably. With sympathy he smiled at her, this young girl who couldn't possibly be any older than fifteen.

"In the Hamato valley.'' He answered softly, "The clan knows you're here and Lord Hamato is doing what he can to make Hun answer for what he's done to you.''

The older sister swallowed, her eyes shining with just the slightest flicker of hope. "Hamato?'' She whispered. "Truly?''

Mikey nodded, "I wish I could take you all with me now, but there are too many guards, we'd never make it out without being caught.'' He looked down at her arms, motioning toward the jagged purple lines on her skin, "The priest that did this to you, is he here?''

The young woman nodded, her eyes darting to look at the tent flaps, "The other pavilion... but... he's dangerous.''

Mikey had to lean forward to hear her terrified whisper. Nodding his understanding he looked behind him, squaring his shoulders with resolve. "This will all be over soon.'' He said, standing to leave, ``Don't give up.''

She looked up at him with an unreadable expression. He didn't think she believed him, but that was alright, he knew they wouldn't be abandoned here and hopefully that was enough.

Moving quickly to the front flaps he carefully peeled one back and looked outside. The opening to the second pavilion was directly across from where he stood, one side fastened open, but it was too dark on the inside to see anything.

He looked back over his shoulder to see multiple sets of eyes blinking at him in the gloom, most noticeable of all, the sisters. Their faces were in shadow, but the glow of their matching green eyes reached him from all the way across the space. He gave them the most confident nod he could muster and slipped away before he did something really stupid, like actually releasing them and trying to fight his way through the guards to get them out.

Not wanting to draw attention by using the front entrance, he slipped around the side of the second pavilion. With no guards in sight he slid under the bottom edge of the fabric, blinking to adjust his vision once he was inside.

It was dark, only a sliver of light from the half open tent flap offered any illumination. He struggled to take a breath, the air was damp and heavy with smoke, a cloying perfume that tickled the back of his throat. He eased his way behind a length of cloth hung from above his head, looking around its edge to get his bearings.

This tent was different, far more cluttered and chaotic than Hun's. Crates and trunks and boxes of all shapes and sizes were scattered around the space overflowing with a mess of random, dangerous looking things, too overwhelming to identify.

Mikey couldn't make sense of it. Hun and his men had only been in the valley for two days. How this priest had managed to travel with such a massive amount of junk and make such a storm of confusing debris in that short amount of time was unbelievable.

He inched his way around the back of the tent, the clutter making it easy to hide his movements, itching his nose to try and rid it of the overpowering scent of incense.

There was a soft sphere of light coming from the center of the space and Mikey craned his neck to see over a stack of old trunks. A low table was placed on a plush rug with an ornate lantern the source of the glow. Scattered across its surface was an array of objects that made him twist his lip in disgust. Skulls and bones, feathers and fur, small bowls filled with dark thick liquids. It was enough to make his skin crawl and in front of it all he spied a hunched figure, bent over the table, making small scraping sounds as he worked on something Mikey couldn't see.

The priest was strangely dressed in bright flowing robes cut jagged and heavy in dozens of colors. His head was hidden under a tall headdress that covered his scalp and looked like it was made from torn feathers and spiked bones tied with string and shiny fabric, it was gaudy and more than a little bit terrifying.

Reaching a tall crate and slipping behind it, he leaned to the side carefully, barely moving his head past the corner of it to try and get a better look, and froze, eyes widening in shock.

The priest was gone.

Pulling sharply back he quickly looked around him, trying to find his target, trembling as a low murmur reached his ears.

"I know you're here...'' The voice hissed in the dark, "I can hear you breathing... sneaky and silent... come to steal my master's secrets...''

Mikey dropped into a crouch, straining to hear any sound that would alert him to where the priest was.

"I won't let you...'' The voice drifted from somewhere to his right, "I warned my lord Hun that Hamato would try something deceitful... and here you are... and yet... you are not one of the sons... the scent of the bell flower on you is too faint...''

How he could smell anything other than the heavy smoke, Mikey had no idea and he wasn't interested in sticking around long enough to find out. The priest was moving slowly, invisible in the shadows, but drawing closer with each word. Scowling with frustration Mikey crawled away, looking for better cover and finding it as he flattened himself against the side of a tall wardrobe.

