Fortress Gorlan: Ratty Ceremony.

Don accepts the direction easily and heads the way Bebe had suggested.

"...and I should be with my son." Don added. Yeah, he felt like he was in the wrong place too.

They're with my brothers." Don reassured. If he's honest, it's as much for himself as it is for Bebe.

He doesn't know what Donatello's roar is either, and yet... he sort of does. It's weird. He's never heard it, and his brothers don't roar, but... he knows what it is and what it means. He definitely feels compelled to respond. Sort of wished he knew how...

There's a slight reassuring squeeze to Bebe's hand. It's okay. He knows that call.

Well... sort of.

Liam's call though... can't be ignored. And especially coming on the heels of Donatello's... like in the maze, instinct took over, and Don let it.

He hadn't really tried to, but he heard himself returning the call, as he hurried along tracking Donatello's and Liam's calls.

Where Leo's roar had sort of a weird 'not sure why it's high' quality, Don's more clearly still has a hint of a 'juvenile' warble to it. It's barely there, but there enough that it's recognizable as such if you know what you're listening for.

Donatello and Liam both hear the returned sound and their both relieved to do so, Donatello's bo staff was back to the half size and stashed but was bloodied from the recent battling. Yua's ress was protected by her near cloak. Mikey's chuckes were a little messed up the blades out and dripping still, Leon had even cut some more with his swords. They turned at the sound and Donatello headed that way in his arms was Liam.


And deciding the little guy would find Don faster he places him on his little feet but is right behind it - and as he heads off with a gentle, " come Yua - guys this way."


Inaba at the tale end of the procession now as they follow the little boy who indeed was making his sound again and following some unseen trailing.


~


Bebe relaxes but is still trembling so was sort of shocked with a gasp when Don makes a sound, and wooooow. " neeeeeeeeat." she whispers in a sort of shakey voice. A bit worried about his response reguarding the fire setting - though she supposed that would be a tactic to draw away guards and or other staff from where an attack was planned. And She doesn't pick up as soon as Don would the sounds of Liam's pattering feet.

Don was vaguely aware of Bebe speaking behind him, but his focus is on Liam. And he took off, slipping through the tight space surprisingly fast. Hearing the repeated call, he returns it again. Like last night, there's a semi-controlled slide to Liam, and he's scooping up the boy, and churring for the child. He's trusted his traveling companions would have kept Liam safe, but it's an incredible relief to have his son in his arms again.

It's barely a blip on his own radar because he's busy worrying about Liam, but Don's not quite breathing right. Too heavily for what he's done, and slightly ragged. It's more obvious through the churr. Definitely pushing himself close to his still recovering limits already.

But he has Liam back in his arms, and that's all he cares about at the moment. He stands and looks to the others, and turns to make sure Bebe is still behind him.

"What now?" It's mostly directed to his counterpart, but open to whoever answers.

" Daaaaaaaaa ddy!" Liam shouts gleefully - after the frightening crashing and the sudden screams and blood in the hall and being grabbed up by Donatello he'd been frightened and calling for his fave big turtle and now he was with him! and hanging on tight!

Donatello rubs his head, " The numbers pouring in down there are terrible -" and Yua was shaking - she was scared and had witnessed fighting, he reaches over to squeeze his new wife's shoulder gently. " these are your people what would you like to do?" he asks of her.


He'd said something like that not too long ago, he'd not before the attack. He had not a chance to discuss a new arrangement regarding Bebe. Elena was in her arms though and she was smiling glad to see her little worried friend happy.


Yua looks sad and down, " I want to gather the forces to fight, but dad is already on that and he did say to get out of here -" she was torn, the need to get her new family out of here, the way those lizards went for the genio innocuo, the littlest first. But protect her old one?!


Donatello hated big decisions like this.


Mikey is shaking the shit off his chucks and thumps Leon's shoulder, " hey man ya gonna have to channel the Leo vibe strong and make a decisive choice here." He only half teases, but seriously they needed a Leo to do the Leo thing and decide! " you could even call it a tactical retreat."


Inaba fluffs her tail nervously, waiting.


Leon looks about - Liam had a little blood on him from the fight already, and elena and the princes.... his bunny and Mikey, Donatello and Don the fae... he thinks over what choices the intense sensei Lee would choose and nods, " alright, we go... see if our cart is still okay and try to get out - if not still get out of here all we meet tell them the same thing, the reinigen can always reclaim once we save the Daimyo - best the tactically retreat. Maybe even tell them to head for the capitol maybe they could be part of the fight to come. What'd ya guys think?"


