On the Road!

Finally the moments waiting out the rattling and moving of their cages, the kitty litter trays. Gag... And the renewed vibrations let Haley know it was relatively safe to talk to Donnie again

A small grin at his agreement that hope was the way, a small amount... But still. Yes it would be nice to get out and see stars together. A smile at his attempts at pretense. " Well I will not be informing them differently and I guess they miiiight believe the boys get their mimicry from me or might be intelligent as I am... Play it out miiight work for a while." not a bad idea she agrees. And at least there is an excuse for the little ones to have tried talking and imitation of things they have heard or seen.

She is quiet for a moment smothering her soft giggles. "I will tell you the story once that sweet little guy goes to sleep if you want to hear it." she offers smiling and it becomes a grin, " if prospective partners could see our sons I am sure willingness will go up a lot." amused and pleased and having to think back on just how recently. " soooo they did catch a siren... I thought I heard ones sounds, defensive shrieks and softer sounds... Not the siren song these people wanted no doubt. Well she was the only one to hug our sons that I have ever seen so hope your brothers will love on the sons they have lie you say, and you that one. Malcolm. He is a rare color for a dragon, particularly a hybrid, gold." she is glad the siren was free now, no one should have even a recording of a siren song.

She ignores the kitty litter for now. Some time she will be desperate and humiliating or not have to make use of it. Buuuut for now ignores. Sowing at the news Mikey was part of the Justice League. [color:3996=$ffccff]" that would be like my brother's dream come true." giggling. " not a career choice for the rest of you?" as curious as he is. And keeping chatter soft. Breaking off if he does. And listening to the murmuring sounds Malcolm is making. Not able to see he is indeed falling asleep.

~

Snuggling into Donnie, as close to plastron as he can press himself sucking on his thumb and mumbling the strange name mashing, smiling up at Donnie... With at first droopy eyes, then half closed... Then it's a blind sort of smile as eyes can't reopen after the last slow blink.

As the scientists start moving around them, and Don goes quiet for the duration of their presence, he is mostly behaved, and just holding Malcolm while the scientists do their work. He doesn't interfere or help them in any way. Frequently turning his back, and just existing in the cage.

The individual he singled out earlier continues to be carefully studied, but only when he is by himself. Whenever anyone else is around, Don ignores all of the lab coats.

He is not pleased by the kitty litter, and for now ignores it.

