Mundubbera Valley follow the stream.

It was not a hard thing to leap over the slow moving shallowish creek with the muddied banks and muddy creek bed but nah!


They were out and running and from what he had seen so far the others were feeling pretty good and were all thoroughly enjoying the run -


And that was as much as important as the actual run itself!


So he did put effort into pulling ahead and with a shout of glee - fudge the stealth part for a moment he crashes into the water splattering mud and water and reeds in all directions getting goo hand full and lobbing them at his fellow turtles at their incoming, either they will land or he will have to reload and risk being smucked too! and he didn't mind ! nictating eyelids in place and a grin!


Call him deranged!



uh though this prob didn't help.

Oh yeah! -


Ack!!


The sudden splattering across his plastron made the large guy loose his footing on what should have been an easy touch down after a leap that took him over a log but into the water and oh oh oh! he grabs some mud whilst down flinging it back!


" sneaky!" and damned the little guys could run fast! though really he should not have been shocked all of them were athletes - even slightly sickly down ones for well one of them still. Stomping mud as he reclaims his feet towards the others.

Splat!


Raphie mock growls and grins at Raph, " oooh he soooo asks for this!" he calls out and crash into the creek as BigM sends mess everywhere, nictating eyelids sliding up and getting some ammo to fire back!

Raph had been spared most of the splatting, having been slightly behind the larger guys. Surely Lee had to stop and reload at some point! Raph doesn't stop when BigM goes down though, and actually uses the guy's shell to launch himself at his brother! Nictitating lids slide into place as he uses BigM as a launch point!

Wouldn't be the first time if he misses his slippery brother, but he's going to try anyway! Definitely not caring if he winds up muddy as well in the process!

Yeah... Lee's definitely looking a little deranged at the moment, nictitating lids up and holding mud in each hand! Raph can't help but be amused by the scene his brother is making given their recent conversation.

Raphie laughs and makes it easier to catch the Lee of guard sort of tripping up his boyfriend and making his topple over onto his shell getting more splattered in the process and launching himself onto BigM as the larger turtle tries to straighten up with a " heeeeey!!" and laughing at Raph launching himself over him leap frog style - and just in time cause the orange banded turtle who had reached to catch the lighter smaller Raph to miss him and go dooown!!


" hahahaha!


" Aaaaaaaaaaack!" and dooown they go splash splattering the other two!


uh oh! annnnnd  Lee is trying to get back up before Raph has him at this disadvantage - missing the swiping foot when he'd been trying to get his hand full of mud on the others.[/color]

Raph has no problems with double teaming his brother! It's definitely the easiest way to take Lee down. Even if it takes more than one of them to pull it off!

And Raphie did a great job tripping him up and leaving Raph an opening! One that he absolutely intends to take advantage of! Especially since Raphie also kept him from being taken down by BigM. And hey, if it's Raphs against the rest of them, then he'll play that game! And if it's every turtle for himself, he likes that game too! For now though, he'll do what he can to assist his counterpart, as Raphie has already come through in a couple of clutch moments! HA!

Definitely covered in mud, and he doesn't mind! And absolutely trying to get Lee into something of a wrestling match where Raph has the advantage!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Lee laughs and tries to get mud to throw at Raph in time but all he could manage only to mush it against his brother in the moment his brother was on him! hahaha he doesn't mind. Sure when this all started he had been eager to get out of here and into the lands of the horse folk but now he is also enjoying the moment to just - play


He had his brother back, Leonardo's brother, and the sort of stand off with Raphie was over and their a little more comfortable to not just claim their pretending...


And now their out and running about and it felt goooooooood! so gooooood!


So he is eager to get into the wrestling match he knew Raph had the upper hand in, but because he was eager to test his brothers strength out and his endurance after being down so...


Raphie laughs out loud, he was in a different position than usual for him, he was the strongest physically of his brother, if only by a little bit and usually in a wrestling match he had the upper hand. This BigM tossed that rule out the window, he had to default to Leo and Don like thinking and strategy to keep the larger Mike off balance and Mike like agility to stay out of his grip, it was not easy - but it was fun!


" i... am ... guessing we no in a hurry..." BigM is laughing and joking grinning, enjoying the challenge of trying to catch smaller slipperier thanks to mud turtles. cause usually that was his trick! his brothers were all heavier and or taller then he!

Raph is having far too much fun at the moment. This opportunity to play, and especially a wrestling match with his brother! He doesn't care about the mud. Raph actually finds the mud strangely rejuvenating, but he hasn't really noticed that just yet. It's barely a blip on his radar.

Raph's sure Lee's using this as some sort of test, but he doesn't care. He's back with his brother, and though DonnieBoy and Mikey are still far away, they've had contact with them, and it sounds like they're doing okay too. They have others with them as well. And Raph is content with that for the moment.

The air is different here. It's like the farm house. It's clean. Fresh! The mud and water not fouled by industry.

It was probably still someone's toilet somewhere along the line... but he's choosing not to think about that. At least it doesn't burn like the river back home sometimes does.

