Goodbye Swamp, Allo Araluen.

There had of course been a smile and a soft "Thank you." to Bebe for her help.

"It's not the same, Mikey." And he's sure Mikey knows that. He says it anyway.

Don is sort of nodding in agreement with Mikey and Donatello as they answer Inaba's question about how much they train.

"Sounds about right for a normal day. A lot depends on active threats too. And whether or not you count meditation and topside training runs... When Leo was struggling with PTSD it could easily be upwards of eight or 10. And the months with the Ninja Tribunal... Well, if we got 6 hours of sleep that was a lot. And meals were more... downing what you could on your way to the next Shisho... and hoping they wanted to talk at us for a little while..." It had definitely been a rough schedule, but it hadn't lasted forever, and what they had learned had been incredible. And a lot of that time had been meditation, so they had learned the sort of restorative techniques that he had actually used this evening.

At the moment, Don's doing pretty well all things considered. They haven't gone far yet though, and that will likely start to change soon. Right now though, so long as he can, he's letting his senses drift outward as much as he can, as long as he can. Just reaching and sensing, letting himself fall into his place in the group.

And Donatello expected some sort of whine from Mike and he was not disappointed. Amused and maybe he lets himself and Don brush together and nods with a fond eyeroll towards the bouncing turtle in the sort orange bandana waiting for it -


" oooooh maaaaaannn that's what a Leo would saaaaaay, it is soooo the saaaaame." whiiiiiiine - but there is hesitation cause he darn well knows Don is right, and well so would a Leo.


" Hey - I resemble that remark!" pudgy Leon in the back manages some fake indignation but heck sorta proud of it.


" sorrrrta - your a chill sorta Leo." Mikey corrects chuckling and as Inaba hops along slowly ahead he bounces after her and now he can feel the rising slope of the ground but at least the ground is solid dirt and rock and shrubs so they were not in danger of toppling over.


And because even so Donatello wants to be careful he slips in behind Don and follows him, and at the same time single filing their trek. just as an silent support for his counterpart, dude's shell was covered. Literally! hahaha dawwwww Liam is a dangling sleepy little thing and Bebe buzzes low rubbing his and Don's heads in a light stroke, not hiding her wing sounds at all and slow so as not to startle Don or Liam or Donatello.


He was glad to see her enjoying herself and squeezes Yua's hand, " it's nicer to see you best friend happy too yes?" it was taking time but he was slowly teaching the privileged and maybe before the attack naive pretty princess more empathy. She was not a cruel person, just hadn't understood, and she was getting there.


" ... yes... and I... never knew she could fly like that - its so pretty."

Don coughs softly on a chuckle at Mikey's whining about training, and the banter with Leon. Actually... Don's brothers would probably be surprised that he's actually suggesting training to his own group. Of his brothers, Don's the one most likely to actually successfully worm his way out of training for reasons other than illness. Mike wants to more often, but Don's the one who actually succeeds on occasion.

To be fair, it's usually to do something like... replace the toilet that "somehow" was ripped out of the floor by a brother. Times like that, he'd actually prefer training.

He knew that Bebe was there, but Don is sort of surprised by the head brush. He just hadn't expected the action. He looks up at her as she flies and smiles though.

It's early yet, but for the moment, he's doing okay. Maybe breathing a little harder than he 'should' be for the short walk, but mostly he's okay for the moment. He might be a little quieter about any other conversations though. It's getting hard to talk.

Liam sleep churrs his tail wiggling.


Bebe giggles and is off again, she was doing small circles above just to keep watch of their progress. They were not doing too bad and if they managed to keep up most of the pace will be climbing up into the rockery in an hour - she does zip ahead to see if she can see anything waiting int he crevices and lean toos the rocks form where they rest against each other but... can't really see anything? mmmmm well that's not to say there wasn't something still...


Down below and to her amusement she can hear the banter.


Leon oh so responsibly calling from the back of the group. " Nothing is more restful to a ninja than rigorous training Mikey." It's entirely playful because this Leo could think of some things more restful... and he sort of gets a bit dreamy and blows his own attempt at being a some what serious Leo with a deep happy sigh and " well aside from maybe pizza, vid games with the bros annnnd mmmmmm what happened on watch." ooooh churrrrr and a loopy sort of grin.


Inaba giggles from he front.


Mikey bwhahahas, " you know I think my Lee would agree with the front and end of that - so do I." totally amused.


Donatello sniggers. " well I can't say no to either - maybe the first if it doesn't include severe nausea." thinking of his ball balanced door table tennis routine. But well yeah orgasms!


Yua blushes and Donatello maaaaybe catches it and growls playfully just for her. And maybe to see how she would like that - some of his clients loved the growled nippy turtley style. Oh heck yeah she stumbled a little, he is pleased.

Liam sleep churrs his tail wiggling.


Bebe giggles and is off again, she was doing small circles above just to keep watch of their progress. They were not doing too bad and if they managed to keep up most of the pace will be climbing up into the rockery in an hour - she does zip ahead to see if she can see anything waiting int he crevices and lean toos the rocks form where they rest against each other but... can't really see anything? mmmmm well that's not to say there wasn't something still...


Down below and to her amusement she can hear the banter.


Leon oh so responsibly calling from the back of the group. " Nothing is more restful to a ninja than rigorous training Mikey." It's entirely playful because this Leo could think of some things more restful... and he sort of gets a bit dreamy and blows his own attempt at being a some what serious Leo with a deep happy sigh and " well aside from maybe pizza, vid games with the bros annnnd mmmmmm what happened on watch." ooooh churrrrr and a loopy sort of grin.


Inaba giggles from he front.


Mikey bwhahahas, " you know I think my Lee would agree with the front and end of that - so do I." totally amused.


Donatello sniggers. " well I can't say no to either - maybe the first if it doesn't include severe nausea." thinking of his ball balanced door table tennis routine. But well yeah orgasms!