Don is patient until it's safe to talk again.

~~~~~

He appreciates her staying quiet, and hopefully his ruse doesn't need to last long. Oh, he hopes not, but being moved like this is definitely concerning!

Still, he will manage as long as he can.

He looks forward to the story, should break up the monotony of this trip, but Haley is definitely right to wait for the tot to sleep.

He is noncommittal about chances going up if people see the boys. In his experience being turtle shaped has generally caused alarm more than anything else. Even though Malcolm is absolutely adorable.

"We found her sister a couple days ago. Her information led us to this place. And my brothers will definitely love all the kids. I'm sure of that.

He takes a moment to consider the golden dragon information.

"Well... I don't know if it means anything, but Mike's chi and avatar present as orange, so it's pretty close to his color."

There's a soft chuckle at super hero being Haley's brother's dream job that turns to a soft, but honest laugh at the career choice comment.

"Oh, no. I mean... we do what we can, but we're ninja. We stick to the shadows. The fewer people who know about us the better. This cage we're in is pretty much a case in point. But no, I consider myself more of an engineer and mechanic than anything else... primarily, anyway." In such a small group, he fills several roles, but they all do to an extent.

Which is actually most of the reason he wants these guys thinking he's barely intelligent. He wants to be underestimated as much as possible.

"What do you do, or want to do... when you're not... in here."

Soft churring until Malcolm is fully asleep. Don has moved too soon far too often with Shadow to be fooled just yet!

[quote="Donnie"]As the scientists start moving around them, and Don goes quiet for the duration of their presence, he is mostly behaved, and just holding Malcolm while the scientists do their work. He doesn't interfere or help them in any way. Frequently turning his back, and just existing in the cage.

Haley was a little excited, " More than one?! how old? I mean... sirens are pretty rare these days and tend to live deep and or remote to avoid humans, soooome hybrids might still live more human like because they are not exactly accepted into the pods in their regions. They may face death trying to make connections... It's good that the information helped, oooh sooo very goooood." she is excited but keeps her voice low, and thinking over his words, relief in her next words, grief that she had been denied all this time being close to their sons, and for what that robbed their babies of, and relief that his brothers will finally be able to give that to them. " I guess so, in truth all our sons colors are pretty uncommon, but orange and yes gold is pretty rare." chuckling with him when he speaks of his brothers hero like lives.

" Soooo you are heroes, in shells and shadows." she grins and snuggles down in her bedding closest to the wall with Donnie on the other side, and Malcolm she hoped close, closer than she has ever been to them before, " Engineer and Mechanic... hhhmmm so you are very intelligent, I have seen from afar little Duncan show some very bright qualities - I think, if I was able to see it, that he was the first to try talking." She is not ready for sleep, but maybe unconsciously trying to help ease Malcolm to sleep fully. After his crying and giggling, the last thing she wanted was to not hear his little voice after never having heard it before but knew the best way not to stress him and Donnie more was for the little fellow to rest. Thinking over his question, " I... used to protect the magical community of New York, mostly from themselves, sometimes from humans or humans from them. You know werewolves, unicorns, fairies... the tiny fairies and pixies and brownies and the larger human sized fae fairy beings... vampires and others like trolls and banshees... I... would like to be able to return to my job but may be unfit to do so when I escape due to having been captured for so long. So I would be content with being able to at least return to studies." whispering softly, " And maybe finally being their mother... would your brothers... like that... you seem okay with it..." a bit shyly. But Donnie did seem to not mind. When he says the little one is asleep she will explain her brothers mishap with the dopplegangers, the multiple avatars.

~

Malcolm's eyes do flutter and he offers Donnie a sleepy Mikey like chirpy grin, which turns into a yawn and he snuggles closer, making contented little sound pressed as close as he could plastron to plastron so he can feel the larger heart beat, and be covered in Donnie's scent, sucking one of his thumbs. At least hinting at some point in his infancy he would have required milk. His eyes closing again with a happy sigh.

Don's not entirely sure how much Elena would be comfortable with his cellmate knowing. In the end he decides not to offer much more than the people who have captured them would already know.

"She's about five, and escaped in the chaos. And they're hybrids." He doesn't say what the other species is.

He shrugs off the comment about them being heroes.

"We do what we can when we come across problems, and have been uniquely positioned to help on a few occasions." Probably an understatement at this point, but he doesn't see himself as a superhero.

Duncan. He doesn't quite repeat it, but silently mouths the word. A name to go with what he assumes is the purple child - his child - that he got to hold briefly earlier, before he pushed the boy through the bars to Raphie. It was only a few hours ago, but it seems forever.

"Heh... of my brothers... I was sort of the first, and sort of the last." He had spoken his first couple of words first, but then gone quiet until long after his brothers were speaking fairly proficiently. Then Donnie had suddenly started speaking again... in full sentences.

He's quiet as she explains that she had once protected the magical community.

"I've heard the stories, but hadn't realized that all those things were real. Though I did know dragons are, as well as a variety of other creatures, so I suppose it isn't that much of a stretch." He accepts this information about these creatures being real pretty easily.

Oh he wishes they had known about all this going on sooner. He feels terrible that she's been trapped here for four years!

