Weight of the Crown { A Leonardo fanfic}

Can we keep it? Can we?! Can we?!

"Znichars" Leo breathes, his blood freezing in his veins. The unearthly gurgle of the Znichar as its grin widened makes the repulsive stench of death to escape its jaws. Then Casey fainted. The large claws of the creatures' dug into the earth, uprooting flowers and plants as if they were splinters. 

The beasts stand a good seven or eight feet at their shoulders. Their spikes make them seem larger. "Guys." Raph stutters. "W-we....have to....run..." Donnie trembles. "Even if we did, they'd be on us in a second." This seemed to be it for our earth champions... 

One of the Znichar leaps forward, its maw open with saliva spraying all over. The group jumps back, stumbling over each other. Mikey trips over a tree root and falls back. The Znichar in front leaps forward, standing over the young turtle. Michelangelo's baby blue eyes are wide in fright. "Guys!" He screams. "Somebody, help!"

The others stand in their place. Too fearful of the monster to run and rescue their brother and friend. Then, a large blur of white slams into the Znichar, knocking it from off of Mikey, who scrambles back to where Raphael and Donatello grab his arms. The crew and the Znichar pack turn their heads to see what attacked the lead Znichar. 

On the grass, wrestling the Znichar in the moonlight is a brilliant white wolf. It is large. five and a half feet at the shoulder. Its lips are pulled back in an aggressive snarl. Its ears are flattened against its head, hackles risen and muscles rippling. 

The Znichar howls in rage and agony as the wolf rips at its tough hide. The other Znichars seem to regain their composure and advance towards the earth crew. Unsheathing their weapons, the turtles, humans, and cyborg ready themselves for a fight. 

Before the monsters strike, the large mass of white fur leaps in front of the crew. The wolf's tail swishing and its shoulders squared and its body a protective shield. The Znichars, agitated at being deprived of their fun, were beginning to snarl in anger, rushing at the wolf wildly. The crew backs up as their new protector fights off the four Znichars. 

"W-we can't just leave him there!" Mikey whines, looking to where the wolf is biting down on a Znichar's throat as two others leap onto its back. 

"Mikey, something tells me, that wolf has a better than we ever will! Run!" Leo shouts back, grabbing his brother's arm and pulling him up. They ran, the sounds of yowling Znichars and the yelps and snarls of the wolf growing further and further away. 

"We must keep running!" The professor urges as the turtles fall back a little. "You try carrying this dead meat!" Raph snaps, hoisting Casey back onto his back. "He weighs a ton!" The red-masked turtle complains. "Shut up and run!" Leo responds, helping his brother carry the human boy. 

As the group runs, they realize they cannot hear the sounds of the fight anymore. This causes them to slow down a bit. "Keep alert," Donnie suggests. "We do not know who won that battle." The turtles walk cautiously. "Are you crazy?" April shakes her head. "That poor wolf was outnumbered. There is no way that they made it." 

A sudden disturbance in the bush behind them causes the turtles to leap into action, standing in front of their human and cyborg friends. Beady yellow eyes appear in the brush. "Be ready for anything," Leo whispers, gripping his katana. Slowly, something pushes through the bushes. 

A muzzle. Then a fuzzy white head. Then a five-foot-tall body, shuddering through the brush. The wolf from before stumbles through the bush, it's snow white coat covered with red patches of blood. From its jaws dripped dark red liquid. Cautiously, its nose twitches and it moves toward the turtles. 

"Stay back!" Leo demands, his heat pounding, and his katana extended toward the wolf. The large canine flinches in a way it never did in the presence of the Znichars. Its head lowered and its ears pulled back, resting flat against its head. 

A soft whine escapes the wolf's red-coated lips. Its muzzle was splattered with blood and Leo then notices that the blood it not all its own. "Get away from us!" He shouts. "Leo," April says, her hand on his arm. "Calm down. I don't think it's here to hurt us." She moves toward the wolf, her hand outstretched. The animal's nose twitches, moving its muzzle closer to the girl. 

Everyone's breath is held as April's hand touches the creature's muzzle. The wolf breathes in soft, level huffs through its nose. "See?" April says, stroking the wolf under its chin. "I don't think he means us any harm." Instantly, Mikey shoots out, embracing the wolf's broad chest as best he can. "Awwwwwwww, such a cute puppy wuppy~~~" He coos. 

"Can we keep him, Leo?! Can we?! Can we?!" He pleads, his eyes sparkling. Leo shakes his head, a little ashamed of being ready to hurt the harmless wolf. "No, Mikey. Come on guys, we should go." He turns and begins walking away. 

In an instant, the wolf is at his side, nudging him in a different direction. "I think our new friend here knows where we want to go," Honeycutt suggests. The wolf nudges Leo again, looking at him with curious golden eyes. Leo sighs and walks in the direction in which the wolf nudges him. "Fine, we'll follow the wolf." 

Mikey cannot contain his excitement as he walks alongside the calm animal, running his fingers through its fur. "Why do you think he took a beating for us?" He wonders, gazing at the claw and teeth marks in the wolf's shoulder, legs and back. "No idea," Raph says. "But I'm sure glad it did." Mikey smiles a little at the wolf. "I'm gonna name him." He decides. 

"How are you so sure it's a he?" Donnie asks. "I'm positive." Mikey boasts. "I can feel it." He turns to look at the wolf as they walk. "Hmmmm...... How about, Crognard!" Everyone groans. "I wouldn't let you name your child that," Raph grumbles. 

"Hey, don't hate!" Mikey defends. "How about Ryan!" Leo chuckles. The wolf's lips curl in which can only be the dog equivalent of a smile. Mikey suddenly has an idea. grabbing onto the fur on the wolf's back, he hoists himself up onto the large canine's back. 

The wolf winces but doesn't complain. "Mikey," April chuckles. "I don't think...." The wolf trots up the front of the line and keeps in pace with Leo, not looking at him. Mikey, very happy with his place, relaxes his shoulders and tries to forget the night they had. 

Upon reaching the edge of the forest, the wolf stops. On the wolf's back, Michelangelo snores sound, hugging the wolf's neck. Leo sighs. "We're here guys." He says, his voice soft and exhausted. The wolf carefully lies down and lets Leo slide Mikey off of its back. The young turtle wakes. "Splinter? I'm sorry I ate your cheesecicle...It was ice-cream kitties idea..." He mumbles, leaning on his brother, half asleep. 

The others walk past, heading to the castle, Casey still leaning on Raph and Donnie. Leo begins to follow but turns back to look at the wolf, who is sitting. Watching them calmly. "Thank you," Leo whispers, before following the others. 

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While the earth crew goes into the castle, the wolf heads to the stables, where it finds a soft stretch of straw. Yawning and shuddering in pain, the large dog lies down on the soft straw and rests its head on its paws, chest rising and falling as it slowly falls asleep. 

Wow, I am just spoiling you guys these days, aren't I? Let me know what you think about this chapter! :)

~Keziah