Yua blushes and Donatello maaaaybe catches it and growls playfully just for her. And maybe to see how she would like that - some of his clients loved the growled nippy turtley style. Oh heck yeah she stumbled a little, he is pleased.

Don is coughing on another chuckle at Leon's words. His father once said the exact same thing to him! But responding to it just isn't worth the energy it would required at the moment.

While for the most part Don disagrees with training being the most restful thing a ninja can do, he has come to find it somewhat cathartic in many situations. And he's pretty sure that this would actually be one of them.

....If he can catch his breath long enough to make it through anything.

He's watching Bebe fly more than he's listening to the conversation, and even more than that, he's concentrating on both his surroundings and just getting one foot in front of the other.  He sort of tuned out after Leon started talking about watch activities. He doesn't really mind the mild talk, he's just not participating and is finding other things to occupy himself with.

As they start really making their way upward, Don's starting to struggle.

Annnnnd Donatello is finding ways to slow their pace, in fact he doesn't care if they make it all the way up to the rocks at this point they were already on the incline and can see the pathway they were parallel to without being too close, the camp ground they left behind and enough around them on each side.


" how's the rocks looking Bebe?" low as she descends for a moment with them instead of above, even if he'd really prefer to keep talking ladies.


Bebe makes an uncertain noise, " nothing popped out whilst I was flying about?-"


Sort of the answer Donatello thought would come and he siiiighs out loud - Don has done very good to get this far but now the big guy doesn't like how his breaths sounded and well -


" alright then we have a great view from here so perhaps the tree over there will do the trick," it was still a bit further up so it had the sight seeing advantage Donatello wanted, that was a typical Leonardo thinking type thing, and it meant Don could make it there, on his own steam, with his son which might be more important mentally and spiritually than risking a fight with some critters to get onto the rocks. " Mikey, Inaba check out the tree, Bebe keep a cover, the rest of us will follow." a chuckle as the bunny and small turtle do as told and Bebe flips upwards and heads that way, Leon muttering about him wanting to go with Inaba. The big tall turtle claps Dons shoulder lightly " let's go there. " watchful but sure they can make it.

Don appreciates the sort of pause as they take a moment to get information from Bebe. Well... such as it is. That wasn't terribly helpful all told. Actually he found her response sort of amusing, though he's not showing that much. He's really too focused on where he's going and his next step, next breath to do something like chuckle at that oh so very non-ninja response.

And really, he doesn't expect any more from her than what she did give them. Because Bebe and Yua are decidedly non-ninja. Inaba, as a prey species commoner actually has some natural instincts that give her an advantage over the pair raised in the fortress.

But from Bebe and Yua? This is definitely not the world they know. More so Yua, but Bebe as well to an extent. Don is sure she did her best though, and that her response was really the best she could do. So the response, and Donatello's sigh? Yeah, that was definitely amusing.

And he really appreciates the decision to stop. It might have crossed his mind that he is probably at least part of the reason, but that's not stated, and certainly isn't his first thought at the moment. He's just grateful that they're almost there. Don's not reaching for that inhaler yet, but he is definitely not breathing well either. And hoping that with the break they're getting soon, he'll be able to manage this on his own, maybe with some meditation, rather than needing to use the medication. Save that for another time.

So Donatello lingers and keeps the following trek up to the tree slow and easy gkin as he can see ahead Mikey climbing it and giving it a good shake and Inaba thumping on the ground Al around the base clearly both trying to disrupt or disturb anything close by.


He is waiting for the all clear with the secondary purpose of taking it easy. Breath catching.


He is pleased all told and is confident if they keep a light easy pace they might make good time on their travels.


" it's clear!" Inaba calls down to them. Mikey scrambling down the tree to join them.


Yua, Donatello leads her into the shelter of the tree behind Don. " not bad, not bad this will do, let's not risk a fight with rock dwellers. No fire but maaaan I could so use a coffee." he siiiighs but there is a grin, and yep definitely no ninjas the princess and the fae.


Yua stumbled a bit and he is careful to catch her, help her sit and only then did he unhook Elena from himself and slip her into her arms. And Bebe sort of landed badly and almost tried over Mikey, catching herself on Don then recalling he had been down and quiet ill and letting go a moment later with an eeep and hahaha Mikey and Leon both cat h her.


[color:2b0c=0099ff]"hehehe gonna have some of those whilst learning." blue boy giggles, yep giggles.


Mikey snorts and hands the pouting Donatello a skin of water. And moves to help Don with Liam. Who gave a small snore!

Oh, he's glad for that moment to catch his breath. And oh so grateful that they're stopping now. He didn't have a whole lot more in him at the moment. Especially not uphill with Liam on his back.

Don is half chuckling, half coughing at his counterpart whining about coffee. Who'd have thought his intolerance for... just about any drugs, caffeine included, would actually turn out to be a good thing?

But before he could actually breathe well enough to respond, Bebe has sort of half crashed into him. He's not actually all that surprised by what happened, having picked up on her just enough that he's not startled by this. And considering how sick he was, and that he's still catching his breath now, he's probably surprisingly stable on his feet.

Don coughed softly and rubbed his chest before chucling at Leon's words. "It is something of... a hazard of... learning new things." Oh, he couldn't begin to count  the number of times he's hit the floor in the dojo while learning a new move.

And there's a soft 'thanks' to Mikey for helping him get Liam down.

Don also can't help but be amused at the pout over the coffee.  

"Should make some next time we can have a fire and put it in Mikey's pockets." He's almost certain that he saw Mikey bring out a thermos of the stuff earlier. Surely that's still around and could be refilled.

More control, this is good, but there's still a bit of a wheeze, and that cough that is bothering him.

Once Liam is off his back, Don is looking to settle on the ground with the child in his lap again. Maybe meditate a little.

Bebe is very apologetic, and maybe blushing the funny brownish all over her cheeks, down her cheeks and over her shoulders, " oh gosh, oh gosh, so Don - thanks to Leon, sorry Don I is Liam alright? are you alright?" maybe fussing a little. Then realising, " wow I think I am going to bruise... for a guy who has been down and unwell you are... still very solid and strong?"


