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Is the strange Turtle he meets the worst thing that's ever happened to him, or something else?\n\nMulti-chapter 2k3", "count": "28", "submission_left_submission_id": "1044564", "submission_left_file_name": "1440445_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_6.doc", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1440/1440445_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_6.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1440/1440445_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_6.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1440/1440445_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_6.jpg", "submission_left_thumb_huge_x": "152", "submission_left_thumb_huge_y": "123", "submission_left_thumb_large_x": "152", "submission_left_thumb_large_y": "123", "submission_left_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_left_thumb_medium_y": "97", "submission_right_submission_id": "1047539", "submission_right_file_name": "1445568_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_8.doc", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1445/1445568_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_8.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1445/1445568_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_8.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1445/1445568_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_8.jpg", "submission_right_thumb_huge_x": "300", "submission_right_thumb_huge_y": "158", "submission_right_thumb_large_x": "200", "submission_right_thumb_large_y": "105", "submission_right_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_right_thumb_medium_y": "63" } ], "description": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.\nWord Count: 100K+ multi-chapter 2k3\nSummary: Donatello sets out to do April a small favor and winds up in another dimension.\nRating will vary by chapter, from G to NC-17\n\n~~The amazing preview image created by @dragona15", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.
Word Count: 100K+ multi-chapter 2k3
Summary: Donatello sets out to do April a small favor and winds up in another dimension.
Rating will vary by chapter, from G to NC-17