Yua smiles a little, " it would give those still alive and fighting a chance out there."

She'd cried for a little bit,now was just hanging on and quiet. Hey tail curled tight about Yua's bicep and watching Donatello's face with wide wide eyes - he rubs her head lightly.

Don hasn't gotten up yet, he's still down on his knees hugging Liam, but he's listening to the conversation around him.

He is not adding to it though, he hasn't recovered from the short battle and run yet. He's getting there, but a week not really eating and several days spent in limited states of consciousness is a long time.

Oh good, Goofy little Leon is an alpha. He might not be the strongest fighter in the group, but he could actually make a decision. Which us good, because they needed someone who could make the call. Don nods agreement, and gets to his feet, carrying Liam.

He's still breathing heavily, but he's ready enough to follow.

oh geeze,he doesn't know if he made the right choice - and whhhhy does he feel terrible leaving this mess? but he had decided so they were going now. and eyes Don as they move through the narrow hallway. " you alright Don?" he wonders and adds encase he was worried, " The blood on him is from some loser lizard thattried to make a snatch at him - Inaba brok his nose -didn't know she could kick so hard, and Mikey skewed him... literally."


Inaba behind him giggles amused though it is sort of breathless, so she'd reacted like a mambunny and well they bite, kick and scratch hard when kits are in danger.


He gestures to Bebe. " show us the way out of here."

Bebe wriggled among them to touch the princesses shoulder, wriggled back to touch Don's shoulder like all of them concerned for his condition. Mikey grins at Inaba, " it was a awesome kick swear the guy was seeing stars before I got that kabab - ate the good stuff off it and gave him a poke in the eye. no way was anyone touching the little kids."he chuckles and he is smaller than Don and Donatello so doesn't have to travel almost side ways.


Donatello also was small enough to hurry along. Donatello had shifted to the back of the group. " hey fairy girl want me to put those books in my pockets?" they looked like the sort of readings that would interest a Donnie turtle - and he hoped there was pictures! hehehe

"I'm not injured." It's not a real answer, and he's pretty sure they know that, but it's what he's got at the moment.

He doesn't shake off Bebe's hand, but he's not really responding to it either. Really, he's far too focused on Liam to worry about Bebe at the moment. He's pretty sure she's okay, and he's worried about his child. Yes, they had told him the blood wasn't Liam's, and the child didn't smell hurt, but Don's still checking. He can't help himself. Once he's finished, he nuzzles Liam.

The chuckle at Mikey and Leon's story is slightly breathless. A literal skewer... That's actually amusing.

"Thanks, Inaba, guys... for watching out for him."

Finally... finally getting control of his breathing. Even though the tunnel is tight, he's unwilling to give up the child. He'll carry him.

Bebe shook her own hand off and reasonably assure he was alright she nods giving Mikey the books and stretches the sore arm, she leads on through the twisting tunnels and halls when they are ready to move on - back towards the genio innocuos room only a story down on the ground level and isn't much surprised to find their cart was there. Mostly ignore int he attack because its an open empty cart with a oiled canvas covering that could be pulled into place for bad weather. And their beast Jersey was slowly muching grazz here and there a happy beastie her sores and mud lesion from the swamp times healed and all harness sores gone.


Mikey grins following the fairy and yeahs seeing the cart, " Alright lets get in and get out of there... and any time Don - we love the wee guy too." he grins.


Donatello is bringing up the rear and as they spill out of a sort of hidden entry - hidden mostly by last bushes and the way the wall hide the entry. " Absolutely any time Don, - come on guys hop up an in... Yua - I am sorry we are running, I I want to stay... but you need to be kept safe." to his new wife as Leon and Mikey leap up on the cart to offer a fight to anyone trying to stop them, he helps Inaba and then Yau up squeezing her hands briefly stopping her from climbing up.


Yua closes those big green eyes, takes a deep breath and nods, tugging her hands gently from his, " I understand... I do - and I'd have chosen the same action as Leon did." she squeezes the hands, she might not be happy about it either but she understood.


Donatello smiles and shoos Bebe up into the cart. And then waits for Don and Liam.


Liam whom hadgiggled and snuggled as he is checked out and now buries his face against Don and nuzzles, little tail wagging away, "me is goooood - yoooou goood?" oh yeah he worried too!