Raph's not quite A+ top form, but he's still strong enough to be plenty of a match for Lee, especially with his excitement for their game.

Endurance will be a bit of a problem as they finish up and start moving again, but at the moment, he's still okay.

BigM manages to loose the grip he had on the Raphie but the big guy just laughs out loud and instead and ruining Lee's efforts to study them in the middle of the being absolutely out wrestled by Raph!!


by scooping them all up - Raphie, Lee and Raph and running the few steps and leaping for the deeper creek water it was still a muddy floor and they had stirred it up good but here they could all splash right down into it and BigM does just that taking them all with him! and boy was it hard!


Raphie was a large turtle like himself and heavy !!


The other two might not be large but muscular so definitely some heft too them.


Lee comes up laughing and spluttering, " Well I am very convinced you are all in excellent shape and mostly recovered." amused - and tossing some extra slity mud at the other threee.

Raph is swept up in BigM's sort of tackling... hug thing... And Aw, Man! He'd had Lee! Darn it! Though Raph could pretty reliably out wrestle Lee, the trick was getting him into a position that wrestling would be required. Raph had a few ways that he could put Lee down on the mats pretty reliably, but Lee was pretty good at keeping himself out of those situations!

So he had been somewhat disappointed to have his impromptu wrestling match canceled.

Still, now that they've landed in the deeper creek, Raph is eager to restart their game once again! Even if Lee is convinced that they're recovered. While Raph may not be 100% He is definitely capable in a fight once more! He has at least recovered that much.

And wow, is the mud refreshing!

" of course - man why ya Leo's always so danged motherly henny?" Raphie teased and drags Raph and Lee into the watery muddy wrestling that was still happening!


Lee laughs and well until the hug he'd just barely been keeping out of Raph's grip and wriggling his way free at the last minute! but now without the coating of slippery slimy mud he was a much easier to grip target and sadly now so close to his brother that the red clad shorter dude had all the advantages - " hey I have reason to be if I take back a sickly Raphael to Mona she will kick my tail -" and well he loved his brothers to death and of course was a total mother hen... but that was a excellent motivator - the possible vengeful wrath of a concerned motherly henny salamandrian warrioress.


No one messes with her mate - or her alien adopted son...


And like wise for Raph.


Raphie can't help but laugh, " ahhh the delight of being a kept man huh Raph?"


A laugh and Big M is trying to wrestle them all back into a hug! " liiiike you?" raspberry!! But also to Raph " whatsa lady like?!"

Raph is mostly focused on the wrestling match, but he does offer a comment in response to Mona being brought into it.

"He's not wrong. And he'd be lucky if it was just a tail kicking. Especially with Chompy here too..." Damn, she must be worried out of her mind...

"She's gonna kick my ass when we get home." Even though it's not his fault they disappeared! He's pretty sure she'll beat him up first, then apologize later. And Raph's very much looking forward to both! The words might actually be a trifle on the dreamy side.

As they're scooped up in the hug, Raph is actually content to let the fight end. They are talking about his favorite subject after all.

"Oh, she's amaaaazing. She's a Salamandrian, an alien. She's strong, determined. Well trained. And she's got one hell of a left hook." And that's definitely what had initially attracted him to her! Definitely dreamy. "And on top of that, she's a pretty great Earth-side mom to Chompy." Because Chompy also had his biological mother out there among the stars, helping protect the Earth until her baby grew up and could join her.

Lee is not dreamy! - he shivers, "oh man we are in for it when we get home-" yep entirely certain they all would, maybe not all whole of course, after all who knew how this batter was going to turn out? They will be battered and sore and very sad to be from the companions the made here, if happy to be back among their brothers,...


But yeah Mona was probably so very upset and his own ladies?! April and Casey...


"somehow I think we are all in for a bit of a rough patch - hopefully either time has passed more slowly there or we look stropy enough to get TLC before the indignant angry loving fussing."


Raphie laughs, " well I know first hand that kinda rough housing actually excites you Lil weirdos, she sounds awesome Raph. " she really really did and Raphie knew he shared the same, knocked head of tea hettle affliction. After all it was being knocked on his shell that put Lee out of annoying Leo wanna be upstart zone for him.


Chuckling BigMmoooans happily, Lee is sure more wrestling opportunities will come so he is encouraging the others now rinsed back to the park our run. " raphs share that taste as far as I know, for a tough love" well tone suggesting his does in any case!!

"Oh yeah." Definitely in for it! And hot damn is Raph looking forward to that! Almost wistful! Because he can't wait! He will, he doesn't have a choice, but he is definitely looking forward to it far more than is really healthy.

"Nooooo way, bro. TLC comes after.

Raph chuckled at Raphie. "If you're suggesting you ain't the same, I call bullshit."

And he laughed offering BigM a fist bump. Heck yeah, Raph's share that.

He is getting back up and ready to go as Lee is rounding them up.