"I can't imagine any of my brothers would ever consider forcing you out of the babies' lives. Certainly not without reason. Family is important, even if it's unorthodox."

Don can't help a soft smile at the slight suckling Malcolm had just done. He's seen Shadow do it on a few occasions and it's adorable! He holds Malcolm securely, cuddling him gently and churring softly until he finally falls asleep. Really falls asleep!

"I think he's asleep now."

Haley breaths, it's a sort of wow and sort of a half sound of jealousy. " Amaaazing, the oceans a bit polluted as you know, sirens and mermaids both are having trouble getting and remaining pregnant so I am amazed you met one so young, even a hybrid." she explains her amazement and wonder. " I had been caught trying to help the New York locals clean parts of the water for um like clean soak spots to help with magic, not a good idea but also some alien tech... And was harpooned must have been a tran in mine I passed out half way through transition. So they might have been hunting mermaids and or sirens but caught a dragon instead."

She doesn't continue hero talk. A chuckle though, she understood, fame can and does go to ones head, she and her brother both had their moments full of themselves as the magical communities hailed them heroes. It was best to take his and his brothers approach, stay humble as possible and consider it helping when can not being heroic.

" really?! Hah bet that shocked everyone hahaha Duncan... Started and never stopped. Always imitating and copying and listening to words to practice. I think he annoyed that one I think I have seen you study a bit, he one gagged our little purple boy. Didn't stop him though he just made the sounds around the muzzle." amusement. But anger. Oh if she could roast the man who nuzzled Duncan she would!

A relieved sound. " goooood I have spent their young lives loving them from afar I would literally die if when out of here unable to finally be close to them." and hopefully they missed her, or a sense of her that is, they might instinctively know their parents had not been there to greet hatchlings. And maybe tried to imprint on the nearest humans. But had not been reciprocated. She smiles hearing Malcolm is asleep.

And careful to listen for Donnie she begins with explaining a bit about her brother first, and why his struggles at first finding time management and prioritisation skills when first becoming The American Dragon. Having to juggle his own hands training and ordinary human life. Allwith a father who at that time didn't know about them.

Don is quiet as Haley explains how she had been captured trying to clean up a spot of water. He's clearly perturbed by the information, but mostly just listens.

"I'm sorry that happened. Any idea what they want with a siren? Or a dragon for that matter. As cute as Malcolm here is... I somehow don't think that was their end goal."

Don doesn't express it, but a pause on the hero talk is probably a good thing. He and his brothers have had a hand in causing too many of the problems they've fixed to really feel heroic about solving them. So he is definitely glad when the conversation moved on and he didn't have to share those stories just yet!

He chuckles at the thought of the others being shocked when he started speaking again. They had been, and Splinter had at one point wondered if Don would ever reach some of the milestones he had read about and was seeing the others reach. Other times he had been certain that Don could read before he was three, even if Don wouldn't speak to prove it.

There's a dark tone to his voice when he speaks again after Haley told him about the muzzle.

"Sounds like I picked the right one then." Because Don is going to do everything in his power to make that man feel completely paranoid, and look that way to his coworkers too.

Don is an attentive and patient listener as Haley tells her story about her brother becoming the American Dragon! It really is a fascinating story, and he is definitely curious about it, and the magical world she had helped protect! AnThey do seem to be packed into this truck for the long haul. Especially if the kitty litter is any sort of indication. He does finally ask a quiet question.

"How... how would your magical community feel about mutants...?" Because it did really seem that this community was separate from the one that Don was used to, the humans who had captured them.

" The whole siren song thing... Is real. I heard a lot of shrieking and sounds, mostly defensive or offensive from the siren your brothers took, mermaids and siren both have a song, that can be hypnotic. But the Siren version is addictive, can be dangerous if the siren uses it as such and even deadly. And I guess if can be purified stem cells from sirens or mermaids could be useful for paralytic and numeral and maybe even creating humans strong enough to survive and thrive beyond earth more comfortably." she guesses. " catching a dragon instead definitely wasn't their plan and it was my bad luck to be caught as a time I had unfertilized eggs ready to pass. I don't know what genetic material they had from you and your brothers but anything would have worked as long as introduced before I laid them. .." she doesn't recall much about the procedure. She had be under a tranq and quite out of it when all sort soft poking went on to make their sons.

She nods. She only caught fractured glances but agrees. " you did pick the right one."

Then onto describing her brothers mishap with using the wrong chi enhancer and creating an evil doppleganger, that almost swallowed him up and took over. But he got it together and managed to find a way to manage his time a bit better. Then came Donnie's question and she hums thoughtfully. " Honestly I think as you sort of have kappa looks you will fit in fine. And there is a species of turtlepeople of the Galapagos islands too called Gentle Innocou. Or Gentle Innocents. Very intelligent, very pacifist and very isolated. Hidden away very rare these dots and I think there is a local dragon that watches those islands." she explains smiling. " thinking of making a move once out of here?" it's playful but inviting him to keep asking more if he likes. And they were indeed in for a long trip.

Don considers the information about the mermaid and siren songs.