~~The amazing preview image created by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdragona15\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdragona15\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
", "writing": "\tDespite his misgivings, the sound of rain and the warmth of the tent lulled Donatello to sleep.\n\n\tHe wasn’t sure how long he’d been out, but he woke feeling well rested. Since Don could no longer hear the storm, he guessed that the cessation of noise had pulled him from slumber.\n\n\tDon dug his head further into his pillow, too comfortable and warm to move. Sometime during the night he’d rolled over so that he was facing the tent wall and he was actually happy that Nicco wasn’t the first thing he saw when he awakened.\n\n\tIt wasn’t that Don actively disliked the older turtle; it was just that Nicco’s personality was a little larger than life. Don felt a strange attraction to Nicco despite the teasing and the other turtle’s insistence on doing things his way. His single minded drive towards his goals was almost exactly the way Leo behaved when they were on a mission.\n\n\tDon had a deep respect for his oldest brother because of his determination. He admired that trait in Nicco as well, but found that Nicco’s drive was tempered by a brash, devil may care attitude. That spark was appealing but it certainly kept Don on his toes. It was almost like going into a fight alongside Raphael; Don never knew what the hot head was going to do but his cocky arrogance almost always paid off.\n\n\tSomething moved against him and Don realized that he’d begun to doze off again. Now there was a weight across his hip and pressure against his carapace. Before he could fully comprehend the situation, Nicco’s leg rubbed against one of Don’s calves.\n\n\tFully awake now, Don lay perfectly still, understanding that the weight he felt was Nicco’s arm and that the other turtle was flush up against him.\n\n\tDon wasn’t sure what to do. The feeling wasn’t unpleasant, in fact it was comforting in a way he hadn’t experienced since he’d stopped sharing a bed with his siblings. Nicco was warm and where their bodies touched Don’s skin tingled pleasurably.\n\n\tThat feeling wasn’t one Don was familiar with but he liked it, guiltily enjoying the sensation until he became aware of a tightness in his belly and a growing arousal. The older turtle’s scent surrounded him and Don was suddenly dizzy, his instincts threatening to take control of the situation.\n\n\tHis reaction was completely foreign to him, but Don certainly wasn’t going to give in to it. Sure that Nicco was asleep, Don tried to roll away from the larger turtle but was dismayed when Nicco’s hand flattened on his stomach and his upper thighs pushed against the back of Don’s.\n\n\tFlustered at the hand that was so close to his groin, it took Don a second to feel Nicco’s plastron pressing against his tail and buttocks. There was a very detectable bulge rubbing against him and Don had to suppress the urge to push back against it.\n\n\tDon’s heart skipped a beat when a hot breath misted the back of his neck and a husky, drowsy voice asked, “Did you sleep well?”\n\n\tToo embarrassed to move, Don attempted to answer but his voice came out as a squeak. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “I guess I did.”\n\n\tNicco lightly hummed before saying, “I slept like a baby; it must have been the added warmth.”\n\n\tAs if to illustrate his point, Nicco shifted his hips, further grinding himself against Don’s rear.\n\n\tIt came to Don suddenly that Nicco might think he’d assumed this position on purpose. Carefully grabbing the other turtle’s arm, Don lifted it off of him, dropping it on Nicco’s side.\n\n\t“If you don’t mind, I’m through being your blanket,” Don said with as much apathy as he could muster. “If the rain has stopped we should get moving.”\n\n\tDon felt Nicco’s hand grip the edge of his shell, lightly holding him in place. The beginning of Nicco’s morning erection pressed against Don’s bare skin, the younger turtle’s dilemma made worse by the favorable way his body was reacting to it.\n\n\tNicco seemed to sense something because he nuzzled into Don’s neck. “You’re too uptight little ninja. You need to learn to relax and enjoy the quiet moments.”\n\n\tPanic seized Don and he bolted, rolling onto his knees and surging out of the tent in one fast, smooth movement.\n\n\tThe cave was wet and cold; their fire having gone out hours ago. The tent moved and Don backed farther away from it, staring at the opening as he rubbed his arms to remove the chill that was already setting in.\n\n\tA minute later Nicco stepped out wearing an enigmatic expression. He had Don’s bo staff in one hand and tossed it to the younger turtle, who caught it and held it in front of him defensively.\n\n\t“I’m sorry for being a little frisky while I was still half asleep,” Nicco said, the corners of his lips lifting. “It’s a natural early morning reaction and having a warm body nearby . . . .”\n\n\t“Forget it,” Don said quickly, not wanting to hear any more about morning erections. “The sun’s starting to come up so we can get out of here.”\n\n\t“Eager to start traveling again?” Nicco asked as he began to dismantle the tent.\n\n\tDon walked over to where his gear lay and started to put on his still slightly damp things. “I just want to go home. My brothers need me.”\n\n\t“You know how the artifact works; only a couple of minutes will have passed in your dimension. Not even enough time for anyone to miss you,” Nicco said.\n\n\t“They’ll miss me if I never get back,” Don said in a low voice.\n\n\tNicco glanced at him, noticing that Don’s eyes had a faraway look in them and that his expression was a little sad.