IMPORTANT FOR ALL READERS, PLEASE READ ALL OF IT

For All Who Have Read Pains and Gains of Motherhood

(Any Others MUST Read this as Well!)

This story is different. Much different.

No, that doesn’t mean Kita won’t be there and that Hope won’t be there…but I’d like to note the main Genres in this story. Fanfiction only allows you to show 2 (3 if you have ‘action/adventure’), but this story could be a number. It is definitely high in the Action/Adventure category, at it is most certainly Fantasy…however, there are small portions of Horror and Mystery. This is going to be a large test for me, as I have had this plot idea for a personal fantasy novel for a long time. I decided to toss it into my plot line, which started in PaGoM, but went unnoticed. ;) Now, I take it into serious effect, and the prologue may confuse you at first…but, don’t worry. All will be explained as you read on…

Rating for story is advised PG-13: For frightening and just slightly graphic war scenes between characters. There’s mention of blood and wounds, frightening monsters and places. I advise those who can’t take the slightest mentioning of blood to, sadly, not read this.

Disclaimer: Well, I certainly don’t own the TMNT, although I will own Don someday. ;)

It is highly advised that you read Pains and Gains of Motherhood before reading this, or you may not know about three of the main characters and how they came to be.

Enjoy the Prologue…and enter my fantasy world…

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A small rat scampered around in the shadows. It was a moonless night…a night of death for small creatures. He peeked out from his leafy cave, his eyes scanning through the shadows of the forest. His only light was the stars…and it wasn’t much. He squeaked softly, twitching his long tail. It was twice as long of that as his cousins from their planet, and he was twice their body weight as well. But, it made no difference in his home.

It a cautious sniff, the rat bolted from his hiding spot in the bushes and rushed to the next…the dead and broken branches cracking and snapping as he ducked beneath them. The small rodent froze. He prayed quietly…please…please say they haven’t heard me…

In this weak light…this moonless night…the night the living become the dead…there was no telling where they were. Ever since they had control of this forest, food had become scarce for the small creatures. Large grazers had fallen inexistent…plants began to wilt and die and the sky seemed forever grey. The earth’s spirit had been stolen from the creatures who had managed to cling to life...although every day, hope for a new light seemed further and further away…impossible.

The rat shot out of the bush, moving for the next. Suddenly, powerful jaws flew from the bush. The rat released a frightened squeal as razor sharp fangs pierced his skin and ended his life. His lifeless body was pulled from the ground as the monster raised his head. A brisk snap of the neck, and the rat’s body was tossed into the air. The monster snapped his jaws around the body and swallowed it whole, a low hiss escaping its throat as it lowered its head.

The monster’s diamond shaped pupils opened more, pulling in more light. His eyelids closed sideways over his eyes in a slow blink…grey hairs falling over his face.

Bushes cracked and broke as another beast arose from its shadowy hiding place.

“Prey is scarce,” a low voice hissed from its throat. The other licked the rat’s blood from around its lips.

“We must alert Venor immediately,” he growled, “it is time to move on…we must find more.”

“Kill,” the other hissed under his breath, “I haven’t eaten anything worth its life in months.”

The beast turned and hissed, rising on his body further and bearing his teeth…the fangs on the roof of his mouth snapping out so that the tips rested below his lower jaw.

“Nor have I…sister…”

And he sprang towards the other, slashing at her neck. With a furious roar, the female’s fangs snapped out and she caught him in the shoulder. The male wrestled her to the ground and thrashed his head…but her tail flew up and wrapped around his neck, beginning to squeeze the air from his lungs. He released her neck, gasping for air and desperately trying to back out of her hold…but, she was much too strong. She sprang up and took a large bite out of his chest, listening to him cry out in pain before she released his neck. The beast collapsed at her feet, gasping in pain. The female snorted and swallowed the flesh she had removed before lowering her head to his level.

“Am I prey worth killing…brother?” She hissed into his ear. “Is your life worth keeping?”

“It is,” the beast begged, “please, sister, we are kin! Have mercy!”

“You taste better than any rat remaining around here,” she growled. But, she simply kicked dirt into his face, causing him to cough and sputter. “You worthless lizard!”

The creature pushed himself to his feet and glared at the other.

“Come on,” she growled, “it is time we found a new place to destroy…to rule. There are hardly even bugs to squish here.”

“Yes, sister,” the beast hissed, “I can hardly wait to smell the scent of fear…as I end the life of prey worth my hunt…”