" hahaha stronger than you fairy gal, we're turtles, this is all body armour - but I promise it is still cuddly when it needs to be." waggle of brows - and totally ignoring the pouting Donatello - it was turning his way and the Mikey is enjoying it. Giving the little turtle a snug - chuckling when the little guy frowns in a familiar sort of way and sort of peeks an eye at him through it is clear the little dude is not really awake. " hahaha yep that's a Leo look right there, you go back to your dad wee dude."


Donatello may have been pouting but he does wait until he is reasonably reassured that Don has gained control of his own breath, sort of before he sort of moves closer to Mikey and Don and Leon who settles close to them all too " come on Mikey you got any coffee?'


And once he is back in his dad's arms Liam makes a happy sound - there is a wag of his tail and he even sleepily tries to move his hands around Don's shoulders for a proper hug. Even if he is not awake.


Mikey is deliberately putting off answering the on tenterhooks tall turtle!


Leon mutters, " meanine."

Don is sort of chuckling and half coughing at Bebe's fussing.

"He's fine. Didn't even notice. We're fine. Sorry... Are you okay?" He hadn't meant to cause bruising by staying upright. Even though he did give a bit to soften the blow for her, there's really only so much he can do when someone contacts shell.

When Mikey handed Liam back, Don accepted the little guy willingly. Snuggling the sleepy little boy. Don is half coughing on another chuckle as Liam wiggles around for a sleepy hug. Definitely a little melty for the tot at the moment.

He is settling on the ground as Mikey teases Donatello. Don is sort of amused.

And he's actually glad he doesn't drink coffee at the moment. It means he escapes this particular torture!

Bebe giggles and she is relieved and as Don sinks to the ground she does too, " I thiiink I will be okay-- just um never done that before... and you guys say I will do it more?" she wonders nawwwing.


And she wasn't alone Leon and Inaba make chibi faces too - cause there on his dads shoulder Liam nuzzled in his face, heaves a deep happy sigh and goes back to deep sleep one hand had managed to reach all the way to shell and held loose now, the other hand tucked under shell rim.


Doesn't help over there Elena is curled up around Dons neck like a scarf.

Awwwww Bebe, Leon and Inaba squeeeee


Mikey is still studiously ignoring the pouty Donatello, who does break the pout to nuzzle the tiny sleeping terror and Yua who smiles, blushing a little.. And as such Mikey grins at Bebe and takes off his belt to go down into the pockets, " without the bruises you never learn."


When Mikey handed Liam back, Don accepted the little guy willingly. Snuggling the sleepy little boy. Don is half coughing on another chuckle as Liam wiggles around for a sleepy hug. Definitely a little melty for the tot at the moment.

He is settling on the ground as Mikey teases Donatello. Don is sort of amused.

And he's actually glad he doesn't drink coffee at the moment. It means he escapes this particular torture![/quote]

Don smiled at Bebe's words. A slight coughed chuckle at the end. Uuuugh! The cough is annoying!

"Well, if you want to get good at it...? Yeah, probably." He can't even count the number of times he's dropped on his shell trying to master a move. And Don is notorious for paying attention to numbers like that.

He nods, agreeing that without bruises you never learn. That had definitely been true for him. Bruising is a regular occurrence. Especially when you're learning a new technique. He would imagine that learning to fly would also qualify.

Mikey is being a brat to poor Donatello, and Don finds it completely amusing. For now, he will just enjoy the company as they start to settle in. And he's curious to see if Mikey actually does have coffee for the big guy.

Don's pretty sure he does.

Leon scoots closer and pats Don's shell a bit a tad concerned about the cough, and enjoying the teasing - big guys seriously couldn't stick that lip out further, surely?! " any teeeea?"


Inaba giggles swapping Mikey with an ear. " I think the pepper up potion is more important don't forget that, especially if yous are going to manage a good long sleep tonight."


Leon shrugs but doesn't disagree especially that that cough - man it had to be slightly annoying to have it!


Bebe siiiighs but it is with a grin and she gives her wings bit of a shake. " suppose I will just have to grow a thicker skin -" and she sits on Don's other side, closer to the two little ones here, they were sort of crowding closer as the laughing Mikey skipped down into his pocket.


" I'll see what I can do - and at least one sleeping bag to sort of snuggle under for the rest of the night... and yes must, as a ninja getting bruise and sometimes broken limbs is an occupational hazard - I think the same for flying I guess... man love flying with the gliders and wings DonnieBopy has made for us. We so good at it." Voice echoey and a bit of crashing going on. Then his head and an arm load of thermoses and a skin and sleeping bag emerge with him. He tosses a thermos at Leon and another at Donatello - whom opens it hopefully and smelling the strong bitter brew his tail wags, pout vanishes and he settles in for a cuppa! the skin goes to Inaba who opens the cap and sniffs the potion before using the cap as a share measuring spoon filling it and offering some to Don.


Bebe shivers, " really? broken bones... if that where some of those... come from?" fingers brushing a scar on Donatello's knee and over on Don's plastron and Mikey's arm, Leon is less knicked and knocked but he has a few and lets her touch the scar on his palm.

Oh, he's tired. And Don sort of leans back a bit. He waves off Leon's concern about his cough. He considers it more annoying than anything. Though it does seem to be something of a harbinger of a more serious attack. At the moment, his breathing is okay, but not great. And he's sitting with Liam, and hoping that's enough to prevent anything worse.

Though he's actually pretty sure that's not how it works. Still, no need to stress his lungs any more than they already are.

He's mostly watching the banter. It's amusing, and oh the coffee and tea thing! He's almost pointedly not chuckling at the hot drink seekers actually getting what they were looking for. Mostly to prevent any more coughing!

He is sort of smiling though Mikey and Bebe's chatter, just watching for the most part, but when she asks about the scars, he does join in.