\n\n\tWith a sudden feeling of protectiveness, Nicco said, “You’ll get back home, Donatello. I told you I’d make sure of that and I will.”\n\n\tSurprised at the almost tender tone in Nicco’s voice, Don blinked as his eyes refocused and said, “Thanks.”\n\n\tSettling his bo onto his carapace, Don picked up Nicco’s belt and took it over to him. Kneeling on the ground as he hooked the tent to his backpack, Nicco looked up as Don held his belt out to him.\n\n\tFor just a second it seemed as though Nicco’s amber eyes were looking straight into Don. Unable to move, Don stared back, caught in the other turtle’s hypnotic gaze, his heart thudding in his chest.\n\n\tNicco’s fingers closed around one end of the belt and he pulled it slowly from Don’s grasp, the leather caressing the younger turtle’s palm. With all of the willpower he could muster, Don tore his eyes away from Nicco and stepped back, walking to the cave entrance so that he could look outside.\n\n\t“Are you sure you want to leave here right now?” Nicco asked in a provocative tone.\n\n\tDon shuddered as the sound of Nicco’s voice seemed to sweep across his skin. He tried to tell himself it was merely a reaction to the damp cave but he knew better.\n\n\t“Yes,” Don said sharply.\n\n\tNicco frowned at the edge in Don’s voice. Shoving his hachiwari’s into his belt, he snatched up his backpack and strapped it on before joining Don at the entrance.\n\n\tWithout looking at the younger turtle, Nicco tapped Don’s shoulder with a packaged energy bar, stepping into the sunshine when Don accepted it from him. Snapping his compass open, Nicco took a quick reading to confirm their necessary direction of travel and then set off.\n\n\tThey walked steadily for a couple of hours, finding a path that they could use to walk up the steep incline. It was narrow and rugged, obviously used by animals, but it was still faster than mountain climbing. Don wondered if Nicco even had the kind of gear they’d need if they had to go higher.\n\n\tWhen the pair of travelers crested the hill they were on, Nicco turned to look in all directions but most of the area around them was higher ground. The hills were turning into mountains and their view was blocked.\n\n\t“I don’t suppose any of this looks familiar?” Don asked without much hope.\n\n\t“Not a thing,” Nicco admitted. “Seems we’re going to have to keep climbing.”\n\n\tDon sighed in resignation at that fact and took the lead, taking them partway down the hill in order to catch the faint trail that would take them up the nearest mountainside. This part of their journey was cooler than when they’d been in the stifling jungle, a light breeze keeping them company as they traveled.\n\n\tThe trail meandered up the mountain, its path not one of design but of convenience to the animals who dodged large boulders and loose shale to create it. Don paused after a while and looked over his shoulder at Nicco.\n\n\t“Have you been watching the compass?” Don asked. “Are we still headed in the right direction?”\n\n\t“Yes and yes,” Nicco answered with a cocky grin. “The tallest mountain I spotted from the site of your crash landing was on this course. Just keep on leading the way, I’m thoroughly enjoying the view.”\n\n\tHis eyes drifted over Don’s body and came to rest on the young ninja’s rear, which he ogled with ill-concealed appreciation.\n\n\t“Are you ever serious about anything?” Don asked in annoyance.\n\n\t“Well, now that you ask . . . .” Nicco said, tilting his head to the side without altering his line of sight.\n\n\t“Never mind,” Don said, huffing lightly as he turned and started back up. \n\n\tHe could almost feel Nicco’s eyes on him and he flushed in mild embarrassment and just a hint of exhilaration. The fact that Don had to consciously force his tail to remain still bewildered him, adding to his discomfiture. It didn’t help matters when Don heard Nicco’s low, self-satisfied chuckle.\n\n\tBy Don’s estimation it was well past noon when they hit a slightly level spot on the mountainside and Nicco called for him to stop.\n\n\t“We’re making good time,” Don said, a mild protest in his voice.\n\n\t“Yes we are, but we both need some water and a breather,” Nicco said, twisting the cap off the canteen and passing it to Don.\n\n\tDon took a quick swig of water and tried to hand the canteen back. Nicco crossed his arms and stared at the younger turtle until Don gave in and drank some more.\n\n\tAfter he returned the canteen, Don said, “I don’t think we need to go all the way to the top. If we angle around to the eastern portion of this mountain, it should give you an unobstructed view of what’s on the other side.”\n\n\tNicco swished some water around in his mouth and swallowed. Placing the cap back on the canteen, he said, “Agreed. Keep your fingers crossed that . . . .”\n\n\tBefore he had a chance to finish that sentence, there was a loud rumble from above them and the ground began to shake. The two turtles were jostled around, their arms out to the sides as they tried to maintain their balance.\n\n\tA cracking sound made Don snap his head around and he saw part of the mountain coming down at them.\n\n\t“Rock slide!” Don yelled just before the ground disappeared under his feet.\n\n\tHe heard Nicco shout and saw the larger turtle plummeting down the mountain near him, sliding on a mixture of gravel and mud. A couple of boulders rolled past them and a few more bounced overhead as they were carried along by the slide.\n\n\tAs they neared a small stand of trees close to the edge of the mountain, Don whipped out his bo staff and held it crossways. By leaning to the side, he changed the direction of his slide so that he would pass between two of the trees.\n\n\t“Nicco!” Don called as the ends of his bo slammed into the tree trunks.