"Beyond Earth travel should really narrow it down more than it does... I don't suppose you've heard the name Bishop?" Though Bishop had decided that Don's family was really on the same side he was, and more useful to him if left to do what they do. They actually had a sort of peace at the moment.

Which would change if Bishop were really involved. Though Don is certain he's not the only whackbag working on similar projects. The siren and dragon thing would certainly fit his MO though... but using the his and his brothers DNA to create children to be abused rather flew in the face of any terms of truce as far as Don was concerned. And capturing Don definitely did. His guess is that Bishop might be peripherally involved, but probably not heading this project.

He then considers the genetic material that might have been used.

"I can think of several entities that might have our blood. And a couple that could possibly that just about anything..."

Don is definitely glad that he chose the right lab coat to study. And he is going to make the guy feel completely insane.

Don is sort of blown away that there are already turtle people out there! Definitely listening to every word!

"I guess as long as they don't expect us to have a sara..." At least the legends that Don has head, typically have the dish-shaped part of the head for water. Though if there are dragon shifting humans, and fairy-siren hybrids, he supposes a hybrid Kappa would be reasonable too.

"Oh, that sounds amazing." Don admitted softly of the species that lives in the Galapagos. Though he does imagine that his brothers might not fit in well...

Still, it sounds incredible, and he would absolutely love the opportunity to see the Galapagos Islands.

He chuckles softly at the question about moving.

"I don't actually know if I can leave New York yet." O'Neil Tech is just getting off the ground, and he wouldn't feel right dumping it all on April right now. "But I think at least a vacation would be in order. A real one, not one that involves kitty litter."

He very seriously considers making a scene and removing the box from his crate...

Haley thinks over the name she has caught. " Nooo mentions of a Bishop. I have heard and seen briefly someone who miiight have been a Russian or German, Hoffstetler, and maybe Japanese, a Wu... maybe? sorry that one I didn't catch, I have heard brief mentions of samples brought from Purple Dragons, something about a mutation outbreak and fighting monsters... I am not sure I heard that right to be honest..."

Still possible Bishop did sell earlier samples of blood or tissue matter from battles to these other peoples in similar positions of power and prestige to him in the early days of run ins with the turtles.

She giggles unexpectedly at the mention of a sara. " I do not think anyone has seen an actual Kappa in many years, so miiight be able to claim that was just mythology and or folklore running rampant... or loss of the result of hybridisation. It is a beautiful place to visit and the Genio Innocuo so very calming and innocent. Thats partly why they are so isolated. because they are so pacificist that its mostly for their safety from others that will abuse and exploit. But I absolutely would vouch for you and your brothers to visit against the Ecudarian Dragon." smiling a bit, glad for Donni's company, is explanagtions and what he is comfortable sharing about himself and brothers and some bits about genetic material of them being out there. " these people would looooove more eggs out of me, but I have refused to lay even slugs around them, and it helps they dont feed me right, I need a bit of fat to build the follicles for eggs to begin." she whispers this just for Donnie's ear holes though she doubts right now any one is paying them much mind.

~

A low dragon like rumble as she hears what was indeed a Malcolm stretching in his sleep, just like Mikey smiling, stretching, snuggling in close to Donnie little tail waggling briefly and a open mouthed droop sleep smile knowing Donnie is there, is close...

As they continue to talk, Don is very careful about keeping voices too low for anyone or anything to hear them above the rumble of the rig they're in. Just enough for the sound to travel to each other. And he returns to his charade whenever a human might be looking.

"Good." Is so very soft when Haley said she didn't recognize the name Bishop. At least that's not who they were dealing with.

Because Bishop has a role to play in the future, and it probably wouldn't be good if Don had to kill him for this.

Don takes a moment to consider the names Haley had mentioned. They weren't familiar, other than he might have read something about a Wu with a genetics background, but it had been a blurb read several years ago, back during the-- "Oh... that definitely happened." Don commented softly of the mutant outbreak. Shell. Definitely Bishop-adjacent then. And probably got their hands on a lot of genetic material and mutagen as a result of that.

He can't help but smile at her laugh. If she's really been here for four years, then it's probably been awhile.

"My brothers and I actually came across several a few years ago... But they were in the employ of an ancient evil and we... dispersed them." Don didn't really think they had died, or at least not all of them. At least some had simply been forced 'elsewhere.' "They did need water to survive, but I don't think they had saras. At least not obvious ones." There had been a small section of their heads that might have been one.

There's another smile as Haley explains more about the Genio Innocuo.

"That sounds amazing. Thank you." Even if they never actually get to go, just knowing that there are beings out there sort of like them? Especially ones that aren't evil Kappa working for the ancient demon Shredder. It's incredible! And that Haley would vouch for him and his brothers. He appreciates it.

"No... a couple granola bars, a bottle of water and a tray of kitty litter in a tiny crate wouldn't be conducive to egg laying. One would think they'd know that."

Though now that they have him here... who knows what they have planned. Nope, that thought is forced out of his mind.

He shifts, curling around Malcolm, keeping the tot up against the wall between them and Haley and physically blocking the child from the view of the humans by curling up around him. Oh, the little guy is adorable as he settles in once more, and Don absolutely recognizes that smile and stretch!

Oh, he misses his brothers.