Raphie pretends a indignant, "I have no idea what Hu be talking about Raph," though he very much does know! And there is a grin at the raised eye ridge looks from all at that.


Laughing Lee slaps shoulders lightly with the cool rinsed hand, "well we better hasten our trip no so we can get on with the scolding, tail lashings and tlcs - well from ladies." cause he could do all that with Raphie any time and probably will!


They are off again and Lee is more comfortable with going over the harsher ground, make them all work for it and enjoy the good long stretch of legs and lungs!

Raph joined the raised eye ridge looks for a moment, then laughed and gave Raphie a brotherly punch to the arm. Because HA! Liar.

Mmmm... scolding and tail lashings. Yup! Raph is ready to go! He's getting up and ready to move!

And Raph is doing well! Mostly! After awhile, the time down is starting to show. He's just a little slower over obstacles, and maybe not choosing the sort of route he might normally. Raph is still going, but how long it's been since he had a good run, and some of the damage from the continued drugging is starting to show.

He will be soooore later! But a good sore!

Leo is cautious, and when he notes they are closing in on the horse lords territory he slows the group, gesturing for them all the move and stay close to him and taking his small group off the hard track into the sparse vegetation and tall trees, " Erica said the first signs we are nearing the gathering of the horse lords will be piles of poop..." he gestures. Definitely - and this slower closer together stroll he was careful to move on the grazz that would spring back into place showing his fellow ninja to get into stealth mode. To move as quietly as he was, not silent yet just quietly.


He had made an assessment he was going to have to make sure Raph and BigM moved a lot the next few days. Bring both of their endurance back up.


Raphie grumbles - hoping no one saw but he stepped on a bit of rolled away from the pile poop... ew!! - and he has made a point a couple of times to bump against Raph for the brotherly punch in the arm.


BigM icks a bit. " glad my brothers just mark territory with scent - poop piles would be pushing the brotherly love envelope... and on that note I gotta get me a girl. I so want in on this tlc or non Leo lecture types of punishment... and whadda we do about poop piles?"


" nothing - but they are signs we are close and should be quiet and move slowly towards the valley floor and try to find from afar before approaching the head stallion, as far as Erica could tell he is a large grey beast and would probably be in the center lording things over his females and young. And the others around them." he explains chuckling but not drawing attention to Raphie stepping in some poop.

"There's definitely poop." Raph commented gruffly. He's not thrilled by this situation. He did catch that his counterpart stepped in some. He's not saying anything about it or drawing attention to it though...

...because he did too.

The words Raph muttered in response to BigM's question about what to do with the poop were mostly unintelligible, and definitely unkind.

"Sounds like a quality sorta guy." Allllll sarcasm. Sure, Raph doesn't know much about this world, but... Well... Raph's tendency to state his thoughts on the matter is why Leo typically does the talking.

" bwhahah yeah quantity and quality..." Raphie sniggers but its to not think about what he stood in.


BigM sniggers louder and went to point out they stood in the quality and quantity but then he too stepped in some.


Lee rolls his eyes a bit but is hiding his laughter, so far he had managed not to step in anything. "Shhhhh guys hehehe flushing loos are not a thing here - come on lets get low, move quiet and slow and spread a little among the trees but not too far, just enough to not attract attention to movement in one spot.find a vantage point to look down into the valley and find the leader..." he instructs them all softly and gestures the signals for low and spread and follow - mostly by habit now, but yes he needed them to be on the look out and quiet.


" okay Lee we get it, low, ninja and find the horsey Leo." snigger and bump against his counterpart ready to follow him.



" hahaha good one. though I wont call my Leo a stud he'll get abig head!"

Raph groans. He is making blah, blah, blah faves behind Lee's back. But he is ready to ninja sneak as Lee ordered.

As they head off, Raph crosses behind his brother and shoves Lee, intending to sort of force him to step in some of the poo too.

He knows when he's steped in poo, but he has to wonder about where these critters pee. How much of THAT have they been walking through. He's sort if temped to just... stick to the trees entirely. Seems a bit safer.

At least from waste.

Chuckling BigM tried to pull the innocent face when Lee cast him a look -


Raphie didn't even bother hiding he was chuckling a bit or why he might be -


then the pair out right guffawing as silently as possible when Raph's shove caught is brother at the perfect moment in a turning back around after whipping their way to glare and wonder why there was laughs behind him -


perfect moment!


cause Lee - in line with his own efforts to be ninja silent lacked silently and went face first into a pile of poop! bwhahahahaha!


Raphie has to grab his counterparts shell and hang on guffawing so hard and silently is hard! and he don't wanna go face first!


BigM sort of half drops down on one knee laughing silently.

When Lee gets around to Raph, he's just sort of meeting his brother's look. "What?" Like nothing had been going on just a split second before! Raphie's still laughing, and Raph shrugs like he has no idea what's so funny.

Raph had been heading for that tree when Lee went plop in the slop. He's rather grateful for having been making that choice, because like Raphie and BigM, he's having a hard time laughing silently. He's upright mostly because he's hanging onto that tree!