"Show yourself... I won't hurt you... Lord Hun will want to meet you...'' The whisper was too close, with a lance of fear he fought the urge to stumble out of the dark into the safety of the light, he needed to find something he could use to defend himself.

"How did you make it all the way here without being seen? That's very clever... perhaps you will be allowed to live... perhaps my lord Hun would be interested in putting your skills to better use...''

There was a knife on the table next to the lantern, it looked dull and worn but it was better than nothing. Standing still as stone he closed his eyes and listened. The priest was quiet now, no hissing whisper, no rustle of cloth as he stalked. Silence fell heavy in the small space as they each waited for the other to make a move.

Mikey knew that if the priest was going to shout for the guard, he would have done it already. No, he had other plans for his unexpected intruder, that much was obvious. His only chance now was to somehow get the upper hand and surprise the creep.

The faintest swish of fabric sounded in his ears and he tensed, realizing the priest was only a breath away on the other side of the wardrobe.

Knowing he had no other choice, Mikey took a deep breath and darted away from his hiding place straight for the golden lantern light.

He heard an enraged growl from over his shoulder but didn't stop to look, leaping over a rusty trunk that stood in his way. He dove for the table, grabbed the knife and rolled to the side, sliding a little on his shell.

Billowing robes passed over his head as the priest lunged for him and missed, not having expected Mikey to hit the ground so suddenly he crashed into a stack of boxes behind them.

Leaping to his feet Mikey spun, backing away as the creep recovered. He didn't even have time to think, all he could see was snarling teeth and bright yellow eyes charging at him, feathers and fabric fluttering around his wrinkled face. A flash of silver in the low light drew Mikey's eyes to a short sharp blade clutched in the priest's gnarled old fingers.

This freak was quick, far quicker than should have been possible judging by how old he looked. Intuitively knowing he couldn't dodge the attack this time, Mikey sucked in a gasping breath and leaned to the side, his arm shooting out to block the priest as they collided.

They caught each other sideways but Mikey had the leverage, with a grunt he pushed, lifting his opponent off his feet, but not before the shining blade sliced across his upper arm, making him hiss as he felt the sting of it cutting through his sleeve into his flesh. He shoved as hard as he could and the priest stumbled away, bouncing off another stack of crates.

Gritting his teeth and clutching his arm, feeling wet warmth spreading on the fabric, Mikey backed away, praying to any higher being that would listen that the blade hadn't been poisoned. He only just caught himself from falling backward as his shell thudding against a large rusty trunk. The metal clanged as he hit it and the latch popped, allowing the lid to spring open.

Daring to take his eyes off the crazy priest for a quick second he looked back, seeing nothing but folded cloth and old books in the trunk. Nothing except... laying conspicuously on the very top was something he could possibly use. Grinning he reached down and grabbed it, twirling it clumsily.

He had seen a few of the Hamato soldiers training with these weapons just a few days ago. Two long rounded pieces of wood connected by a short chain. He remembered liking the way they looked as the men expertly spun them around their bodies, and even though he knew he wouldn't wield them as gracefully as the soldiers had, he hoped he would at least be able to get in a lucky shot.

The priest was back on his feet, circling the table with narrowed eyes, "My master is very angry... the second son stole his prize... but you... my lord Hun will be so pleased when he returns to see I have you to offer him as a replacement...''

Mikey shuddered, an image of himself bound and glassy eyed, huddled with those poor people in the other tent flashing behind his eyes. Leo would come for him, try to save him, but would he make it before it was too late? He knew he couldn't risk that reality. He couldn't risk losing Leo's life in defense of his own.

His heartbeat was pounding in his throat, knowing there were only two possible outcomes, either he would win, or he would be dead. There was no way he would ever allow himself to fall under Hun's control.

Planting his feet and squaring his shoulders, he glared at the priest, "Come on then. Come and get me.''

A blink, a snarl, the figure before him blurred as it shot forward. Mikey held his ground, counting the footsteps and at the last possible second, he twisted and swung with his good arm as hard as he could. But it was a second too late and he felt the bite of the priest's clawed hands as they closed around his neck.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. The whistle of wood sounded through the air, a loud dull thud echoing around them as the weapon he held miraculously connected with the back of the frantic head that filled his vision. Crazed yellow eyes widened and unfocused, a grunt escaping through his clenched teeth as the priest sagged, slumping to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Taking a staggered step back, Mikey ripped the hood off his head as he heaved and coughed, feeling the raised welts on his skin where the priest's jagged nails had scratched him through the cloth, but when he pulled his hand back to look there was no blood. Swallowing he stared down at the unconscious priest and blinked, squeezing his eyes shut and open again with difficulty, everything was going fuzzy and fading, he couldn't quite make sense of what he was seeing. A wave of dizziness threatened to send him to the ground alongside the priest.