“Scars? Various fights mostly. Some from sparring accidents. Some from... just being a dumb kid.” As for the one she brushed on his plastron... “Heh... actually... that one was tangling with a dinosaur...” Like an actual one in the late Cretaceous...

Mikey smiles and hops to help moving back and sitting beside, almost cuddled up to Don, leaving just enough room to draw the fae in between them, because the fellow turtle might need a bit of a turtle pile but also the warmth and he is beginning to straighten out the sleeping bag to throw over them once all sort of piled together. He ooooh and nods, " wow you's done some serious time travel! Renet is hoooot. I got this one from The CREEP, sort of sentient moss beast that was made by Lee mutagens medicine vomit and attacked us and turned Raph into a Plant."



" tea Don? And geeeze nothing that exciting for me just training under Lee and I cut myself. " scotchibg up close to Mike and drawing Inaba in as she offers Don the first cap ful of pepper up potion, maybe hoping it will help sooth his cough a bit.


Donatello is shuffling to Dons otherside a much happier turtle now he has a coffee! And lightly pulling Elena onto his plastron and Yua to his side as Mikey spreads the sleeping back, she and Inaba and Bebe quickly warmed the group hiding there. " most of mine are sparring matches and Foot attacks, this one on my Knee from Leonardo because he didn't want me to treat his tail after he sat on his own blades hahaha Raphael had to pin him in the end and finally got the disinfectant on there, miiiight have spilled a bit onto cloaca lids and it miiiight have stung the sensitive flesh there a bit for the drama he cause. " sorta evil grin.


Bebe nods, taking it all in, Liam heaves a long happy sigh snuggling dady and a hand dropping down to rub plastron in his effort to still the coughing.

Don smiled. There's another soft cough before he speaks again. GAH! Annoying. But he nodded.

"Time travel, forward and back. Space travel, interdimensional travel... You name it, we probably traveled it." Sort of a joke...

Only sort of.

"A Hoot, huh? I suppose that's one word for it..." From his tone, he clearly doesn't think particularly highly of Renet. He doesn't dislike her exactly just... things get weirder than usual when she's around.

And sort of staring at the description of the Creep. "That's... kind of disgusting." And he shudders at the idea of mutagen as medicine. That still sort of squigs him out. Though his counterpart here tried to give him mutagen for medicine too. So apparently it's a thing in other dimensions...

"No thanks." Not knowing exactly what's in the tea, Don passes. He wants to sleep tonight. And really, the Pepper Up Potion on it's own is enough to have in his system at any given time. He does accept that, and leans back, settling Liam more comfortably.

Don nods at the Foot attacks being a common cause of scars. They have their own list of the usual suspects. "Sparring, Foot, Purple Dragons, Bishop and his goons. Leon, do you really not even have the Foot?" Because the rest of them at least have that in common so far.

Definitely cringing at the story of treating a Leo tail after he sat on his swords. "I do not envy you that one."

He's not going to have much longer before that Pepper Up Potion and the warmth and closeness of the turtle pile under the sleeping bag knocks him out. He smiles down at the plastron rub the sleepy child is trying to give him. And Don will make an effort to not cough. He doesn't want to disturb the little guy any more than he already has.

Not that he gets a whole lot of choice, but speaking and laughing do seem to be exacerbating it. He sort of settles again, hoping to drop out of the conversation so he doesn't disturb Liam again with his coughing. As he settles, he feels another brush from Raphie. Ok, Bro. Don can take a hint. Even if it's a bit of a trick at the moment.

Don dips into meditation. Light at first, just sort of seeing how it all goes. Slowly moving a little deeper. It's harder than usual. He's not yet fully recovered from their last astral journey. He's not fully manifesting himself, but his presence is there. That seems to be the best he can do at the moment though, and he reaches out for his brother.

Seeing Don drift off Donatello churrs and shushes eager Mikey and Leon, the ladies and smiles rubbing the little backs of Elena and Liam, " husssshhhhh now, everyone should try getting a few hours sleep uninterrupted while we can." he orders gently.


They were seated back against the tree and close and under the sleeping bag, not the most comfortable, but out in the open on a slope nothing could come at the without noise and it was wise to rest deep for a change whilst they could.


He trusted his instinct or Liam would alert him something was wrong with Don.


The others were nodding, quietly one by one becoming still and going to sleep. He will go last.

Don is SLEEPING. He is exhausted after the hiking, and very much out. It had been a good day of moving after being down for so long, but it was definitely going to require some substantial sleep to recover. For most of the night he's alright.

The time that will be problematic if it allowed to sleep that long will be around the equivalent of the four o'clock hour that he starts to struggle. He's so tired that it hasn't woken him up yet, but it will shortly. His breathing is wheezy and sort of gasping.

And Donatello did go last, he finally dropped off only to the sounds of the group breathing deep around him and glad for the warmth of the others under the sleeping back, as they left the swamp the days might be becoming hot and dryer but the nights were chilly.


~


And it is something of a puzzle as he feels something boop his snout, and again and again, he snorts startled awake, blinking, the skey was still littered with these unknown constellations and a few scuttling clouds blowing back the way they had come.


Clearly off to make the swamp swampier.


And the tall guy is not sure at first why he is awake, then there is that small hand again bopping his snout. He blinks catches the small boys hand and nuzzled it, then in that instant know what has disturbed the little fellow.


He is squirming, Elena is squirming it is probably partially a pee run. But also by the wide blue eyes and worried expression in the scant pale starlight obvisiouly the kid was reacting to his dads breathing.


Donatello pokes at Leon, until there are reflections from the whites of his eyes too. "w wwaaisid?" the pudgy little Leo mumbles.


Donatello smiles, "hopefully nothing serious but can you take the little ones to pee?" and he in the meantime is shifting, making sure the puffer is close and sort of touching Dons shoulder, if the breaths settle on their own he won't try to wake him up if it progresses he will to offer the puffer.