And that's how you knock a Lee down a peg!

It's good for Leonardos to eat a little humble pie once in awhile. And this method was perhaps a little more literal than usual, but... HAHAHA!

Oh... Lee is soooooo going to kill him later! But right now? Raph is definitely enjoying this!

Lee moves fast as snake - and well again bugger his original plan for sneaking up was about to be blown to heck in a hand bag - by him!


" hahahahaha aaack!" his really guffaws had been silent but the surprised - well he will call it a manly holler later despite it clearly being a yelp as some of the muck splattered over them, much like the mud had earlier - but this...


this was not mud!


Raphie - " oh that how you wanna play?" kicking up a clod of the wet grass smelling stuff at the little Leo -


Of course thanks to the yelp the horsey folks - most fairly long limbed and looking mostly like centaurs where definitely heard the ruckus - somewhere from he open stretched out valley below came a loud neighing roar of what Lee assumes is the lead stallion, challenging the interlopers onto the main camp grounds for these people during this time of the year. According to Erica -


And well, their cover is blown so Lee is grinning and all lobs some more poop at the Raph's and BigM, leapt onto a protruding bit of rockery above the valley and answers the stallions trumpeting as best he can, but there is no challenge in his very adolescent roar, nothing like Leonardo's and barely reaching the brassier tones of Leo - younger and for now he is playful and inviting and making for the valley floor, the creek running through for a wash and to lead his small group down to the coming toward them steel grey colored male centuar.

"Real stealthy, Lee." Raph snarked sort of quietly when Lee started the mud slinging.

Noooot that this stopped Raph from joining in! Quite the contrary! He is absolutely part of the mess! While he doesn't particularly care who he hits with the slop, he's definitely aiming a little more carefully at Lee than the other two.

Even if it is completely disgusting.

And he doesn't much mind that they've evidently been completely busted by the horse people.

Crashing through the 'wash' creek with the others, Raph... isn't sure it's that much of a wash. The creek smells an awful lot like everything that's around it. But whatever. At least there aren't splotches on them anymore. Mostly.

Good enough for jazz, but they should probably look for actual cleaner water at some point after they're done here!

Lee laughed like a maniac all the way to the creek -


yep suuuuuuuuper stealthy and all!


Well the peaceful coming out to these people was... he hoped still in order.


When he stood, when Big M stood, Raph and Raphie from the creek the horsey folks backed up a little - there are gasps and the big grey fellow comes closest to them his voice loud. " you are Genio innocuo?! what are you doing so far from the poison waters?"


" We are here for the deep muuuud slop skin treatment." grunts Raphie grinning - the race down into the valley floor and the poop slinging 0- hahahaa he felt good and not at all worried about the people about him -


" and to ass the pony pals to the bronocs club."


Lee forces himself to not face palm - still poop on his hand wise decision, and also not to groan or laugh at the words and well Raph will probably wanna add to that so he stays quiet for him to do so.

These guys have some balls saying that the genio's water is poison given what Raph saw in this area and in the creek...

Not that Raph actually knows where the genio innocuo are supposedly from. Hopefully someone will explain that to him eventually.

"Heard you guys have some serious fertilizer. Hadda see it in person. And you yell at everyone like that, or are we just special?"

As predicted the horselord was confused and stamped his front forehoof angrily - Lee sniggers and steps forward, maybe he could convince these people without having to - as leader - turn this into a testosterone spill all over the place. " Yes, we are Genio Innocuo and we are far from our ocean sea water home to help reset balance to a tipping over world." trying to hint at his followers - that the horsey folk called sea water poison water - because it was undrinkable, it was not meant as a insult against them -


especially as maybe the haughty usual tone of a lordy type leader the big centaur like guy had there was no way to avoid they were all four getting looks, so he assumed most he might also revere.


" I am here to ask, humbly, for warriors to join the fight."


Raphie is glad they had the chance to quib - and his chuckles at Raph's words are soft unlike BigM. Then it is more serious and Lee is beginning - and he himself is amused by the big guys surprise that Lee was speaking - as if he expected, and well probably did expect, the massive Mike to be leader among them.

"Geez, and they call me huffy." Muttered. Intended for his companions only, not thw horse people.

And yeah, he got what Lee was trying to do with the ocean thing.

He will still argue that this shit water is undrinkable.

Later though. When Huffy the Horsey isn't around to hear it.

Raph knows this drill though. This isn't exactly Lee's first army. He stands slightly behind his brother, watching the group more than the leader.

Reaching the leader is Lee's job. Keeping an eye on the rest of the locals is Raph's.

Raphael2012 wrote:"Geez, and they call me huffy." Muttered. Intended for his companions only, not thw horse people.

And yeah, he got what Lee was trying to do with the ocean thing.

He will still argue that this shit water is undrinkable.

Later though. When Huffy the Horsey isn't around to hear it.

Raph knows this drill though. This isn't exactly Lee's first army. He stands slightly behind his brother, watching the group more than the leader.