The elaborate robe and the headdress vanished before his eyes, leaving only a frail old turtle curled on the ground in nothing but a faded long tunic, his skin so cracked and dry it was more grey than green. Around them the overwhelming clutter was starting to fade away, the smoke and the perfume and the strange mystical objects losing substance and disappearing. Within a minute he found himself in an almost empty tent with only a few crates and trunks scattered around the space, a single cot pushed off to the side, and the table in the center still covered in all of the questionable items from before.

His ears popped as a rush of sound filled them that he hadn't even noticed was missing. Suddenly he could hear the wind shaking the fabric of the tent, the muffled whinnies of the horses nearby, and the distant roar of the two gathered armies that let him know the fight was still taking place.

An illusion? Or a glamour of some kind. He had heard of strange men from far to the north who could manipulate what you thought you could see using only their minds. He'd never believed they really existed, but after all of the amazing magical things he had seen over the last few days he figured there were a lot of tales that might be real that he would have never considered to be before. Knocking the priest unconscious must have broken his control over the fantasy.

"Ouch! Ow, ow...'' His arm was stinging where the knife had sliced his skin, but the bleeding had already almost stopped. Prodding at the wound with his finger he stepped over to the table and grabbed a reasonably clean looking strip of cloth that he tied around his arm to staunch the flow. It didn't tingle or itch and now that the smoke was gone, and his thoughts were clearing he could tell it was a clean cut with no indication of poison.

"Well that sucked.'' He grumbled to himself, looking back at the crumpled heap on the floor. But he was successful at least. The priest was his captive... so long as he could figure out a way to get him out of the camp and back to the estate before the old man had a chance to wake up.

He looked through the crates and trunks, suppressing a gleeful laugh when he found a length of rope that he unraveled as he quickly returned to securely bind the priest's hands and feet.

He tucked his found weapon into his belt, thinking it might come in handy as he tried to sneak back out of the camp, then he slung the limp body over his shoulder and took a quick look around outside the tent flap. Stepping out into the sunlight he crouched as low as he could, the priest was light as a feather, but cumbersome to carry over one shoulder and it was throwing off his balance.

It took all his self-control not to step back inside Hun's tent to release the captives. His stomach turned at the idea of leaving them behind, but he knew there was nothing he could do for them right now. His job was to deliver the priest securely into Lord Hamato's custody. The best way he could help those poor souls was to get back to the estate as quickly as he could.

Carefully slipping around tents, Mikey paused and ducked, straining his ears for any sound that one of the guards was near. But there was nothing. The farther he moved the more confident he grew that there were no guards to be seen, no coughs or grunts to tell him where they were. He frowned and wondered if they had all abandoned their posts to go watch the fight. It seemed too good to be true, but he wouldn't be surprised if they had.

For one irrational second, seeing there would be no resistance to their escape, Mikey considered going back for the prisoners, he even turned and took a step in that direction. But then Donatello's voice echoed in his mind, `I can feel him... I can feel his heartbeat...' and that single thought made him stop.

With no way of knowing if Hun's perverted bonds worked the same way as a traditional one, he couldn't know if Hun would feel Mikey moving his bond prisoners. Would he be able to tell when their location changed from the camp to the estate? Would he feel them moving through the trees, out of his grasp?

He couldn't risk it and that was infuriating. They were scared and they were lost and even with a straight shot to freedom there was still nothing he could do. Sadly, he turned and kept walking, repeating inside his head over and over that he was only one turtle, that he was helping, that what they really needed was the might of the Hamato army to save them.

He let out a heavy sigh of resignation once he was safely hidden back in the trees. His shoulders and back were starting to ache from the tension but at least he'd made it out, even if he was constantly glancing back over his shoulder as he walked. He never trusted a job that went as easily as this one had, but he also wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. If Hun's men were more interested in the fight, then they were in their own security then that was fine by him.

~*~*~*~

tbc...
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