Don finds himself stifling a yawn as Malcolm settles and breathes softly once more. It's been a long day, though he's hesitant to let himself fall asleep despite that it's been a long day. And just like Shadow, this little guy is an alarmingly good sleep aid.

" Sorry about the mutagen outbreak, it wasn't that my brother and I didn't want to be more active in that and we did what we could... I swear .. but we had the dark dragons goons to handle before they tried necromancy to wake him." she shivers and they have thread bare blankets but it's still a bit cool in the metal crates, she considers, " the metal won't melt but it might warm up, would you like some warmth Donnie... How is our son?... What is it like to hold him?" a little desperate for some more insight on the one son close enough for her to actually hear, to scent, to see bits of...

After being deprived for so long.

And she is glad Donnie cannot see her blush as he talks on egg making. " last year they tried burmating me, you know putting me in a just cooler than room temp room to sleep thinking that will make me make eggs. Didn't work. Was sick for some time after. I think they do want more.... of our babies...." bluuuush cause the thought she and Donnie may be expected to do things...

...

Away from that!

Focus on if he needs some warmth, and talk about their son. And yawning a bit. Soon she would sleep hopefully with some more description of the little boy in her ears.

Don sort of shrugs off the concern about the outbreak.

"It was handled." There's something in his tone, but it's probably unclear exactly what it is. It could very well be just the cold.

"Though some of the genetic material left laying around seems to have made it into the wrong hands."

A slight smile as Haley explains what she and her brother had been doing during that time.

"Sounds like quite the story." Yes, he would like to hear it sometime. Definitely speaking a bit slower than he was earlier. Tired, probably cold.

Don is taking a moment to respond to the question about heat, and Malcolm.

"He's warmer than I am. At least a little. Which is... probably normal given how cold it is in here..." Absolutely guessing there, but Malcolm doesn't seem to be in distress at all. Just happily snuggling. It seems reasonable that a human dragon hybrid would be more endothermic than a mutant turtle is. Though Don keeps trying to tuck the pathetic, little blanket between them so Malcolm can retain his heat better. Don doesn't want the little guy colder than absolutely necessary. "He looks like a golden version of Mike. Snuggles up like him too."

Don and his brothers do have some capacity for creating their own heat, but it's mostly through movement and activity, which is not really an option at the moment. It won't hurt him long term, but he would definitely be lethargic until he warms up. Not terrible, but noticeable, and he finds it obnoxious. He has to be cold for longer than this trip is likely to last before he'll go into a true brumation state though.

"Ugh... I hate coming out of brumation... and going into it." It hasn't been an issue since they got reliable heat, but when they were young they did pass a few winters like that. And yes, he was frequently sick afterwards.

And they probably terrified Master Splinter the first time it happened. Splinter hasn't admitted to that. Though Don hasn't asked either.

Don half grunts at the statement that the humans will probably want more of their babies. He is not a fan of this situation. But he does agree.

"And considering they just 'lost' three of their four specimens... Yeah..."

Nope. Not looking forward to this situation at all. Yes, he was phrasing things like that to sort of separate and make the situation sound clinical and less real.  It's a coping mechanism.

Don actually doesn't know how he would act towards Haley in an altered mental state. Which he is sure they will try eventually. Assuming whatever they give him doesn't kill him...

But more pleasant things. Don goes back to describing Malcolm.

"He doesn't look very dragony, except for the color, he looks like a mutant turtle. Mike does claim he's the cute one, so Malcolm did get that."

Don will continue for a bit, at least until one of them falls asleep. He's not particularly worried about the consequences of falling asleep here. Whatever the humans are going to do will happen either way. They might as well rest if they need to.

But some heat, at least for a little while would definitely be appreciated. And he will continue his description, though much of it is probably more clinical than Haley might have expected. Numbers and shapes of scutes on Malcolm's shell, detailed descriptions of the boy's scales, teeth. Don did say he was an engineer, and it's showing. It is interspersed with an occasional almost chuckle when the little one shifts. How he moves and sprawls and snuggles in much like Mike does.

Don can't help but wonder if Malcolm misses his brothers as much as Don misses his. Probably. Maybe more. Don at least knows his brothers are probably safe. He knows where they probably are. Malcolms... probably seem like they just disappeared. Don snuggles the little guy through the blanket.

Haley smiles sadly, but she drops the outbreak thing entirely. Mostly because despite feeling bad they hadn't been able to help, there was definitely nothing she could do about it all now.

A soft rumble to his words it was handled and a bit of a hum and chuckle about the story about the dark dragon. " It is, and one that spans three of my families generations. If we are still on this annoying ride after a sleep I will tell you everything." She has nothing to hide from Donnie.

And well like he just grunted about and acknowledged that yes loosing three of the kids might push these captors of theirs to try making them 'breed' as soon as they can... she figures they might as well get to know each other very well... cause they probably were going to be close... maybe. There was the option of course the folks wont wnat to risk Donnie getting burnt by her, not that she would do that, and try things clinically.

She does appreciate the clinical tone about it though. Because the thought scared her a little. Both how it might go and what might be tried...