\n\n\tHanging onto the bo, Don twisted his body and stuck his leg directly in Nicco’s path. The other turtle grabbed onto Don’s calf and clung to him as the rock slide swept past them.\n\n\tNicco was still gripping the canteen when a large rock collided with the back of his hand and knocked it loose. He made a grab for it and Don tried to catch it on his foot, but it bounced away from them and over the edge.\n\n\t“Crap!” Nicco shouted.\n\n\tHe was still cursing under his breath a few minutes later when the rock slide ended. Don took a couple of deep breaths, his body finally relaxing against the rough ground under him. Nicco let go of his leg and crawled up next to Don.\n\n\t“Are you okay?” Nicco asked, looking down at Don’s face.\n\n\t“Yeah,” Don said. “How about you?”\n\n\t“Just some scratches and a bitch of a bruise on the back of my hand,” Nicco said. “That was some damn quick thinking little ninja.”\n\n\tDon’s face felt hot as he reacted to both the praise and Nicco’s close proximity. Nicco’s eyes searched his as though looking for some kind of answer in them and Don could almost feel his resolve to stay aloof melting away.\n\n\tGrasping at anything he could think of to escape Nicco’s amber gaze, Don suddenly remembered the canteen.\n\n\tReleasing his grip on the bo, Don sat up quickly, almost colliding with Nicco who rolled aside in surprise. Jumping to his feet, Don slid the bo into place and began walking towards the mountain edge.\n\n\t“The canteen,” Don said. “It’s the only thing we have that can hold water.”\n\n\tNicco rose up slowly, his brow furrowed as he watched Don. One minute the younger turtle seemed to be into him, the next he was distant and focused.\n\n\t“It went over the side,” Nicco said. “Turtle luck says it’s long gone.”\n\n\tDon dropped to the ground when he neared the steep edge where they’d last seen the canteen, crawling forward with his plastron to the ground. Careful to distribute his weight evenly, he peered over the side.\n\n\tFor a moment he saw nothing other than a steep, rock covered drop. Sweeping his eyes over the rough terrain, he suddenly saw the canteen. It was several feet below him, its leather strap caught on the narrow tip of a protruding rock.\n\n\t“I see it!” Don called out without moving. “If I could work my way over the edge I could reach it.”\n\n\tNicco had crept closer, following Don’s example so as not to disturb the loose soil. He stopped near Don’s feet and looked around to see if there was anything they could use to snag the canteen, but the ground was covered in rocks. The scraggly trees that managed to cling to life on the edge of the mountain offered nothing in the way of hooked limbs.\n\n\t“Get back Don,” Nicco said. “I’m taller than you and have a longer reach.”\n\n\t“It’s about four feet down,” Don told him. “Even you can’t reach it without extending your upper body over the edge. I’m lighter and have a better chance of not displacing the dirt.”\n\n\tSlipping his backpack off, Nicco tossed it behind him. Scooting forward, he grabbed onto Donatello’s belt and then leaned to the side and wrapped his hand around a nearby sapling. With one leg straight out, Nicco dug into the ground with his foot, bending the other leg under him to brace himself.\n\n\t“Go slow,” Nicco said. “If I even think that the ground is giving way, I’m hauling you back up.”\n\n\t“I’ll be fine,” Don said as he started to slither over the edge.\n\n\t“You are one stubborn turtle little ninja,” Nicco said with a touch of exasperation.\n\n\t“It runs in the family,” Don muttered, inching his way down. “Give me a little more slack.”\n\n\tNicco shifted his weight, allowing Don a few more inches. “Are you close?”\n\n\tHe heard a grunt and then Don said, “A little more, it’s just beyond my fingertips. Are you okay?”\n\n\t“Oh sure,” Nicco answered, further elongating himself. “Take your time, I’ve got a nice view of your ass to keep me company.”\n\n\t“Shut up,” Don said without his usual rancor. “That isn’t helpful.”\n\n\tNicco’s deep laugh rolled down to Don as the younger turtle stretched his hand out for the canteen strap. He could touch the strap with the tips of his fingers, but Don was afraid he’d dislodge it if he did that. Don needed to be close enough to grab the strap in one swoop in case the rock fell.\n\n\tBy wriggling his body, Don managed another inch, but a good portion of his upper body was extended over the crumbling mountainside ledge. Just as he snagged the strap in a good, solid grip, the dirt under his plastron started to slide away.\n\n\tDon had absolutely no leverage to pull himself back, but fortunately Nicco’s grip on Don’s belt was tight. In another second Don found himself flying backwards, his entire form yanked away from the collapsing edge by the powerful muscles in Nicco’s body.\n\n\tHitting the ground several feet from the eroded edge of the mountain, Don scrambled further away. He saw Nicco spring upwards, the strength in his legs carrying him to where Don now lay panting on the ground.\n\n\tCollapsing next to the smaller turtle, Nicco gulped oxygen as he tried to calm the surge of adrenaline that had made him fling Donatello so many feet through the air.\n\n\t“I’ll say one thing for you little ninja,” Nicco finally managed to gasp out, “you’re pretty damn brave.”\n\n\tDon turned his head to look at the other male. “And you’re a pervert.”\n\n\tNicco stared at him for a second and then burst out laughing. Don started to grin and then, caught up in Nicco’s contagious mirth, began laughing as well.\n\nTBC………………", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "\tDespite his misgivings, the sound of rain and the warmth of the tent lulled Donatello to sleep.