Leon nods and slowly slips free of the sleeping back pile the reaches first for Elena, then reaching for Liam, only once Donatello was touching the guys shoulder so he didn't wake they both hoped fretting as Liam is shifted from him.


Donatello waits watches, breaths bated and concerned but ready!

The hand on his shoulder, coupled with the labored breathing, has finally at least pulled him out of sleep, and he meets Donatello's eyes. Given who it is, he doesn't panic that Liam is being moved.

Don's clearly struggling, but not yet panicking like he has a couple of times. Hard to breathe, yes, but... enough that maybe he has a chance to get through it on his own. He resettles and sort of meditates. It's a light state that he can reach easily, and he does so now. It helps some... at least while he's there. Unfortunately, as soon as he lets go of the state, the problem returns. So sleep doesn't seem an option at the moment. It's a light enough state that he could probably access it while staying aware of his surroundings. Much like when he accesses chi, but he can't maintain it in sleep.

He coughs softly. Don  had sort of hoped it would help, but it made things worse.

Okay, okay, fine. Puffer.

But... a tool in the tool box moving forward. Even if it's an inappropriate one for his current dilemma.

Leon grins and nods at Don seeing the eyes open briefly and a kid on each hip he moves a little out side their circle a sleepy Mikey following and standing guard as Leo fusses with getting the kiddos faced the right way and squatting kitty style or standing and not in each other's way and sleepy still - peeing!


Man he was gonna have to go after them and Mikey by the sounds of that shuffling.


Donatello sent Mikey after Leon, just encase and smiles at Don, but doesn't rush him, letting go of shoulder when the guy tries to meditate a little, and focusing on that breathing, the ladies had stirred a little but were still asleep and it is very early so Donatello is not keen to move everyone unless absolutely necessary and sides Don might need a bit more time even with apuff.


When his counterparts eyes reopen Donatello offers the puffer to him smiling - maybe relaxing a tad as the two and kids are returning slowly, he'd scoopupElena but after he has peed first!


And that after Don is breathing a bit clearer. "sleep a bit better tonight?" uninterrupted and undisturbed.

In the light trance, Don could actually still hear and feel the kids and the others moving around. That was good. That meant that he could probably use this sort of state as they walked at least. But this middle of the night nonsense was getting real old.

Well... the whole barely able to breathe thing was getting old all together. Not the just nighttime issues.

He accepted the puffer when it was offered. As his breathing clears, his head clouds. Oh, he doesn't like that feeling. It takes him a moment to track his counterpart and figure out what was said.

"Mm hmm... no wake ups." Other than right now, and really that had been his fault. But at least they hadn't been waking him up to make him eat and drink all night. He starts carefully getting to his feet, because like the others, he needs to pee too. Not desperately, but enough that after taking the puffer medication he's not going to risk it.

" definitely not the best solution, man still regretful I could not find a way to construct a preventer and reliever." regretful, but glad that the dose wasn't as intense as the first time, maybe though he still had to tweak it a bit before they could reach the Lee with healing hands?


there had to be a fine margin of delivery that would be the correct dosage but not getDon more than a sort od buzz someone might get from he first drink of the night...


He would puzzle so over that - even though watching, and well he might pee too but after.


" yep very sorry about that night."


one the many pros was actually getting food of a sort and drink into Don, as well as finally becoming more than certain this was asthma and well all getting some shared watch hours of sleep. The con was the interrupted sleep.


Mikey pauses in rejoining, sort of half way back to the pile encase Don needed a hand, but not to close to be crowding in. " yeah it is much better when we just get to sleeeeep."


Leon is helping kids back into the snuggle, though Liam is waiting for Don - and is going, but definitely slowly.

"bett'r'n noooo solsh'n." Oh, that's some not fun slurring. He'd been able to get and hold a bit more of the dose this time. Apparently that had been a bit of a mistake... Though he's tired, and that is likely is contributing too. He probably won't remember that he had taken a full dose, he probably will remember he'd gotten pretty thrashed from it.

He's slowly moving the direction the kids are coming from to pee, and rubs Liam's head as they pass. It's really more of a brush.

He actually doesn't remember what night they're talking about anymore. There had been very brief discussion of the puffer medication and he's forgotten the previous conversation. There's a hint of confusion, but he responds to his counterpart with an " 's fine." Because whatever it was... was probably fine.

Don does make it over to where the kids had been peeing, and he does his business on his own. Definitely a little unstable, but on his own. He's careful of where the kids are on his way back, but there's definitely a sort of flopping back onto the ground into their sleep spot.

"Sleeepz... good." And only once he's fully down and sort of resettled does he trust himself to sort of search for Liam.

Liam waits, heading droopy and almost flopping over, but nope! He waits!!


And yay!! Dad is here! Little guy churrs and nuzzle and mmmm he goes back to sleep!

Donatello smiles and shrugs, he should have left thoughts for another night, curse the bad habit of sharing out loud. He nods and rubs Dons she'll as the guy flops back down.


" great thinking, sleep..." but he reaches to poke the females awake now, Togo pee whilst a Mikey and a Leon was still up and around and he was awake, so they can keep an eye on everything. These ladies were nit real warriors though Inaba has some natural abilities and he hopes to encourage her a littleon the run.

Stretching and okay a tad chuckle amused by the word slurring Leon joins in disturbing awake Inaba and Bebe whispering as there is eyes opening. " Dons got the right idea there, pee, stretch and get back to some zzzz catching." does he sound relieved that Don is breathing alright again? Well he most definitely is!


And waits as the ladies move!

A bit of a grin Mikey is now mostly awake and moves to help the ladies up off of their tails and from under the sleep bag without disturbing Don too much, or he hoped, the lose of their body heat will be a bit of a loss but it is brief and oh boy does the bunny gal put out some heat.


Though mouse lady surprised Mikey with the fact there is not iguana people snuggling up on her butt - well sort of he is sure Donatello is happy to snuggle that heat and wont share that much hahaa.