So his moving on to giving her as much about Malcolm as he could, even though he sounded tired and she was too, was nothing short of magical. She queiries about terms such as scutes and carapace. She does tell Donnie when he looks at teeth that if their sons have what looks like closed 'pockets' at that back of their mouths, coming from the upper jaw that they will be fire breathers in the future.

or coooould be, some dragons go various directions as venom spitters or ice breathers... though she explains that her grandfather, brother and herself are all firebreathers so its probably their sons will too.

She asks light questions about the number of his toes and fingers, what his little tail is like... and listens intently to answers, and during a longer description she gathers fire breath and breaths it on the adjoining wall carefully, angling with tongue to angle her flames, the vents at top let out her smoke and whilst a lot of her fire rebounds at her the point was to make the corners and edges hot. " Hope that helps a bit.' whispering a bit as she is falling asleep...

~

the corners and edge do glow dull on their side, dull but warm.

Malcolm is definitely a Mikey - any attention, even when in such sleep he sort of flops about, stretching or snuggling - is the best attention!

Right now he is safe and snuggled, after sleep and when hungry and needing the loo he might be very much looking for his brothers. Right now... he is content.

A low siiigh at the warmth from the meagre blankie. He does suck his thumb a bit after his mouth is looked in, the other hand on Donnie's plastron edge, small finger curl loose on the edge.

~

"Sounds like our Shredder." Don commented softly as Haley explained more of her dark dragon and promised the story later. He appreciated that. At least the hope of interaction as simple as a story later. And it's sort of an offer of a story in kind. If he gets the opportunity.

He is content to explain as much about Malcolm as he can, quietly.

It's cold though, and Don is wearing out. Haley will probably hear it in his tone. Happy to share, and watch the sleeping boy stretch and wiggle and snuggle, but definitely tired.

And oh, is that heat welcomed! It's an inviting warmth, and he curls around Malcolm near the wall, keeping the child warm, and maybe Haley can hear the little guy breathing at least during the night. As he warms, Don wraps the blanket around both of them. Doing what he can to hold onto the heat.

"Thank you." So quiet, barely there. He's mostly asleep before he speaks again, soft but urgent.

"Haley...? I'm... I have no tolerance for drugs, sedatives, stimulants, anything. If... they give me a dose of pretty much anything that would work for my brothers... my system overreacts. It might kill me." Maybe they wouldn't listen to her. But it didn't hurt to try. For someone, anyone here to know this about him. It might actually save his life.

"Try not to tell them I told you, but... whatever you think might help them at least use a smaller dose..." He doesn't think this group wants him dead. He's less useful that way.

He's too tired to do it now, but maybe when he wakes up he can try to reach out to Master Splinter or Leo... He doesn't say anything about it, just a thought.

Haley smiles, it is time to pass as much of this trip as they can sleeping. though she wants to time hours maybe make a guess as to where they are going. But they need rest. She breaths a bit more onto the wall between them.

Just a little. She doesn't want to potentially burn or hurt them.

" I'll puzzle over a way to tell them, they know I can talk and are smart... still doesn't stop them from treating me like a dog to be tamed." though with a whole lot of fireproofing knowing she comes with wings and flames and kung fu training. All of which she has tried to use to escape, fight her way out...

And yes after some sleep listening to them both breathing she will indeed think about it.

And there is some chatter and radio and... snoring beyond their crate, their captors were settling in for the ride too.

~

Malcolm snuuuuugggggles his little fingers tighen on Don's plastron edge briefly. and his shell clicks as Donnie sleep too.

whenever Donnie wakes he will find Malcolm has in sleep tried to help keep in that warmth on Donnie wings spread over him.

~

They are parked up somewhere, most of the men out stretching legs and getting food. One of Donnie's side of the crate is side up, the strong bars still in place but this is what wakes Malcolm, the breeze, the sights of a beach beyond their crate and long back van and men... he stays where he is though, a little scared of the sounds and sights and smells... his wings and legs and arms all spread over Donnie, oooooh he shifts his golden eyes from the open side to Donnie, shifting to look at his face, little tail wiggling in delight.

He doesn't see his brothers, and his little chirp, almost a cheetah cubs bark sound is not answered by them. And he is not happy about that! but he iiiiis delighted at this big friendly one of them being right here! still holding him!

Wait what was that? a curious glance to the warm wall where a soft rumble answered his chirp.

~

She is not ready to wake, and none of the walls of her side of the crate were open. But she more felt than heard the chirp, not quiet awake. But a morning rumble in any case.

There is another annoyed grunt at the information that Haley is treated like a dog to be tamed. He's not surprised by this, and it's really all the more reason to behave on the level of a well behaved pet.

Okay, maybe a well behaved... cat. Yup.

"Thank you." Is soft. Hoping against hope that they believe her and she can convince them to reduce any dosages.

Heck, if she seems to care for him maybe it will encourage them to just leave them alone in the same space and hope they'll breed on their own.

It won't happen without other factors, but it might at least encourage these humans to try it. It would at least buy time for them to try to escape or for his brothers to find them.

Don snuggles in with the snuggly little tot. He isn't surprised by this. Mike is at least this snuggly! He's pretty used to it by now. And at least Malcolm isn't as heavy as Mike is! Don is sleeping when the little boy's shell clicks. Don's not Leo, but he is ninja, and he peeks one eye open at the sound.

"Whoooaaaa... He has wings under his shell." He mutters softly for Haley. If she responds, he gives her a brief description of the patterns on the boy's wings. They're beautiful...

And Don drops off to sleep once more. Warm for now, and resting peacefully.