\tHe wasn’t sure how long he’d been out, but he woke feeling well rested.  Since Don could no longer hear the storm, he guessed that the cessation of noise had pulled him from slumber.

\tDon dug his head further into his pillow, too comfortable and warm to move.  Sometime during the night he’d rolled over so that he was facing the tent wall and he was actually happy that Nicco wasn’t the first thing he saw when he awakened.

\tIt wasn’t that Don actively disliked the older turtle; it was just that Nicco’s personality was a little larger than life.  Don felt a strange attraction to Nicco despite the teasing and the other turtle’s insistence on doing things his way.  His single minded drive towards his goals was almost exactly the way Leo behaved when they were on a mission.

\tDon had a deep respect for his oldest brother because of his determination.  He  admired that trait in Nicco as well, but found that Nicco’s drive was tempered by a brash, devil may care attitude.  That spark was appealing but it certainly kept Don on his toes.  It was almost like going into a fight alongside Raphael; Don never knew what the hot head was going to do but his cocky arrogance almost always paid off.

\tSomething moved against him and Don realized that he’d begun to doze off again.  Now there was a weight across his hip and pressure against his carapace.  Before he could fully comprehend the situation, Nicco’s leg rubbed against one of Don’s calves.

\tFully awake now, Don lay perfectly still, understanding that the weight he felt was Nicco’s arm and that the other turtle was flush up against him.

\tDon wasn’t sure what to do.  The feeling wasn’t unpleasant, in fact it was comforting in a way he hadn’t experienced since he’d stopped sharing a bed with his siblings.  Nicco was warm and where their bodies touched Don’s skin tingled pleasurably.

\tThat feeling wasn’t one Don was familiar with but he liked it, guiltily enjoying the sensation until he became aware of a tightness in his belly and a growing arousal.  The older turtle’s scent surrounded him and Don was suddenly dizzy, his instincts threatening to take control of the situation.

\tHis reaction was completely foreign to him, but Don certainly wasn’t going to give in to it.  Sure that Nicco was asleep, Don tried to roll away from the larger turtle but was dismayed when Nicco’s hand flattened on his stomach and his upper thighs pushed against the back of Don’s.

\tFlustered at the hand that was so close to his groin, it took Don a second to feel Nicco’s plastron pressing against his tail and buttocks.  There was a very detectable bulge rubbing against him and Don had to suppress the urge to push back against it.

\tDon’s heart skipped a beat when a hot breath misted the back of his neck and a husky, drowsy voice asked, “Did you sleep well?”

\tToo embarrassed to move, Don attempted to answer but his voice came out as a squeak.  Clearing his throat, he tried again.  “I guess I did.”

\tNicco lightly hummed before saying, “I slept like a baby; it must have been the added warmth.”

\tAs if to illustrate his point, Nicco shifted his hips, further grinding himself against Don’s rear.

\tIt came to Don suddenly that Nicco might think he’d assumed this position on purpose.  Carefully grabbing the other turtle’s arm, Don lifted it off of him, dropping it on Nicco’s side.

\t“If you don’t mind, I’m through being your blanket,” Don said with as much apathy as he could muster.  “If the rain has stopped we should get moving.”