Don is relieved to see Jersey safe. He'd not been particularly worried about the cart. That didn't really mean a whole lot to him, but he would have felt bad if something bad had happened to the poor beast. Though Jersey was looking a lot better than the last time he had seen her.

Allowing himself to be herded, Don just follows where he's sent. It's probably something of a testament to how he's feeling that he didn't even try to switch places with Leon.

He chuckles softly at Liam's worry. Not that the boy doesn't have reason, but Don still finds it amusing. Kid is such a little Leo.

"I'm good, My son. I'm good." Nuzzling the child for now. If he's needed, he'll move. He'll do it quickly, but in the meantime... he'll stay here.

Donatello is last in with a shout of. " get her moving Mikey - Bebe direct them." After all he understood the fortress had different exits and entries for different routs, set up like that in efforts to stop and or check and slow most travellors. " we are heading for the capitol" he adds bo staff out and balancing sort of on the edges of the cart, after hours and hours on a wooden door suspending on bowling ball and playing ping pong with himself this was easy to do as Mikey got Jersey moving, building slowly to her maximum pace.


The lumbering gallop of her kind.


He can see the crazy battlefield now Reinigen scurrying away some fighting back the holes in the fortress walls and the lizard peoples climbing all over it.


Bebe moves away from her princess to sit with Mikey and point him in the right direction they had to take the western facing gate and deck across the moot this side Inaba took over keeping Jersey motoring and Mikey fell back to pull his bow and arrows from his pocket and start firing. Many were racing for the cart when they realised the Genio Innocuo were within, non yet seeing the princess as Leon pulls the canvas up enough to shield her a little.


Liam wags his tail all the harder and snuggles tighter! bright blue eyes a live - he didn't understand the horror of the battle and hadn't grasped the death of the creature when Mikey put a skewer through his eye. He just knew he was extremely well fed, and now back in Don's arms! yay! " yaaaaay Dad me is glaaad!" and oooh was he and loving the attention!


Yua manages a bit of a smile Elena back in her lap and looking frightened but okay. She even manages to rub the little terrors back soothingly.


their lumbering exit not slowed but group of the lizards leap at the cart and managed to get on bringing the fight to them. one trying to use the confusing battle to reach for the little blue genio innocuo's shell edge.

Oh... this is not going to end well. Don adjusts how he's sitting, he can move more easily.

One breath... one leg tucked

Two... pull the other around so that he is almost cross legged, but one leg is slightly in front of the other.

Go.

Don shifts at the last moment so the attempt at Liams shell catches his instead. He catches the hand on his shell.

"Wrong move." Dark, low. It doesn't even sound like his voice.

He twists hard, around and pitching forward, he kicks up. Liam tucked safely underneath him, he slams the guy in the gut, still twisting, kicks him out the other side of the cart.

Once the lizard is thrown clear, Don slips Liam next to Elena.

"Stay." Gentle, but firm, he sounds like himself again. And he rubs Liam's brow.

Don remains in the part of the cart, to keep an eye on the passengers as sort of a last line of defense, but he's joined the battle.

That is, until a second lizard tries to come in the back. Without much space to work with, he is met with a flying tackle. As they hit the ground the lizard's head is slammed into it first, and he's out on contact with the ground. Don's back up though, and making his way back to the others.

Impressed by his counterpart and then a roar again - an angry one, no where near as impressive as Leonardos or Rapahel's but loudand he is clearing the cart again - Mikey ducking and weaving past, " Doooon!' the small Mikey calls out -


A heads up for the skate board he tossed back at him, assuming the guy could shred that is. If not the grappling hock gun would be next to help Don catch up to them or even swing himself back into the cart. Bebe yelled angrily when another lizard went for the princess and the kids, it is half a screech as claws rake her back and wings but she manages to punch the scaley throat hard enough to know the critter off. The one Don kick off got run over by the cart.


Leon took over with the archery - calling back, " hah remind me never to piss of a paternal Don."

Yua accepted the little genion innocuo and when the second beast reached for them and Bebe got between them she curled up around the smaller bodies her tail out - glaring ready to bite or lash with it -


Inaba focuses on getting across the bridge though her instinct was to slow for Don - Donatello told her to keep going, that he would catch up - Mikey was clearly trying to help - and if that didn't work Donatello would.