Reaching the leader is Lee's job. Keeping an eye on the rest of the locals is Raph's.

Raphie settles in place to Raph's other side, and slightly behind, well his Lee - much like he would his Leo - and eyed the other horse folk around.


The big grey snorted and he came closer, " and why should we become involved at all?" he asks haughtily looking from one to the other and doing it deliberately as an attempt to see if it poked holes in Les's ego or focus.



There is almost a snigger from BigM as he is sort of watching the curious crowd - mostly ladies... so he does the Mikey thing and is waggingthe tail, wagglign the eye ridges and showing them guns and thighs - having no idea if these fillies and mares would even think ... um the geinie nookies were seriously good minty eye candy or not.


And he can tell from here that the Lee would have a Leo sort of half grin - almost a smirk at the tactic.


And Lee does, he refuses to let it worry him. in the past as a new leader this would have troubled him. Right now - nooope. " Why would you not? You are the great grey brolga or so I have heard - and live to protect yours, well if you don't protect Drako and his forces will eventually come for yous too to either drive yous off your land and possibly enslave yous -"


The big grey guy glares - considering, he was not a stupid ass who would claim he knows nothing about a war...

He tried, he really did. But he snorted when the horse asked why he should get involved at all. Because, really, dummy?

Raph does manage to keep his yap shut other than that though. Lee's got it. This is not the sort of thing Raph is good at. That's why his job is watch Lee's back while he talks.

And it looks like Raphie has got it down too.

Annnd... typical Michelangelo. Raph grunts and punches the big guy in the arm. There will be time for that later, when we're not trying to get on the alpha male's good side! We're being impressive now, Waggy!

Not that knowing that ever stopped their own Mikey though, so Raph's not sure why he expected otherwise from the big guy!

Lee had encountered a similar mindset with the bull like folks they travelled with now, they knew of the rising conflict, just were hesitant in doing anything proactive aside fighting the random bands of raiders that came there way.


He keeps talking before giving the guy too much time to think of a good reason to ignore him and the call to arms. " there is no point in waiting to strike when it might very well be too late, when Drako and his forces have amassed and won and are coming for allegiances - the time to do something is now as he gathers. You must too gather... other wise we genio innocuo would not be back after many years of staying out to sea to guide and bring together those we can to fight this menace."


The clogs were turning the head, the big guy didn't kick at him so there is that.


Raphie snorted a little, whispering to the side as BigM made a noise of complaint at Raphs intervention on his flirtation, " Probably be best for the moment if you were not hitting on the ladies around us." amuuuuused!


The big guy snorted louder than before, and whipped his long dark grey tail, "I... am not keen to pass up on the advice of genio innocuo... come you and your companions and I will all go wash in a clear bit of stream and speak more comfortably with some good grass." he turns to trot away.


Presumably to a clear bit of creek, Lee looks at his companions, like this was not an unexpected reaction, cause acting relieved on any front might give away he was not sure of himself - and trying to convey to his companions through example to roll with it, don't be surprised.


" that would be nice, thank you.... maybe a drink." cause accepting the polite thing to do is eat what they are offered they may need water to wash it down with.... or alcohol.


Raphie nods, ready to follow, BigM sort of just brushes off concerns and is still flirty. But a little to Ned down at least.

BigM reigned in for the moment, and the crowd just sort of chililng, Raph is relaxed. Sure, they were definitely being watched, but it was a curiosity. Maybe concern, or interest in what was being said and where this might go. It wasn't an 'in enemy territory' type watching.

And Raph keeps his face pretty neutral. He's not surprised or relieved that Lee got through. He had almost assumed his brother would. And again, he knows the drill.

Raph hides any face he might have made about what seems to be an offer of grass to eat by sort of tucking behind BigM and making sure he's moving along, not getting too caught up in his flirting! The grunt of 'don't want grass' might be interpreted by most as 'knock it off.'

Not that grass is the worst thing they've ever eaten. Far from it. He's just gotten used to having better options. But whatever. If he's told to eat grass, he'll eat grass.

" nice to be clean again." Raphie grins - this part of the stream was like a bit of a pool, deep enough for them and the big grey guy to rinse off. Though the big guy wasn't as dirty as they were he still insisted on joining them - and well Erica had said the centuar like creatures like back scratches so when the opportunity presented it self Lee moved closer and offered the big leader a scratch -


Raphie was not sure if he was jealous or impressed -


Okay maybe jealous -


But doing his best to keep that underwraps.


There was ceramic or pottery jugs of water floating among them, large hardened bark bowls with grasses and leaves and berries - some nuts of sorts and even an alcoholic drink BigM said was sort of like a cream licquer and by now the day was around lunch - and Raphie is just glad there are things to chew on that was not all grass!


BigM was definitely jelly and offering his shell for the scratching! to the couple of females close by -


" Does that officially mean Mikey's will flirt with anything?" he whispers to Raph as Lee is explaining the gathering of forces, the plans for those forces. He and Raph might be relaxed by he knew he wasn't the only one on watch, after all they were in the middle of enemy territory.