Quite high, yes. But Don nuzzles Liam as they start to drift off again. Most of the words of the others go unnoticed, or at least without response. He doesn't mind a whole lot when the girls get up and move, though he does sort of shift into any warmth nearby if and when they return.

As he sleeps, his dreams are vivid. Almost too much so.

He's flying over the Capitol this time. It looks just as it did the last time this happened. Parts of it clearly damaged. A battle seems likely. The crests he's seeing are not the same as the ones that flew at the last Championship. He's pretty sure they're the same one they saw on the creatures that attacked the Fortress.

There are others with him. Dragons? Not his brothers. He actually takes a moment to check and finds his dream self is in his dragon avatar form.

Well, that explains the flying.

He doesn't know where they're going, or why they're there, but he's making notes of the city, parts of it that are completely destroyed. Streets and paths that will be dead ends. Making a mental map in his head of what he's seeing from the sky. Though part of him is just telling him it's a drugged dream and doesn't mean anything, he long since learned to take notes anyway.

The others are checking, are resettling around Don and Liam, close to snug, or spoon as Mikey is pretty soon and breathing grows deeps again.


In dreams kitsune Mikey is calling those playful little foxy chirps for his brothers avatars. For his brothers maybe searching the unfamiliar citie for them.


But the elusive blue wolfish okami is too fast to catch...


The reddish he barely caught a glimpse of - was that an bear like onikuma? - that was barely a glance so he doesn't know


A purplish ape satori ooooh ooohed and vanish into a dead end.


bright orange kitsune waved it's many tails and continued to chase, to call, to yip for them.



But all in Mikey's dreams.


Leon was not yet having such dreams - and


off to the side Donatello was gently patting Elena back to sleep listening and making sure his companions were all passed back out before he joins them.

Don is still quite high, and sleeping it off definitely seemed the best option. However, it also seems to come with exceptionally vivid, and possibly prophetic dreams... He's not sure if he hopes they're telling him something or not.

He does not know that while he is dreaming, his chi lines are glowing faintly. Their regular bright purple is dominant, but there's a very, very slight iridescence to them that was not there before. It likely has something to do with Liam, and the several contacts he's had with the little, half dragon boy.

Despite the vivid dreaming, he's sleeping very well. He'll wake well rested.

The group of dragons with him continues to fly. There are locations that Don is recognizing as important, though he's not sure why. It feels like they're going somewhere in particular, but Don is pretty sure this is either a dream or a vision of some kind. Some part of him knows he can't get to wherever they're going yet. He won't know that this night. But he can make notes of the important locations they're passing. At least until he sort of breaks off from the group to join Leo.

Donatello is watching and raising his eye ridges, muttering and well shifting close to lightly brush a large finger over a line, watching the way the contact with Bebe seems to let the purple spread over her wings a little, like through the veins and stain a few panels with a faint bubble-like purple iridescence.


He is documenting by recording on the phone briefly and then after a moment and also catching Mikey light up a little. The orange soft. Liam is making soft sounds. He wants to go with the dragons in his dreams they call for him, he answers but they are too big and powerful and for many years yet he won't be.


Donatello stops and he has no clue what is going on, he does resume briefly amid his ponderings to catch Leon wearing a gossamer my little pony.


The tall guy gently nuzzles Elena then tucks her in beside Liam, near to Yua then moves to stand and stretch and then begin focusing, he wants to feel that wild freedom of the wind again.

As Don flew with Leo it didn't even enter his mind that Mike and Raph weren't here. It almost seemed strange that Leo was here. Like... Leo wasn't supposed to be here, and had somehow horned his way in?

He liked that Leo was here though, and Don nuzzled his brother on occasion. When Leo spoke to him, it was strange. Like Leo was speaking a language that Don didn't know. He knew his brother worried though, and Don tried to reassure him that everything was fine.

Though Don's not sure it worked. Each time he tried to share what was going on with him, Leo seemed more concerned, not less. Don wasn't quite sure why. He's pretty sure Leo tried to explain, but Don didn't understand the words. Leo's nuzzles had been warm, but the more Leo did it, the less connected to this place Don felt.  

Don lands in an alley with Leo beside him and makes his way down a staircase with his brother. Leo isn't a dragon anymore, though Don is.

The stairway is impossibly long, and Leo stopped Don with a hand on his arm. Don turned and looked at his brother. Leo was definitely worried. Warmth flooded from Leo where his hand rested on Don's arm. And with that warmth, the stairway faded. Eventually Don slipped out of his avatar form and returned to himself.

~Leo?~

~It's okay, Donnie. This will be helpful, but be careful.~ Those were the first words this whole time that Leo spoke that actually made sense to Don.

~Leo?~

~Sleep now, Donnie. Peacefully. No more dreams tonight, Little Brother.~

Leo hugged him and Don relaxed into that warmth and strength that Leo offered. With it came quiet and clarity as Leo pulled Don back down into a safer state. Guiding him, and any who might be too close to where Don went back home. Or at least to a state they can get out of on their own. Actually, the larger Donatello might be the only one who actually seemed in control of his state. And that, Leo encouraged.

Mikey whines a little - he is back in himself, and it all feels like a dream, and he whether kitsune or turtle right now felt the ache of the missed brief moment with the wolf thing, the ape thing, the red... he is not sure what it was.


He might wake early morning and sort of ruin Donatellos almost ball of wind attempt by producing some of his own - an extremely loud belch!!


-


And with dawn creating up Donatello sort of raises his eye ridges, blinking... Really?


But puts a finger to his lips to encourage the noisy guy to cool it and try to be quiet until the lot wake up.

Mikey's belch disturbs Don, and he whimpers softly and tries to get away from it. Shifting and curling around Liam carefully, and maaaayyybe sooooooort of snout buried in Bebe's chest.

He will be horrified when he realizes where he is, but for now... still asleep.

Donatello2003 wrote:Mikey's belch disturbs Don, and he whimpers softly and tries to get away from it. Shifting and curling around Liam carefully, and maaaayyybe sooooooort of snout buried in Bebe's chest.