Don looks up at his name. He might be more of a BMX guy, but one does not live as many years as he has with Mike without at least knowing his way around a skateboard. He won't be doing any tricks on it, but strictly as a mode of transportation it works.

He catches the board, and tosses it down in front of him. His bo comes out and he dispatches another lizard as he jumps onto the board. It's not easy, and it's going to take a moment, but he is gaining on the racing cart.

And okay, he said no tricks, but a couple lizards getting too close to the cart fall to a shuriken, including one hanging onto it, and reaching in. Yes, it was close to allies and the kids, but Don is confident with a shuriken, and knew he could make the shot.

Once close enough, he kicks the board up, catches it and jumps onto the back of the cart. Then slams the board into the face of another lizard.

And this time he knows he overdid it, and his re-entry into the cart is more collapsed than controlled. His right arm is bleeding from where he hit the ground, and it is starting to bruise, but it's not bad.

But he's shaky and his breathing is heavy and ragged. Too much, too soon.

Donatello whistles - he is stabbing and popping and crushing heads when more try toboard their cart. Admiring the fact Yua was curling up around the kids - " Mikey hope you know some general first aid and get Don something to drink, lemonade or something with a bit of sugar in it please." rehydrateand give the poor guy a energy boost for rest and healing and maybe more fight. " Impressive Don - totally impressed." he adds grinning concerned though and for the moment hyper focused on clearing those trying to stow away.


Leon keeps firing - forward, back and picking off those chasing after them - shouting to catch that little boy - take the big ones if they can but get that little boy. Inaba drives Jersey faster once Don is back in.


Yua unwraps a little, then reaches over to check on Bebe who was shaking quiet a lot and sort of staring blankly. Bebe is hurting - but long time training over takes her and she is reaching back and immediately searches the princess, Elena and Liam for injuries. Ignoring her own.


Mikey ay ays at the big Donatello and drops down out of the battle for now and reaches into his pockets for a cool can of lemonade, the good squash stuff Splinter would give in favour of some other drinks except tea when the sons needed a quick pick up, " you are a serious boarder Don and dad no one is gonna mess with Liam ever. Anything broken?" offering the can and he'll reach for his first aid kit once it's accepted a smile at the worried Liam who crawls away from the fussing Bebe and yua to Don and put his hands on Don's leg worried, " now you don't go biting yourself okay? Uncle Mikey has this he has seen DonnieBoy do this many times." he has to shout a little over the noise of Donatello still battering away the odd foe and the thundering hooves of the Jersey and the twang of the bow strings.


Liam was about to do just that and looks maybe a little stubborn like he might anyways - but a glance at Dad first.


Yua was okay, Elena was frightened and watching Donatello but okay. Bebe moved forward to help with Don. This was her role as a mere servant, help those she served first. And right now she was far too shocked to more than follow Mikey's orders in any case and at least it gave her a way to not focus on her own back. Also stopped those horrible shakes she had got caught up in... her wings were ruined tatters.

Don looks up as his counterpart speaks, but he doesn't really respond. He's just laying there trying to slow his breathing.

He shakes his head when Mikey asks if anything is broken. At least not as far as he can tell. He's pretty much functioning strictly on adrenaline at the moment so hard to say for sure.

Don is shaky as he pushes up against the side of the cart so he's at least sitting, and accepts the lemonade from Mikey and drinks what he can manage then pulls Liam against him, shaking his head slightly, agreeing with Mikey. No biting yourself. He hugs Liam tightly, still working to slow his breathing.

Then he bats Mikey away to check on the others. Mikey's done what he can for Don.

And later... if you were to ask him, this is when Don will tell you he passed out.

And Mikey could only make sure Don was shifted to his plastron once he went down...and then catch the fae when she went out - but he could tell they were leaving the bulk of their enemies behind he looks up to check on Donatello and Leon.

Liam was taken back to the moments Dad had been very sick and his cry when Don passed out - well as far as Mikey was concerned sounded like the noise that baby trex made on Jurassic Park three movies - and he'd had to scoop him up - and could have sworn if the boy had of been able he might have just been threatened with fire! -


Thank goodness he was the size of a bob cat and far far too young to do so and also - it was Uncle Mikey he didn't want to hurt Mikey even if his distress made him instinctively try to shield his big turtle from the sudden motion -


((ooc: https://maskedmayhem.forumotion.com/t173-goodbye-swamp-allo-araluen#7359 ))