Raph gives a nod of agreement! Definitely nice to be clean again. He is quiet about muttering to Raphie.

"Definitely have a new appreciation for it." After the week or so following his arrival here, definitely appreciates clean!

And he caught tge mostly buried jealousy, and sort of bumped his counterpart. This is shmoozing. No worries.

Raph is equally glad for non-grass snacks! And most of them are actually pretty good!

He does avoid the alcohol again though. Sure , mostly over at least the worst of his withdrawal, but... even alcohol is still not tempting after all that.

He would drink some if called out, but for now... eh...

And a quiet snort at Raphie's comment about Mikeys.

" You just figured that out? I thought that was a given."

" Not mmmmy Mike... usually its the ladies sure, but nothing too much - this...is a whole different level of Mike flirt than I am used to -" shifting his weight a little and forcing himself with the feel of Raph's bump to grin a bit and shove the jealously, ridiculous as it is, deeper down. His counterpart is definitely right...


Made easy by the way some of the clearly higher ranked mares joined them int he water once able, - Raphie catching the water jug and having a drink, as a red colored female moved closer to them, okaaaaay which of them was going to scratch her back? Raphie wondered -


BigM had no trouble grinning and scratching and rubbing two ladies backs a whitish grey and creamy colored one -


" you telling me your Mikey is flirty flirty/" chuckling at the thought.


Lee is working hard - and describing the plans to get the forces out onto the Aralen plains around the capitol meet up with fellow Genio Innocuo from other clutches and his own other hath mates - and the hopes the stallion would send some of his to fight too.

Raph chuckled at Raphie's words about his Mike. That was sort of surprising.

As the ladies seem to come around for back scratches, Raph offers Raphie the opportunity first. Maybe redirect some of that jealousy.

Also... he's pretty sure she wouldn't mind given the circumstances, but it feels a little like cheating on Mona. He's content to let the others take this task on.

A bark of laughter as Raphie asks if Mikey is super flirty.

"Pretty sure my Mikey would flirt with semi-sentient slime..."

" do you knooooow any hot semi sentient slime?" BigM puts in helpful giving it good to the two pretty pony gals and grinning to the Raphs rather eagerly. Not aware he just entirely proved Raph's point about his own Mikey and well this Mikey.


Snorting and definitely gesturing in a 'i got this and you were totally right' sort of way at Raph, Raphie shakes his head at BigM, " nooot me but maybe Raph here/ and nah my Mike... well I can't say, until now we've really not had a chance to try out the moves... so totally surprise my inept attempts charmed your brother - and seems my Mike's own learning curve was successful on his white mini dragon lady. Leo too seemed to be doing well...." He wont day about Don, dude just never seemed interested. And well being sick probably has not afforded much in the way of opportunities on the matter.


Scratching away at the two ladies like BigM was covering for Raph he hoped and it does help a little make the jealousy easier to ignore.


Overhearing Lee and the big guy, " thing is... I know - I have... an informant... she tells me that draco's armada is... twice as big as the number I have managed to gather so far even with - how can I gather, quickly too many/"


" slaves... go to the desert oasis city there the slave trade is still rife. Though might cost big for some of the better trained slaves."


Raphie curls his lip a bit, slavery...


But there was a speculative look on Lee's face.

"Dunno if I'd call it hot..." Because Raph is definitely a one woman turtle! "But there was that one space port..."

Raph is listening as his counterpart explains his brothers' tastes and how they seemed to be having some success with lovers here. He did note the exclusion of the brother who apparently had the thing for puppets...?

"Really? Never had a chance? How sheltered are ya?" Or maybe not sheltered. They'd obviously had some pretty impressive training. Still... how had they never been around girls to try moves on?!

Though... Raph hadn't really had an opportunity before Mona...

So he supposed he sort of got it.

And he knows that look on Lee's face. Sort of a glance to Raphie. Don't worry. That's plotting.

BigM perks up - hitting spots along the females backs that make them stretch their bodies and swish water logged tails in pure delight! " thaaaaat sounds like a cool story-"


" for another time -" Raphie grunts, part thoroughly amused and mostly focused upon the back and side scratchies he is giving, and somewhat on the conversation over there - answering Raph with a bit of a grin, " aside from a few times we snuck away from father to do something we very much should not have been doing - we were very sheltered, hadn't really had outside longterm contact that new what we were until we rescued April and ran into trouble with the Purple Dragons and Foot when we went topside for more than a few small snuck out hours." he whispers and explains. " And in all our time out we... have not really pursued relationships... had the odd crush maybe but not much in the way of flirting... what about you guys?" keeping chatter light so he and Raph and BigM didn't miss anything.


The larger turtle sniggered, " same with us until we sent an interdimensional alien overlord packing, we had to get help from the police... long story - and since then discovered not all of them had issues with us being mutant turtles." waggle of brows.

Over there Lee is artfully playing up the role of genio innocuo who'd not realised slavery was still a thing or how rife it still was.