\tDon felt Nicco’s hand grip the edge of his shell, lightly holding him in place.  The beginning of Nicco’s morning erection pressed against Don’s bare skin, the younger turtle’s dilemma made  worse by the favorable way his body was reacting to it.

\tNicco seemed to sense something because he nuzzled into Don’s neck.  “You’re too uptight little ninja.  You need to learn to relax and enjoy the quiet moments.”

\tPanic seized Don and he bolted, rolling onto his knees and surging out of the tent in one fast, smooth movement.

\tThe cave was wet and cold; their fire having gone out hours ago.  The tent moved and Don backed farther away from it, staring at the opening as he rubbed his arms to remove the chill that was already setting in.

\tA minute later Nicco stepped out wearing an enigmatic expression.  He had Don’s bo staff in one hand and tossed it to the younger turtle, who caught it and held it in front of him defensively.

\t“I’m sorry for being a little frisky while I was still half asleep,” Nicco said, the corners of his lips lifting.  “It’s a natural early morning reaction and having a warm body nearby . . . .”

\t“Forget it,” Don said quickly, not wanting to hear any more about morning erections.  “The sun’s starting to come up so we can get out of here.”

\t“Eager to start traveling again?” Nicco asked as he began to dismantle the tent.

\tDon walked over to where his gear lay and started to put on his still slightly damp things.  “I just want to go home.  My brothers need me.”

\t“You know how the artifact works; only a couple of minutes will have passed in your dimension.  Not even enough time for anyone to miss you,” Nicco said.

\t“They’ll miss me if I never get back,” Don said in a low voice.

\tNicco glanced at him, noticing that Don’s eyes had a faraway look in them and that his expression was a little sad.

\tWith a sudden feeling of protectiveness, Nicco said, “You’ll get back home, Donatello.  I told you I’d make sure of that and I will.”

\tSurprised at the almost tender tone in Nicco’s voice, Don blinked as his eyes refocused and said, “Thanks.”

\tSettling his bo onto his carapace, Don picked up Nicco’s belt and took it over to him.  Kneeling on the ground as he hooked the tent to his backpack, Nicco looked up as Don held his belt out to him.

\tFor just a second it seemed as though Nicco’s amber eyes were looking straight into Don.  Unable to move, Don stared back, caught in the other turtle’s hypnotic gaze, his heart thudding in his chest.

\tNicco’s fingers closed around one end of the belt and he pulled it slowly from Don’s grasp, the leather caressing the younger turtle’s palm.  With all of the willpower he could muster, Don tore his eyes away from Nicco and stepped back, walking to the cave entrance so that he could look outside.

\t“Are you sure you want to leave here right now?” Nicco asked in a provocative tone.

\tDon shuddered as the sound of Nicco’s voice seemed to sweep across his skin.  He tried to tell himself it was merely a reaction to the damp cave but he knew better.

\t“Yes,” Don said sharply.

\tNicco frowned at the edge in Don’s voice.  Shoving his hachiwari’s into his belt, he snatched up his backpack and strapped it on before joining Don at the entrance.

\tWithout looking at the younger turtle, Nicco tapped Don’s shoulder with a packaged energy bar, stepping into the sunshine when Don accepted it from him.  Snapping his compass open, Nicco took a quick reading to confirm their necessary direction of travel and then set off.

\tThey walked steadily for a couple of hours, finding a path that they could use to walk up the steep incline.  It was narrow and rugged, obviously used by animals, but it was still faster than mountain climbing.  Don wondered if Nicco even had the kind of gear they’d need if they had to go higher.

\tWhen the pair of travelers crested the hill they were on, Nicco turned to look in all directions but most of the area around them was higher ground.  The hills were turning into mountains and their view was blocked.

\t“I don’t suppose any of this looks familiar?” Don asked without much hope.

\t“Not a thing,” Nicco admitted.  “Seems we’re going to have to keep climbing.”

\tDon sighed in resignation at that fact and took the lead, taking them partway down the hill in order to catch the faint trail that would take them up the nearest mountainside.  This part of their journey was cooler than when they’d been in the stifling jungle, a light breeze keeping them company as they traveled.

