Total Turtle Transformation (TMNT Book 4)

Back to the Basics (Naomi POV)

One winner. Two opponents. Three fighting. My mind was reeling. Shredder told me to finally start training for the first time with Dogpound and Reiley. Of course I’ve fought both before, but with Reiley we were always alone, and for Dogpound we each had allies on our sides. Now it was me against them. Shredder had an evil sense of humor…

Finally, Dogpound had enough of waiting and ran forward at me. Nobody said “hajamae” to warn me, but I didn’t need it. His mind pretty much screamed “go”. I jumped to the side as his larger paw swung at me. My staff stayed in his sheath for now. I was curious if I couldn’t get the large mutant down without using my weapon.

But before I could jump at him, Reiley came up to me from the sideways. She jabbed one of her Said at me face. Quickly, so I wouldn’t get stabbed, I did a backbend. I crouched down with one of my arms out for balance, because right now, I looked like a sitting duck.

They actually made a really good team. Make the larger of the two start the attack, and while you were focused on him, the smaller of the two would come up and take you off balance. But usually, the opponent would block Reiley’s attack and Dogpound would make them fall on their back, both of them winning quickly. And because I knew what they were originally doing, I was able to dodge each of their attacks with ease. But, honestly, the backbend was just a reaction…

Standing up, they both scowled, Dogpound growling. I just smirked. Reiley ran up to me this time, jutting out with her Sais, even feigning some attacks to try and confuse me. Dodging fluently, I did a half backbend and spun around, making my body bend in a sideways U. Reiley raised her arms in time to block my feet.

As she scooted back from the blow, I jumped back to my feet and dusked as Dogpound’s smaller paw swung at me. I felt the rush of air as it passed. Gritting my teeth, I did a pretty amateur attack: while still ducking down, I tried to tackle Dogpound down. Well, if I stood back up, he would just grab me with his large paw, and I couldn’t move, making them win.

He barely moved, but his hind paw did take a small step back to maintain his balance. As he reached his small paw down to pick me up, I rolled between his hind legs and spun and kicked his back.

This time he lost balance and nearly ran into Reiley. However, my Turtle friend was quick on her own toes and jumped up as Dogpound fell face first. She landed on his head, but then jumped down, twirling her Sais just as Raph would have…

Grabbing my staff finally, we parried one another attacks. I swung, she blocked, she jabbed, I countered. This went on for a fairly long while. Eventually Dogpound had gotten back up and was standing behind me, ready for me to back into him, because Reiley was making me step backward. She was actually advancing on me.

They were both so sure that they had me, but as I felt Dogpound’s mind growl happily, I rolled out of the way, and instead of elbowing me in the throat like Reiley was hoping, she elbowed Dogpound in the stomach. Rather hard, might I add…

All I heard was Dogpound whine loudly and then growl, turning to glare at me as I got up. I smirked and ran at them both. Reiley wasn’t sure what happened, so I came up to her first, head butting her hard. She felt to the ground in a heap, and Dogpound swung his big paw at me. Again I dodged, but this time I ran up his arm and jumped up, raising my staff above my head before bringing it down hard on his head.

Growling, he swung me away with his small paw. I hit the far wall, but he knew he lost. His eye sight was blurry from my blow. Donnie’s staff would’ve snapped from the attack, but thanks to my metal staff, I was good to go.

Shredder had came in. I had no idea when, but he was watching with, by the looks of it, and impressed look. Getting up, and grabbing my staff, I put it back then came up to Shredder. Automatically, I bowed down to my knees.

“You did well, Naomi,” Shredder growled. Inwardly, I smiled. “But I need you to train someone now.”

I looked up. Behind Shredder was another Turtle. But smaller and very much younger. She had green eyes and a light purple bandana in her hand that she was braiding herself. Her focus was on only the bandana.

Tears nearly found their way to my eyes, but I gritted my teeth and looked back at the ground, nodding slowly. “Hai, Master Shredder…”

“Her name is Lillyan,” Shredder continued. “But you will train her in the watchful eyes of Reiley and Bradford.”

So I couldn’t tell her anything… That smile that I had inquired earlier from his praise turned into a black flame, disintegrating into ashes swiftly. He knew that I might tell her things… Many things. He didn’t trust me still, but he had a very good reason not to.

“Hai, Master Shredder…” I finally brought out. Shredder turned and left, leaving Lilly still with her bandana. When I stood up she finally looked up. Her head twisted curiously when she looked at me and I nearly started crying right then and there.

Reiley came up behind me and crouched down, spreading her arms out a little, “Lilly!”

Lilly smiled and dropped the bandana, running rather fast toward Reiley, hugging her around the neck. Frowning, I bent over and picked up the light purple bandana that was partly braided. I brought my thumb over the thread softly. It was new, soft, and smooth. Not even as rugged and worn in as mine, Reiley’s, Mikito’s, Raph’s, Donnie’s, Leo’s, Mikey’s, or Sophie’s… Natasha’s was getting there gradually, but it was still closer to Lilly’s than ours.

I turned around and faced Reiley and Lilly. Dogpound came up to Reiley and said, “Naomi is training her now.”

“Nomi?” Lilly asked, looking at me. “Nomi?”

Silently, I nodded. I felt like I was turning back to my old self. Before everyone met Sophie, before I knew what was to be… I didn’t like it. But the way she called me “Nomi” instead of “Naomi” made me want to smile.

Reiley set Lilly down and she came over to me. I crouched down and she smiled, “You teach me?”

“Yeah,” I nodded, smiling a little. Her smile made me smile.

She touched my bandana curiously, “Not Weiwey color…”

“No,” I shook my head. “This is black.”

“Not naay bue?”

“No.”

“Enough chit chat…” Dogpound growled, picking me up by my back shell with his big paw. He put me eye level with him, growling. “You’re training her.”

Stupidly, he set me down and I quickly thought of an old move he taught Mikey. Only I did the second to last move. I spun quickly, putting my foot out and tripping him. He landed heavily on his back. The whoosh of air that left his chest was very noticeable.

Behind me, Lilly clapped her hands and I smirked. She may warm up to me after all.