"Party pooper." Actually, Raph hadn't been gearing up to tell the story. But Raphie doing the Leo thing and delaying it... Well, Raph isn't going to let that go entirely.

He is sort of nodding at Raphie's explanation. Actually, it's pretty familiar.

"Actually about right, though the Purple Dragons aren't really a concern and the Foot is under control now. We got Kraang though. Well, we have a lot more contacts now, but it was a handful of earlier ones that we are in relationships with. DonnieBoy's got his April. Karai and Shini were already together when they came across Lee... well... at least in a relationship sort of way." And now Lee has Raphie too. That's going to be an interesting thing to watch unfold.

"Dunno what exactly Mikey and Casey got goin' on. But they enjoy it. And met Mona fighting her on an ice planet. Oh, she hit me so hard." Maybe a little dreamy again! Just for a moment! He reigns it in relatively quickly!

Hunh... Sounds like BigM has a little more freedom as far as a social circle than the rest of them do. Though Raph's group has actually come across quite the variety of friends.

Raph is sort of paying attention to Lee. Enough to get a general idea of how things are going. But again, still mostly just chilling and watching the goings on.

" after what we were playing in just before pooper is accurate." BigM jokes sniggering, and careful over the round bellies of the two females he was scratching, he didn't have to be around many pregnant women to understand never touch the belly without the say so first so he will let them decide if they want his attentions any lower.


Raphie grins, " that is all... really fascinating... I am actually glad for my brothers most of them are... exploring something out here - hopefully enjoying it too. And I am not as jealous about sharing Lee with the gals... hopefully they let me. So soooo gotta tell us how you and your brothers bigM went from asking the police for help to being well um... escorts?" admitting that and indeed curious glancing over - then starting a little when had Leo's annoying counterpart left horsey dude and came up beside them?


bloody Leo's.



Lee hides an amused grin, " we have been asked to attend council of the lead mare later tonight, apparently the elders females make the final decisions so the case will be brought before them to choose if any of these fighters join our army. Lets... um swim a bit?" wanting to get his team alone to talk to them.

Raph half snorted at BigM's comment. Well, he's not wrong.

Yeah, Raph would hope similarly for his bros if they didn't already have people back home. And He's not really concerned about Karai and Shini. He has a feeling that they're content whether Lee is there or not. And he's pretty sure they'd get a kick out of a guy like Raph.

Raph also grunts when Lee comes over! He had been curious about that too! But he chuckled at Raphie's start. Raph had had a better angle to see his brother coming. And he's pretty sure Lee did that on purpose.

"Love a swim." Well, he doesn't sound like he'd really love a swim, but he would at least be getting information. And he does actually like the water.

Once they're moving again, he wants that story from BigM though!

" excuse me ladies... but duty calls." BigM excuses himself away from the gals he was paying the best attention too as Raphie makes similar apologies to the mares he was scratching, the large turtle all too happy to back away though and splash into the creek rest for a swim! oh hell yeah.


" lead on Lee and I'd say getting a bell for you would be a good idea but then again your probably likes us, capable of being silent even with half a dozen bells stuck to ya." grump! but it's half-hearted and he can - sense something... but whatever Lee had in mind might be serious...


but he could not help but notice it was that familiar and comforting presence of their father -


Oh he missed him so!


Lee feels the sensation too and there is his own special kind of ache and assuming Raph would feel it too he bumps gently against his brother, " then lets swim our guests will send a colt or filly to look for us when they are ready to have us sit in on their important meeting." in other words lets get clear of ears before other chatter.

Raph is definitely happy to be away from the weirdo situation. This is the sort of thing Lee's good at. Raph... not so much. He makes a vague sort of awkward 'bye' half wave, hoping it's not offensive here...

He chuckles as Raphie puts the damper on his own suggestion of bells for Lee. Yeah... definitely doesn't work, and it sounds like Raphie knows the drill on that one.

And oh... no, he couldn't miss that sensation. He definitely felt that one. He frowned and looked over at Lee for the bump. Because... sure, it had distracted him from the contact and the ache it brought with it. Looking at BigM and Raphie... Pretty sure that's Raphie's father they're feeling.

"Uh... yeah... let's go." He's definitely willing to follow and get out of here and out of sight and earshot of the horse people.

Swimming did release some pent up energy from the mornings fun and games, also going deep and rubbing against the pebbles not he bottom felt fantastic to the shell - which BigM of course discovered and they spent much time enjoying until they were further down stream than the bulk of the herds and stragglers mostly ignored them.


Even so, Lee moves to perch on an out jutting bit of rock, watching his brothers and lover.


" alright out with it -" he'd been glad to provide some amusement with his bells comment - but Lee obviously had something in mind.


BigM happy churrs, he's found some more pebbles in a shallow bit of water about the rock so was rubbing through them and enjoying the sensation. " you wanna try buying some of those slave soldiers the dude told you about?"


