Splinter POV:
It had been several days since I lost my humanity. I am no longer Hamato Yoshi of the Hamato Clan. I am no longer human. Instead, I'm a gaint rat hiding from the world. Everything I once knew and had is gone. My wife, my daughter, my best friend, my humanity....
I'm surprised I haven't gone insane from it all. The four baby turtles who I adopted from the pet shop have changed as well. They are the size of human toddlers and they each have their own distinct personalities. They have adapted quickly to their new bodies and have wondering around and exploring like human children. I have my paws full just trying to keep them in one place! However, when night falls and they sleep, dark thoughts come to me.
I miss my Ten Shen and my Miwa terribly. These little turtles, especially the little blue eyed turtle with freckles reminds me of my lost daughter.
The pain of losing them both still hurts. Even these little turtle cannot make it better, though they are a nice distraction. I cannot live with this pain anymore. I miss them to much. That's why tonight, I'm committing seppuku. That way I can still have my honor, but still be with lovely wife and daughter.
I wrap the little turtles in a blanket and set them in the middle of the room. I wait several hours, making sure they are all fast asleep before I leave the room. I make sure to be silent as possible not to wake them.
After circling the circling the corner, I run swiftly away. My feet seemingly to never touch the ground as I reach my destination. I walk into a large room covered in pipes and with a large drain hole.
Good. I thought.
I'm far enough from the little turtles so they can't smell death and I'm far enough inside the sewers where no one will find me. I retrieve the black and white photo of my family. My paw caresses it across the images of my lost wife and child. I blink back tears as I realize what I'm about to do.
"Soon my love. Soon I will be with you and little Miwa forever." I said.
A drop lands on the photo and I quickly wipe my eyes. Setting the photo on the stone floor, I stare at it awhile longer. After several moments, my hand hovers over the makeshift knife from my sleeve. My nimble fingers grip the handle as I slowly slide it from its hiding place. I raise the knife high in the air and I look at the photo before closing my eyes.
Navy-Blue Eyed TurtleTot POV aka LEO:
I saw him leave, the big mouse. It wasn't unusual cause he always leaves at night to find things to eat or for us to play with. But sometimes I think he does cause he's sad.
I hear him crying sometimes at night. He looks at this thing that has people on and talks to it. But he never tells us why is sad.
Tonight feels wrong though. Something tells me he probably won't come back. I get as quietly as I can as to not wake up my sleeping brothers. Stepping over the freckled one, I stumble slightly but don't fall.
My legs feel shake as I try to walk. I wasn't use to walking on two legs yet, but I was learning. I peer from behind the door way as I catch the tip of the big mouses tail turning the corner.
Fearing I would lose him, I try to run.
I stumble several times, but I manage to not fall. The big mouse suddenly runs at his full speed and I lose him. I trip, this time falling into the yucky river. Dirty water fills my mouth and nose as I dive headfirst. I try to breathe, but take in more water. My tiny arms flail about trying to reach the surface or grab on to something.
Suddenly, my head breaks the surface, and I manage to grab onto the ledge. I cough violently, trying to get the water out of my lungs. I pulled myself up and sat down breathing hard. My chest aches and I'm still coughing. I wipe the water from my eyes, trying to clear them, but to no avail.
Where are big mouse? Where are you daddy?
I look and realize that I'm somewhere I don't recognize. Strange noises echo through the tunnel and I feel scared. I try to stand up, I fall down again.. My head hits the ground hard and hurt fills the front of my noggin. Tears fill my eyes as my vision becomes blurry once more, as I place a tiny hand my head. I withdrew it to see a red sticky substance, and fear fills me more. I'm scared, I'm very scared!
I do what the only thing I could do at the moment.
I start to cry loudly.
Very loudly.
Splinter POV:
Just as I was about to plunge the knife in my stomach, very loud child-like crying fills my ears. I wince, and drop the knife to cover my sensitive ears.
What is that?! Have I already done the deed and can here my Miwa crying?
I uncover one ear to listen.
No. This crying is different than Miwa's was. But if it's not my baby daughters, then who-?
Realization fills me as I then recognize the crying. Without thinking, I grab my photo and stuff it my robe. I dash off towards the noise, thoughts of Seppuku forgotten. Only one thing was on my mind, and that was to protect the source of the crying.
It was several minutes and turnarounds later before I found the source of the crying. My eyes went wide as my suspicion was confirmed. The oldest of the turtles was sitting on his knees dripping wet. His eyes were closed but his face was drenched in tears and blood. Panicking, I scooped the little turtle in my arms, not caring if he was soaking wet.
His cries stopped and his navy-blue eyes filled with surprise as he looked up to see his savior. Relief watched over his features and he sniffled. Tiny little hiccups and gasps came from his mouth as I rocked him back and forth. Blood was still trickling from his forehead, so I used a clothe I had in my pocket to wipe the gash. He whimpered in pain, but I continued wiping the wound, trying to get the blood and dirt away.
His hiccups and gasps stopped altogether to be replaced by whimpering. Finally done, I used another clothe as a bandage and wrapped his little head. It was hard to do it since I was still holding him, but I couldn't bare to put him down. I managed to wrap his head. He clung to me tightly, shivering. I cuddled him close to my chest to try and warm him.
Something blue catch my eye, and I realized it was a blanket. I snatched it up and wrapped him tightly. I walked back to the room, his brothers still sleeping peacefully on the floor.
I knelt down and tries to put him by his brothers. However, the little tot refused to let go of me. Instead, he chose to snuggle deeper into my fur, close my chest. My breathe left me for a moment as he placed his head on my beating heart. I sighed and curled next to my makeshift bed, consisting of blankets and old sheets. The warmth of the tiny tot melted into me as he listened to my beating heart.
Knowing that he was alright and sleeping, I let my breathe out. I glanced at the other huddled together and then back at the small one wrapped in my arms. I studied his sleeping form and the bandage wrapped around his head. They all look so small...
So helpless...
They need you...
"I cannot care for them. They remove me to much of her."
They need you as much as you need them.
Again, realization filled me, but then shame filled my heart. Here it was before me. A second chance to have a family, and I hand almost destroyed it by my selfishness.
I clutched the tiny tot in my arms tightly. Tears fell from my eyes and I smiled.
"Never again will I abandon you my sons, for you have given me a second chance at life, and I will surely raise you to the best of my ability."
A small smile flickered across the toys features as he listened to his fathers heartbeat.