He will be horrified when he realizes where he is, but for now... still asleep.

Mikey sees this immediately after looking sheepishly at Don, then griiiins widely and opens up his tphone...


Ignoring Donatello sort of glare and getting a picture, mostly of Bebes sort of surprised face, then she just shrugs and hugs the two snoozing on.


But it's a good picture that has it all! Haha!!


Leon and Inaba sort of glance at them and Yua snuggles Elena tighter all in response to his loud belch!! Hehehe but hey it is time they all start waking up anyway. Well sloooowly over the dawn time by the unhurried look of the again focusing Donatello.

Of course, that is the picture that Mikey takes perfectly.

Don doesn't sleep much longer. It is dawn, and despite living underground, he does respond to that. Maybe more so since it's somewhat unusual.

It takes a moment to realize where he is. When he does, he gasps and backs up quickly, carefully aware of where the others are even in his surprised scramble. Oh shell... is she awake?

"Oh my gosh... I am so, so sorry. I-- I'm sorry." Oh... mortified. Absolutely mortified.

Donatello quickly bops Mikey on the back of his head before he can interject with whatever tease he was and let Bebe handle this.


If the pretty fae could of course.


Bebe is sitting up and her wings flutter soothing after being folded and pressed in the night sleep. She reaches and catches Dons hands lightly so he could pull away from her if he needed to, and tries to encourage his eyes to stay on hers, see her smile and her warmth with it, " it's okay Don, really, I um... it was nice." not how she would have phrased that some time ago, before he made her face questions she didn't know she had.


In the past she would have said as the brother genio innocuo of her lady's husband he could use her however he wished. Or um as Donatello allowed him to.


But he made her question what she wanted days ago, and recently Yua relinquished her from the indentured servitude. Um slavery status she had.


So this. Was her genuine, and she hoped, she was entirely okay with where he had ended up.


Liam is rolling over, yawning and opening his eyes. Giggling, his tail wagging and sitting up to watch Daddy Don and Bebe.


Leon and Inaba are managing to not giggle as Donatello had cast them a pointed looked, and Yua was silently naawwwwing.

He froze when Bebe caught his hands. Not ripping them away, terrified to move. Don's apology is quickly devolving into blather because he can't believe he did that, well, he can... because reptile, but oh shell, he can't believe he did that, and the filter between brain and mouth has sort of shut down. And so he sentences cut off because brain is faster than mouth is.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-- We're exothermic, get heat from other-- Mostly... I mean, there's some room to argue because we have limited-- it's cold... I didn't realize where--. Geez, I'm sorry--"

She said words somewhere in there that derailed his frantic speech. It had probably even been before he said anymore, but he hadn't processed them yet.

Nice...?

Blink.

"Nice." Almost a question. Her words are still sinking in.

That had been a fast moving thought train that was derailed, and it's going to take a moment for him to get back. Also... a silent 'What do I do?!?' Maybe the briefest glance to his counterpart, who seemed to be meditating.

No idea. Completely clueless. Absolutely, 100% lost. And that is sort of unfamiliar territory...

"Nice...?" Yes, that's what he heard. "Good. 'Kay... um..." Don is metaphorically drowning.

Hunh... there's a lot of adrenaline in his system now...

Donatello could swear he felt Don's look and he is doing his utmost to not giggle at his poor counterpart, pushing his breeze outward, wrapping gently about his fellow Don, the soft brush of the warm pocket of air trying to tell the guy to chill, to just take a breath. It's okay.


And maybe he is a little impressed with Bebe's response.


And amused by her more words. nudging Mikey with a fist, join me!


mikey hides his pout, he wants to teeeease!


But he did have the photo - and grinning he winks at Don and manages to give him an encouraging not playful or taunted pat on the knee settling on his knees and closing his eyes, fidgeting trying to focus.


Leon and Inaba manage to smother their amusement, well mostly and Leo sort of patting Don's shell trying to help ease the rush of adrenaline he was sure the guy was experiencing.


Bebe blushes - oh even if it was only for body heat - she nods, " its okay - really - I get it, and not mad." she reaffirms squeezing those hands. " mmm hmmmm nice - your breath sort of tickled a little, and skin felt pleasant on mine... see even gave me some gooseflesh." she points out snd there was some!


Liam sees the little bumps and climbs up onto her lap and nuzzles against her chest happily. But is turning about to beam at his dad! see she no mind! little tail wagging.

He felt the warm breeze, and does catch the meaning, but he still doesn't know what to doooooo! But the silent reminder to breathe is just in time, because he's definitely flushed, and certainly hadn't taken a chance to breathe in awhile.

"Okay..." She wasn't mad, that was good! His nod at the same is just shy of frantic. He did take that breath, but is still coming back from that adrenaline spike.

"Nice." Juuust repeating her word again. Still a little shocked, but maybe a sliiightly hopeful tone. Usually he was more eloquent than this. But... he can't think of anything else to say. He doesn't actually touch her goose flesh, but it's a close thing. It was sort of fascinating.

Then Liam buries himself in her chest too, and it's right back to square one! "Ack!" Since he had been blushing already, now it's clear to his shoulders! "Liam, we don't nuzzle girls chests..." He would try to stop the little guy, but can't figure out how to without groping her!!

Donatello would tell the guy what he would do, but somehow he has the thought Don has not been in this position with a female before, where as Donatello has so he knows exactly where he would have flirted and if reciprocated maybe even enticed her away for a little fun. For him it was as much about the science of studying physiology and biology and being immesersed in experimenting with how taste and smell and sound all changed thoroughout a bit of love making. And soon he hoped to ply his considerable expertise there with Yua when she or if she wanted a bit more than cuddling sometime. He grins and opens his eyes to watch and well maybe if his counterpart asked again in a glance he will distract away from what's happening by riding folks they had to get moving some time. Or calling the rest to join him in a little meditation whilst the gal's get some breakfast of hard cold rations organised for them.