~~~

The truck pulling off the freeway and finding a place to stop draws Don out of sleep again. He was about to nod off once more when the side of the truck is opened up, at least letting some fresh air in.

It's welcomed. The smell of the kitty litter was starting to get to him. Speaking of...

Don pauses for a moment at that sound that Malcolm made. He snuggles the boy and gives him a moment of attention, making sure the little guy knows Don is here, and that he's... well... as safe as he can be here.

Don then puts Malcolm down, wrapped in the blanket against Haley's wall. He makes a soft clicking sound. A sort of 'stay' command, and motions for Malcolm to stay in the blanket as well.

Don then moves closer to the opened panel of the door. Closer to the scientists.

Closer to the box of kitty litter. If they're going to treat him like a pet cat, he will show them pet cat. He makes a bit of a show of gagging on the smell. It's not hard... he reacts to most of Klunk's litters. This is definitely one of the cheaper, dusty ones. He coughs once. He looks directly at the scientists.

And starts to push the box OUT of the cage. He nudges it closer to the edge, and looks directly at his captors. Then nudges the box farther.

A sad sleeping smile, she will try.

She cannot promise her word will be taken seriously... but maybe if they play act out being good little captives... to an extent she will be at least heard and the information taken on with some consideration.

there is a surprised huff as Donnie tells her about the wings... Describing them to her barely breathed out wondering 'seriously?' and she falls deeper asleep with the descriptions of their sons wings. she doesn't get out the thought that was meant to be whispered to Donnie that it was strange their son didn't go through a transformation for them to be there... just where there... like he was more dragon than even her!

But she was deep under a sleep fog soothed and lulled by Donnie's descriptive soft voicing of the wings.

~

And she doesn't get a chance to in the morning! her side was even more blocked off from Donnie, the small slats closed after the little guy heard her rumble with a clatter and she is left wondering at the sounds beyond the wall and the grumbles of a man.

Though the muffled giggles of Malcolm is so very cute!

~

Malcolm is happy with the snuggling, the hugg, the closeness and tries to for a moment, blanket and all crawl back into Donnie's arms and lap. The sound to make him stay does work, and he will snuggle down in the blanket against the wall watching Donnie, leaning a bit curious as to what he is doing...

then giggles as there is a grunt and grumble from one of the guys on guard and he grabs the other side of the kitty litter to push it back in! " oh hey hey don't do that! got a looong way to go yet dude!" in a tone that suggests yeah he is trying to scold a cat.

Otherguy is the one Donnie has stared at before, he turns to watch and study the two in the cage as the weird opposite tug of war happens...