\tThe trail meandered up the mountain, its path not one of design but of convenience to the animals who dodged large boulders and loose shale to create it.  Don paused after a while and looked over his shoulder at Nicco.

\t“Have you been watching the compass?” Don asked.  “Are we still headed in the right direction?”

\t“Yes and yes,” Nicco answered with a cocky grin.  “The tallest mountain I spotted from the site of your crash landing was on this course.  Just keep on leading the way, I’m thoroughly enjoying the view.”

\tHis eyes drifted over Don’s body and came to rest on the young ninja’s rear, which he ogled with ill-concealed appreciation.

\t“Are you ever serious about anything?” Don asked in annoyance.

\t“Well, now that you ask . . . .” Nicco said, tilting his head to the side without altering his line of sight.

\t“Never mind,” Don said, huffing lightly as he turned and started back up.

\tHe could almost feel Nicco’s eyes on him and he flushed in mild embarrassment and just a hint of exhilaration.  The fact that Don had to consciously force his tail to remain still bewildered him, adding to his discomfiture.  It didn’t help matters when Don heard Nicco’s low, self-satisfied chuckle.

\tBy Don’s estimation it was well past noon when they hit a slightly level spot on the mountainside and Nicco called for him to stop.

\t“We’re making good time,” Don said, a mild protest in his voice.

\t“Yes we are, but we both need some water and a breather,” Nicco said, twisting the cap off the canteen and passing it to Don.

\tDon took a quick swig of water and tried to hand the canteen back.  Nicco crossed his arms and stared at the younger turtle until Don gave in and drank some more.

\tAfter he returned the canteen, Don said, “I don’t think we need to go all the way to the top.  If we angle around to the eastern portion of this mountain, it should give you an unobstructed view of what’s on the other side.”

\tNicco swished some water around in his mouth and swallowed.  Placing the cap back on the canteen, he said, “Agreed.  Keep your fingers crossed that . . . .”

\tBefore he had a chance to finish that sentence, there was a loud rumble from above them and the ground began to shake.  The two turtles were jostled around, their arms out to the sides as they tried to maintain their balance.

\tA cracking sound made Don snap his head around and he saw part of the mountain coming down at them.

\t“Rock slide!” Don yelled just before the ground disappeared under his feet.

\tHe heard Nicco shout and saw the larger turtle plummeting down the mountain near him, sliding on a mixture of gravel and mud.  A couple of boulders rolled past them and a few more bounced overhead as they were carried along by the slide.

\tAs they neared a small stand of trees close to the edge of the mountain, Don whipped out his bo staff and held it crossways.  By leaning to the side, he changed the direction of his slide so that he would pass between two of the trees.

\t“Nicco!” Don called as the ends of his bo slammed into the tree trunks.

\tHanging onto the bo, Don twisted his body and stuck his leg directly in Nicco’s path.  The other turtle grabbed onto Don’s calf and clung to him as the rock slide swept past them.

\tNicco was still gripping the canteen when a large rock collided with the back of his hand and knocked it loose.  He made a grab for it and Don tried to catch it on his foot, but it bounced away from them and over the edge.

\t“Crap!” Nicco shouted.

\tHe was still cursing under his breath a few minutes later when the rock slide ended.  Don took a couple of deep breaths, his body finally relaxing against the rough ground under him.  Nicco let go of his leg and crawled up next to Don.

\t“Are you okay?” Nicco asked, looking down at Don’s face.

\t“Yeah,” Don said.  “How about you?”

\t“Just some scratches and a bitch of a bruise on the back of my hand,” Nicco said.  “That was some damn quick thinking little ninja.”

\tDon’s face felt hot as he reacted to both the praise and Nicco’s close proximity.  Nicco’s eyes searched his as though looking for some kind of answer in them and Don could almost feel his resolve to stay aloof melting away.

\tGrasping at anything he could think of to escape Nicco’s amber gaze, Don suddenly remembered the canteen.

\tReleasing his grip on the bo, Don sat up quickly, almost colliding with Nicco who rolled aside in surprise.  Jumping to his feet, Don slid the bo into place and began walking towards the mountain edge.