Bebe blushes a bit brighter and brings his hands to her, maybe he didn't think she felt as nice as she thought he, and that was okay, but did make her blush and now she was just showing it was okay, he could lift his adorable boy from her, even if that meant he touched her skin, leaning forward a bit and pecking that snout, those lips hoping to take some of the frantic edge of the moment off of him, though he might need something else to use up the adrenaline. " aha much niiice and he's okay, he's right cuddles is always welcomed."


Leon pats Don again and nudges Inaba clapping his hands, [color]=#0099ff] " and now is probably a good moment to try a little more pegasus thing yeah? Joining us Don?"[/color] a outlet for the rush?

Other than that maybe, sort if, not really thing with Jhanna... nope. Don has absolutely not been in this position with a female before.

He is pretty sure he fell flat on his face in this conversation...

Don lets her pull his hands closer to her. And eventually he did lift Liam away from Bebe, and she kissed him!

He sort of half followed her as she backed away.

"Cuddles..." Nope. Words are still not really happening. Still just repeating what she said.

But Leon's there!

Oh... right... okay..." And he looked back to Bebe. "I have to..." Nope. Still without words.

And he hurried after Leon.

Oh, he still has Liam...

Bebe is not sure what Don is doing but if he was coming closer for another she was willing, and sort of almost leaned forward, then giggled and nodded when he is called away.


Leon chuckkes a bit judging Don, " nothing like a cuddle in the morning right? To get the blood flowing." maybe not to the brain but one head had dibs on the flow so that's really what mattered most he is sure and they are sitting with the others.


Donatello is amused but keeping it to himself, chuckling as the happy little guy in Dons arms greets all of them one at a time with a loud hello!


" hey you ready for a bit of this Don? And goodmorning!"

That would have been impressive if Bebe knew what Don was doing, because he sure as shell doesn't. But he's called away! Free from the incredibly awkward conversation!

Leon's words are just barely heard and understood. Don's response is a muttered, "I didn't mean to!" Definitely flushed again!

And he sort of flops down with the others, careful not to hurt Liam as the little guy says his greetings.

Oh, that was embarrassing.

"Yeah... sure." He's as ready as he's going to get this morning. He sits up more properly, trying to center himself. It's going to take a little longer than usual today. "Good morning."

He can still taste that kiss...

No... don't think about that. Focus.

" mmmmmman those I didn't mean too morning hugs are the beeeest - you know there is a bed buddy and a minihockey stick firstthing ready for -" Mikey day dreams and sacks as Donatello waps him again - but it was hard for the Mikey to say whether the guy was doing it on purpose or not! unlike his brothers this one seemed to bump or nudge him and well.... Donatello is tall and so Mikey is not gonna challenge him on it!


Leon eyes Mikey and then sniggers, " before that morning - I would have said you are crazy as morning practices sword issues can be so... embarrassing... but not that morning..." mmmmmmmm yeah


Liam is happy - and as Daddy settles stands on his lap and hugs around his shoulders he smelled of the fae as he had been rubbing against her chest - and was refused by 'hiding' his face Inaba's attempt to coax him away for something to eat. Nope - hugging Daddy


Chuckling Donatello rolls his closed eyes and shrugs. " well its less fun when not in a position to do anything about it." pair of kids and an audience of 'brothers' and two ladies... yeah not the exact right opportune moment to be anything but incredibly flustered! He felt for his counterpart for experiencing that and nudged him with a grin, " sorry man... I mean I know what I would have done with such an opportunity had I not been a newly married mutant but still would have been flustered if my brothers were about with mates and kids seeing me try to be smooth." whispered just for Don, commiserating and close enough he hoped the slight contact would be comforting and help the guy.


Bebe watches him go, brought back to her mind was what she had been intending to do the night of the attack on the fortress. And she is ripped from thoughts, blushing dark greenish brown when Yua hands her the fairy book. Yua she gestures to bring Elena, time for kids to have a breakfast and drinks.

Maybe if he ignores Mikey and Leon they'll stop...?

Not that it's ever worked in the past...

There's a slight grunt at their words. He's not getting involved!

Instead he focuses on Liam for a moment. "I love you too. Why don't you go with Elena and get some breakfast, My Son?" Returning the little hug, and nuzzling the child. Who smells a bit like Bebe...

Liam is very distracting... in a variety of ways. But he sort of glances over at his counterpart's words. Aaallllmost... a 'oh, you think that would have gone differently without an audience...?'

Because Don's pretty sure it wouldn't have mattered. He doesn't do smooth like that. Friendly? Sure! Smooth... no. Kids and mates made no difference whatsoever. Don's pretty sure he would have been just as awkward without any of them around.

He does not remember the brief incident in the fortress. From his perspective, it had been a passing comment that he hadn't actually understood lost in the middle of a battle. He would likely recall if his memory was jogged a little, but off the top of his head... no recollection.

" Okay guys focus, try to reach your avatars again and work with them and stop speaking about the ladies." Donatello sighs a bit - but he does glance sideways at Don as the other two settles and raises an eye ridge. ' it wouldn't have?... you can scent her pheromones she's willing.' silently just for the Don and in a brotherly sort of curious way not a jeering or joking or teasing manner seriously curious about his counterpart, was the guy asexual? totally could happen and well was a valid way to be and all... or perhaps just didn't find the fae and her sort of tingly floral scent enticing? which also valid dude may have a type and just does not know what it is.... or honestly just didn't know how to take it or what to do with it? Totally possible.


Liam grins, and nuzzles more but its gently and snout to snout, or at least gently as a small boy can manage. " me is luv you too daaadddy and wans many hugs - after plays and food." he beams, finally relenting and missing the silent looks and communications but grinning at the news and rubs on his shell and or head from Mikey and Leon. Yes, he adored the attention!


and finally he is letting Inaba slip him away from Don to be sat beside Elena, playfully getting closer to the little girl and his tail waggling.