Lee smirks a little, " Not some. All they have available and the young and untrained. I intend to destroy the slave trade heart beat in the deal. I just need to think of a deal they will take first - but you two especially are not going to like it at all and might want to kill me for even suggesting it." he admits the smirk dying and looking at Raphie and Raph -


At first Raphie does not get Lee is talking about Randal and Chompy. Raph might get it at once.


" Just... before yous become too angry too think please trust me I wont ever let anyone hurt my nephew or my stepson." but he will let the Raphs process before broaching his plan with them further.

The swim had been nice. And he actually does feel like they're clean again. And really... he's had enough shit on him in the past couple of weeks to last a lifetime. He definitely appreciates the opportunity to clean up!

When Lee hops out onto the rock, Raph hops up so he's nearby. They don't need any straggling ears hearing their conversation. Even if they do seem to be largely ignored down here.

Raph's face is dark as Lee starts making his suggestion.

Sure, Raph is all for killing the slave trade of this world. He is absolutely all in for that.

And if Lee anticipates the fist to the face coming for even considering using Chompy and Randal as bait... well... it would be impressive. Because even Raph didn't know he was doing it before it was done.

Though... Lee probably considered it a likely reaction.

So... that wait before getting too angry... too late... This is not a quality at which Raph excels...

He seethed with fury - and would have punched first, had Raph not been there - his growl loud and moving forward even!


BiM gets between them though -


" I am assuming you added the disclaimer because you have other plans?" he talks right over the furious Raphs and whilst his cheerful self is there he is sort of glaring too at this small Leo type turtle.


Lee expected the anger and had positioned to fight both Raphs - waiting, blinking when BigM appears there. " of course not, that's why I said at the very beginning trust me I wont ever let anyone hurt Chompy and or Randal." he looks back at Raph. And at Raphie. " In fact what I have in mind is a ruse. These slave makers masters from what I hear will need to be convinced only long enough that their about to have two babies worth lord ships to hand control over...then we'll bring their world down around their ears. And destroy their economy, make a statement of what having slaves from then on out will cost." They were big plans... but Lee felt it could... no would! be pulled off.


And he waits for that to sink in to the Raphs.

"Yeh, well, I don't!" Trust Lee on this one, that is. He's still growling, still furious, and though he's listening enough that he's not actively trying to get past BigM, he is clearly not swayed either.

"An' when things go wrong? What then? How far do ya carry your 'ruse'?" It's demanding and accusatory at the same time.

"You know as well as I do, shit always goes wrong. What then? You use those kids like that, an' you're no better than the humans that had Randal."

Maaayyyybe that one had been a low blow.

But Raph is pissed. He will probably regret the words later. He knows his brother isn't like that. But right now...? Right now, he is far too deep in "Protective Papa" territory over what he is perceiving as a threat to Chompy. And he's using any tool in his arsenal. He can't see any damage he might be doing.

"Thats fair." Lee does what he did during the months of grief - still grieving their father, pushes it down - doooown and maybe his voice hints at the hurt caused with the strange emotionless quality it took and he stares past all their eyes for a moment.


He would never of course leave Chompy or Randal in the hands of the slavers. But Raph was not going to listen to him now and well Lee wasn't prepared to explain more until there was open ear holes - whilst full they will make no progress-


though impressively it looked like Raphie was reigning in his fury, obviously he has been in similar butting heads moments with his own Leo and probably all his brothers at one point. Elsewhere his brother might feel his anger but he is doing his best to not be that hot head, there was more to this and he should wait until the plan was explained to throttle Lee if he deserved it. but he wont stop Raph like BigM no longer was it he landed a punch.


And their still waiting for the centuar like folk so he waves a hand at BigM, if Raph attacked so be it and he'll not fight his brother.


Raphie was taking deep breaths, no Lee would not carelessly throw Randal to the wolves so to speak he did trust that - but was too busy bringing himself back to speak now so missed that that lost moment also poked at Lee a bit.


BigM chewed his lips and moved out of the way - but its to move closer to Lee, " I trust you." the little Leo was not the cute pudgy pegasus one or the intense alpha looking two in the astral place, the dragon or the ice man but ... this was a Leo still.

Lee saying the comment was fair takes some of the fire out Raph. He's not appeased necessarily, he is definitely not sold on any part of the plan.

Like his counterpart, managing to reign in some of his fury now, but he is definitely not listening.

He doesn't throw another punch, but only just. He does get in Lee's face, glaring. At least until BigM speaks and draws his attention elsewhere.

"Oh, you trust 'im, do you?" He... shouldn't be doing this. He should stop, but he's already started. He can't.

"Last I checked, ain't your kid hurt, taken or killed when this blows up in our faces! And it always blows up in our faces! I ain't riskin' my kid 'cuz some other world we shouldn't even be in got it's head up its ass!"

Never mind that it will probably not be a choice at some point.

Raph growls and turn, walking a distance away. He would normally leave, but he's not entirely sure if the group they were with would be in the same place or start moving without them.

So just... several yards away.