\t“The canteen,” Don said.  “It’s the only thing we have that can hold water.”

\tNicco rose up slowly, his brow furrowed as he watched Don.  One minute the younger turtle seemed to be into him, the next he was distant and focused.

\t“It went over the side,” Nicco said.  “Turtle luck says it’s long gone.”

\tDon dropped to the ground when he neared the steep edge where they’d last seen the canteen, crawling forward with his plastron to the ground.  Careful to distribute his weight evenly, he peered over the side.

\tFor a moment he saw nothing other than a steep, rock covered drop.  Sweeping his eyes over the rough terrain, he suddenly saw the canteen.  It was several feet below him, its leather strap caught on the narrow tip of a protruding rock.

\t“I see it!” Don called out without moving.  “If I could work my way over the edge I could reach it.”

\tNicco had crept closer, following Don’s example so as not to disturb the loose soil.  He stopped near Don’s feet and looked around to see if there was anything they could use to snag the canteen, but the ground was covered in rocks.  The scraggly trees that managed to cling to life on the edge of the mountain offered nothing in the way of hooked limbs.

\t“Get back Don,” Nicco said.  “I’m taller than you and have a longer reach.”

\t“It’s about four feet down,” Don told him.  “Even you can’t reach it without extending your upper body over the edge.  I’m lighter and have a better chance of not displacing the dirt.”

\tSlipping his backpack off, Nicco tossed it behind him.  Scooting forward, he grabbed onto Donatello’s belt and then leaned to the side and wrapped his hand around a nearby sapling.  With one leg straight out, Nicco dug into the ground with his foot, bending the other leg under him to brace himself.

\t“Go slow,” Nicco said.  “If I even think that the ground is giving way, I’m hauling you back up.”

\t“I’ll be fine,” Don said as he started to slither over the edge.

\t“You are one stubborn turtle little ninja,” Nicco said with a touch of exasperation.

\t“It runs in the family,” Don muttered, inching his way down.  “Give me a little more slack.”

\tNicco shifted his weight, allowing Don a few more inches.  “Are you close?”

\tHe heard a grunt and then Don said, “A little more, it’s just beyond my fingertips.  Are you okay?”

\t“Oh sure,” Nicco answered, further elongating himself.  “Take your time, I’ve got a nice view of your ass to keep me company.”

\t“Shut up,” Don said without his usual rancor.  “That isn’t helpful.”

\tNicco’s deep laugh rolled down to Don as the younger turtle stretched his hand out for the canteen strap.  He could touch the strap with the tips of his fingers, but Don was afraid he’d dislodge it if he did that.  Don needed to be close enough to grab the strap in one swoop in case the rock fell.

\tBy wriggling his body, Don managed another inch, but a good portion of his upper body was extended over the crumbling mountainside ledge.  Just as he snagged the strap in a good, solid grip, the dirt under his plastron started to slide away.

\tDon had absolutely no leverage to pull himself back, but fortunately Nicco’s grip on Don’s belt was tight.  In another second Don found himself flying backwards, his entire form yanked away from the collapsing edge by the powerful muscles in Nicco’s body.

\tHitting the ground several feet from the eroded edge of the mountain, Don scrambled further away.  He saw Nicco spring upwards, the strength in his legs carrying him to where Don now lay panting on the ground.

\tCollapsing next to the smaller turtle, Nicco gulped oxygen as he tried to calm the surge of adrenaline that had made him fling Donatello so many feet through the air.

\t“I’ll say one thing for you little ninja,” Nicco finally managed to gasp out, “you’re pretty damn brave.”

\tDon turned his head to look at the other male.  “And you’re a pervert.”

\tNicco stared at him for a second and then burst out laughing.  Don started to grin and then, caught up in Nicco’s contagious mirth, began laughing as well.

TBC………………", "pools_count": 1, "title": "Don and the Puzzle Box part 7", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "2", "rating_name": "Adult", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "4", "name": "Sexual Themes", "description": "Erotic imagery, sexual activity or arousal", "rating_id": "2" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "t", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "5", "views": "432" }