White Tigress (TMNT)

Turtle Lair

Loud voices were what woke me up. I tried to ignore them, but it was quite hard. Do these people know that I'm trying to sleep?

"She was a real handful. Are you sure we should have brought her here?"

"Be quiet, Raph."

"She looks so adorable!"

The last comment had me open my eyes. I let out a surprised yelp when I find four turtles staring down at me. "What the fuck?" I shouted in shock. Then, a massive headache sprung up. "Ugh." I groaned in pain.

"Careful," Donnie warned. He slowly helped me sit up. "You got hit very hard in the head last night." He finished, sounding ashamed and embarrassed.

"How did I get hit?" I asked confused. At that moment, all turtles looked away, not wanting to meet my eye. I drifted my eyes over to Mikey. He looked ready to explode. "Mikey," I started warningly. The young turtle froze when I said his name. "How did I get hit?" I asked again.

Raph, Leo, and Donnie looked at Mikey with daggers in their eyes. All warning him that if he told me what happened, they'll kill him.

"Uh, you, uh, might've . . . gotten hit in the head by somebody." Mikey said very slowly. Glaring, I speak very slowly,"Who hit me?" My voice was dangerously low as I spoke. Mikey was completely frozen to the spot. He looked ready to bolt.

"Raph did!" he shouted quickly before running. Raphael let out a growl and gave chase, but I didn't let him. I lunge at Raph and grab him by the back of his shell. I held him a foot in the air while he shrunk into his shell. It looked really cute actually. "I'm not mad, Raph. My family had to do worse." I told him.

It was true. My family knocked me out with more than just sleeping pills. They could handle themselves through their change, but I was the only one who couldn't.

Every generation in my family had a wild one. Every one of the wild ones had to be put to death. Hopefully I will control myself before my twentieth birthday.

Setting Raph down, I watched as he popped his arms, legs, and head out. It was very interesting to watch. I've seen normal turtles pull into their shells; mutant turtles are so much different. "I don't even know what happened. When I change I completely black out. No memory whatsoever." I assured Raphael.

He sighed in relief but took off and ran out of the lab. "Mikey! Get back here!" he shouted. I couldn't help but laugh at how brotherly they can be. (Sarcasm, obviously.)

"If you stay here long enough, you'll see how normal this is." Leo mentioned with a chuckle. I looked at him and saw him smiling at me. It had me notice how blue his eyes were. They reminded me of sapphires. I could see through them to see how honorable Leo is and how strong he was. I couldn't help but smile back. I got off the table I had slept on. As I stood, I realized how tall I was compared to the turtles. They were about 5 to 6 feet. While I was seven feet tall.

"I'm impressed how you all grew up after you were mutated. Became ninjas? That's amazing." I was told the story how they came to be by Shredder. Well, most of it. He was a real growler as he explained.

The attitude changed on Donnie and Leo's faces. Their eyes became dimmer and I could see the danger in them. Quickly, I changed the topic. "Where are we? This place smells kinda unpleasant. And I had to clean my sister's ferret's litter box, and it smells like someone died in there!" I shuddered at the gross memory. The ferret was so adorable but God, it's leavings were worse than a carcass.

Leo and I left the lab and headed to what I believed was the leaving room. I saw a few punching dummies and a few arcade games. For some reason, the place felt like home.

"Despite the smell, this place seems homey." I said to Leo. He smiles at my comment with pride. "Yeah, Master Splinter and us all made sure to make this place feel like a home. And not just some hideout from the world." he said. I felt slightly compelled to tell him that my family has gone through the same thing. Only we had to move place to place.

"Mind if I meet this Master Splinter? I want to know if he will let me stay here for a little." I look ahead to find two humans at the couch. One was a boy and the other was a girl. They must be April O'Neil and Casey Jones, I thought.

"Hey April!" Donnie shouted when he caught sight of the humans. He hurried over and pushes Casey away from the girl. I quirked up an eyebrow as I noticed the human boy seethe toward Donnie. "Normal behavior." Leo whispered.

"Oh hi!" I heard the girl say. I look back and see April had gotten up. A kind smile was on her face as she looked at me. "I'm April." she introduced herself. She walks over to Leo and I and held out her hand for me to take. I shook it as lightly as I could. "I'm Natalie."

"I'm guessing this is the tigress you all have been talking about?" spoke a voice right behind me. I let out a yelp and spun around. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I saw a large mutant rat looking at me. The rat wore a Japanese robe that bore a symbol that I believed was the Hamato Clan symbol. I stared at the rat's eyes and unlike Shredder, he wasn't hostile. I felt at east around him.

"Konnichiwa! My name is Natalie." I said, bowing down to him.

"My name is Master Splinter, and I have heard much about you. My sons have talked about you nonstop." he said with a chuckle. I turn around to look at the four turtles and saw them all staring at us. When they saw me looking at them, they quickly looked away.

I swear, they are the weirdest people ever.

"I don't know if I should be honored or creeped out by that." I said unsure. "They're teenagers. No one knows." he said bluntly. "Agreed." I replied with a small laugh. "May I talk to you in private, Natalie?" Splinter asked me. I nodded without a thought.

Without another word, the two of us headed into what I believed was the training room. I saw a large tree in the center of the room. Light from above shined on the tree. I spin around to look around the place. "This place is amazing." I gushed. "I'm glad you love the place." Splinter said from behind. Turning to face him, I find that he was sitting down in front of me. I walk up to him and sit down on my knees.

"You must be asking if I will betray you." I said before Splinter could say anything.

"You are the first one that I can't read."

"That's because I'm unreadable."

The two of us stared at one another. Both of us trying to read one another.

Finally, Splinter asks,"Are you a spy?" I knew to expect it and shook my head. "I'm not. I may be a Foot soldier, but I'm only there to try and control myself." I answered. But I look down at my hands. "But it's useless. I'm the Wild One. It's no use to try and help me." I said in a whisper but I knew he heard. I didn't realize I was crying till I smelt the tears.

A hand was set on my shoulder. "Natalie, my sons trust you. So I know I should too." Splinter pulled me into a hug. It surprised me by the warmth. I couldn't stop but cry. "Thank you, Master Splinter." I cried.

He wrapped me in a warm hug that I've never had. I've always been distant from my family. Though Tiger Claw has been there for me, he can't handle the real me.

__________________________

This is a tribute to all people who hide their real selves. No matter what you hide, you shouldn't hide it from your friends.

You shouldn't pretend to be someone you're not. Let yourself be you. Don't let a bully take over your life. Whatever you hide, you can tell a friend you trust. No matter what.