“I am hoping it will lead to an answer. That attack was not out of nescient self defense… it’s a hunt,” Splinter answered under his breath, barely staying within Paola’s line of sight as backed into the shadows to silently continue his pursuit of the strange men.

        “The more I know, better equipped I’ll be to keep them away from the others.”

Paola held back a rush of static that would’ve served as a sigh, wondering, not for the first time, why Cassandra had chosen to get attached to this earthling. He wasn’t particularly pleasant to be around in Paola’s opinion...but nonetheless, it’s not like she could let him go alone. If anything happened to him, Cassandra would be upset.

🔧 ❝    my calculations show that you   are   a version of my pops. but   .  .  forgive me,   ❞ he started, tape measure already out as he methodically checked out his height.  this  rat was   MUCH  taller than his father, even taller than himself. 

❝ -----  this might be a little weird for you considering your  not child   practically landed in the random tree you had in  .  .  this dojo    ❞ he murmured, rubbing at his wrist

   “Michelangelo! if you have any better suggestions-”                  Splinter suddenly stopped himself. He heard the fierce, impatient sharpness in his own voice, and saw how it contrasted to the look on his son’s face.         His grip on his blade tightened, white-knuckled for a moment before he forced himself to unclench.

“I’m sorry” he apologized, “I… I don’t know what to do.            I just want you and your brothers safe”

🐢 michelangelo flinched at the sharpness that came from his father’s voice, his whole body going stiff for a moment as he forced himself to calm down, eyes flicking to the weapon on the blade in his hand   ----   momentarily scared it would be brought to him instead of the original intended target. he didn’t want the weapon to hit    him    or its intended. but the fear he held due to the snap set off his anxiety, unintentionally taking a small step backward.

“You don’t have to go” Splinter’s voice carried more emotion than he anticipated, but for once in his life he didn’t care. They hadn’t known each other even for a month and yet he felt a kinship, as well as a certain despair at the prospect of never seeing her again; watching her disappear into the night and the eternal beyond past the veil of stars.           “There’s far more to earth that you haven’t seen yet, and you haven’t even met the rest of my family”

“Paola and Ava might be a little complicated, but I can find way around it…”

Cassandra had never felt so torn in her life.

She didn’t want to go. Not really. But they’d both known she’d only stay until her ship was fixed, and...here she was, ready to go. Still, there was this sense of belonging she felt on Earth, as if this was where she was meant to be. It was as strong as the feeling of needing to leave- that there was something out there she had to do. 

She stood with her back to Splinter, and slowly looked up at the opening of her ship. It seemed so much more massive than she knew it was, like it would swallow her whole. Paola, a silent observer, stood inside the ship, her green eyes glowing softly in the darkness. Cassandra let out a quiet sigh, then nodded.

     Cassandra resists the urge to fidget with her dress- today is all about making good impressions, and while the blue and gold gown she’d brought with her was bothersome, she’d only be expected to wear it for today. Tomorrow she’d start her duties, and would be permitted to wear trousers, which she was far more comfortable in. 

     Speaking of her duties...Cassandra straightened up to her full height as she was approached by the empress’ other personal bodyguard. She knew of him, but this would be her first time meeting Hamato Yoshi. 

     After years of doing so, her right foot instinctively swept behind her left, and her hands lifted her skirt slightly as she curtsied. However, it was during this action that she remembered that she was not supposed to curtsy here, but rather bow. It was far to late to take back it back however, so Cassandra finished her curtsy with as much grace she could muster and hoped he wouldn’t take offense to mix up of greetings.

   “Who does?” Splinter stood before the behemoth, at ease but poised to strike at any moment should Slash step out of line.

           “But I can’t say I approve of the way you’re going about trying to solve this problem…”

“I don’t need your blessing, pops.” Slash glowers down at the rat, bringing his large fists together and cracking his knuckles one by one. He could easily take Splinter down with his strength alone-- but he had to be wary. He knew how fast the rat could be. 

“I’m taking Raphael, whether you like it or not. That way I won’t have to be alone.