Don doesn't actually know enough about dragons in general or shifters in particular to realize that there might be something curious about Malcolm not having to shift. At least not from reliable sources. He hasn't had those since his time with the Ninja Tribunal, and to say his days were full at the time is probably something of an understatement. He had learned a lot about dragons, but nothing about shifters or their genetics really. Other than enough passing comments in the texts for him to know they don't really play by "normal" rules.

~~~

Don is grateful that Malcolm stays as requested, and he really enjoys the little giggle! Also very familiar!

As for the litter box...

Don could easily overpower this guy, but chooses not to. There is a bit of a battle, and Don plays it up a bit. Some of it is for Malcolm's enjoyment, some is to be convincing for his captors. He finally grunts a frustrated sound and sits back, letting the guy push the box back in. Frustrated clicking and a whistle!

Don glowers at the box, coughs once then looks at his captors for a moment. Next he sits a short distance away as though he has given up on removing the box and is enjoying the fresh air. With other witnesses at the moment, he is not staring and studying the one he picked out earlier. That is only for when the guy is alone.

When the guy starts to move away again, without warning or hesitation, Don shoves the box out of the cage.

Malcolm is a giggly mess, and crawls closer to Donnie when he sits back. Mimicking the clicks and whistles...

Then -

The man lunged trying to catch the kitty litter tray but it fell and exploded all over his face! and down his front -

Malcolm collasped in helpless giggling at that - onto his little plastron, howling in laughter that is definitly the manic chip of the ol' block that Mikey does - that little tail is waggling away madly and he has never laughed like this! ever!

Never had reason to!

Even the other guys around the one now covered in cat litter are laughing!

~

Haley shifts, trying to hear more of those giggles!

Oh... he will have to watch what he says in his little clicking code... He heard Malcolm do a pretty good job of repeating his not so nice words directed toward the guy trying to keep the litter box in the cage!

Don manages not to laugh at the kitty littler coated creep. Though he is thrilled to hear the laughter of the tot behind him! And amused to hear it from some of the other captors too!

More clicking and whistling. This is more of an [And Keep it Out! It stinks!] than anything else. He then brushes remnants of kitty litter that had fallen on the floor of the cage from their little weird push-o-war out onto the captor currently on the ground and coated in the result of his little bit of disobedience!

Once content that the vast majority of the litter is out of the cage, he goes back to the wall with Malcolm, and snuggles back up with the little guy!

One that had been studying Donnie and was a taaad, so far just a taaaaad creeped out by it, but at the moment making notes on the rather cat like deviousness and behaviour, and trying to get the sounds on recording!

Whilst he laughed with the other guys. LitterGuy is a bit stunned to do more than glare at his fellows and swear under his breath, duck a bit as the last bits of the litter come out.

Malcolm is still hooting with laughter when Donnie comes back to him! He makes eager little rrrr rrrr sounds in his throat to be snuggled! It happens! And he is churrs awake and bright eyed! If too thin for a tot and does have track marks old and new on his arms and legs, between toes., he nuzzles Donnie's, snout to snout! Little hungry bark sounds. Tail stiffening as that other need comes alive!

One fellow is tossing fresh fruit and more muesli and more water into the boxes, opening Haley's for a moment to do the same but leaving slats between them closed.

Donnie does not feel even a little bit sorry for LitterGuy. Which will henceforth be what he refers to that guy as. He had noted the way that they're being observed, but he doesn't let on that he noticed it. He has been trained to observe without letting others know he is doing so.

Except when Muzzle is alone. Then Don will obviously observe him. Since there are witnesses, it is definitely observation without appearing to do so.

While Don would have noticed the track marks all over Malcolm last night when he was describing the tot for Haley, he did not dwell on them at the time. Haley has been here long enough to know how this place works. He would have mentioned them briefly, but that would have been the end of it.

When the food is tossed into the cage, Don moves it closer to the little nest he and Malcolm have been snuggled up in. If their 'caretakers' wish to punish them for his next stunt by taking the food away, they're going to have to come all the way into the cage to get it.

Malcolm clearly has to pee. Don doesn't yet. He is still a little dehydrated from last night. He had been pretty active prior to being captured, and he had given his water to Malcolm. Don can wait awhile longer.

But the tot clearly cannot! And Don makes a soft noise and a gesture that might almost be a shrug, then guides Malcolm over to where the remains of the litter box are laying outside the cage. He demonstrates only if need be.

Definitely aiming for the litter, but it might be wise for LitterGuy to move it before he becomes PissGuy.

Haley tries to hear more and make sense of the muffled garbled sounds from her side. Seeking a bit of assurance from the other side tapping her claws on the wall, but is patient in waiting for anything in reply, because she accepts for now it sounds busy on the otherside.

~

Malcolm is all but wriggle hopping on the spot, and definitely will need demonstration as he does move a little closer to the open bar side, blinks at the guy standing up and dusting off the litter without realising a hosing is incoming.

Little guy has all his turtley self hanging out and pretty much ready to fire hose - but unless shown specifically where to aim he is for the moment dangling towards the cage floor.

Muzzle has become distracted like the others snorting and sniggering at LitterBoy's continued grumbling and swearing. Because they have all seen at one point of another the little boys answer natures call and had all the notes on that process.

Malcolm meanwhile is doing what toddlers do as his need is almost at the point it was all he took note of, looking down at himself waiting for something to happen and entirely pointed int he wrong direction.

(lol)

Don heard the claw clicks on the wall, and repeats the rhythm with the same clicks he used to tell off the guards. A subtle response to Haley. He can't tell her what's going on yet, but he can let her know they're still nearby and not in imminent distress.

Demonstration it is then... whelp... fine. Not his favorite idea, but... it probably won't be the last time they watch him when he would prefer they didn't.

Don will hit either outside, or the litter, or some combination thereof, but he will miss LitterBoy.

He also sees what is about to happen with Malcolm, and makes sure to aim the tot in the proper direction! While Don actually does position Malcolm so he hits the litter on the ground too, the child probably has less control over errant spray.

Haley might have missed the clicks if she had not of heard them from donnie before, or at least not been sure what they meant.

But she does vaguely hear them through the shuttered slating between their cages and sighs in some relief, at least, as sad as she felt to think it, with Donnie here, the one son here they had had him close and was cared for.

And she doesn't know it but also being shown how to properly toilet for the first time.

~

And Malcolm is thoroughly intriqued by the whole ordeal!

staring - perhaps as much as the men around them. Most joking to LitterBoy he was gonna get hosed if he didn't move. And of course there were the crude jokes about the hungness of an adult sized mutant male turtle - none of which they bothered to sensor around Malcolm and his little ear holes, not that he was paying much attention thankfully to the moment, watching with great interest and dangling out in the open himself.

there was sniggering when Muzzle sighed about finding a large enough flesh light.

But he at least is more clinically studying not just shoving or making very loud jokes.

And there was a few grunts and orders to be quiet after a few moments to stop drawing attention and finish their break to get back on the road and jabs about teases among each other.

Donnie was juuust time time to make sure Malcolm was pointed right cause little guy let loose, nowhere near as impressively as his dad but the fool LitterBoy, confident he had dodge Donnie was in prime position and does get - to his howl of disgust and his fellows bellowing Laughters, his pants leg on the left and shoe soaked with little turtle piddle.

Malcolm doesn't care, he is much to relieve to note the disgust, and or the glare from the moan looking for his prod to give Malcolm a 'lesson' forgetting for a moment Donnie is right there! " lil turd just pissed on me!"

Muzzle is interested to see if the prod would make contact with the child, sometimes toddlers blue or red would get in the way of such punishements meant for their purple or gold brothers. And given how the larger mutant has been with the boy he is expecting something similar.

Don does a fair job of focusing on Malcolm and ignoring the laughing and carrying on of his captors. Little guy is adorable...

There is also the added bonus, of helping keep Malcolm's attention on him and not the humans' chatter. His brothers probably would have responded somehow, but Don is careful to ignore them.

While there is a modicum of respect for Muzzle maintaining a more clinical air, Don will still take pleasure in messing with his head. Because the guy is still a monster.

As soon as Malcolm is finished, Don is quick to move the little guy away from PissBoy as the prod is found. He tucks the child behind him, and makes space.

Watching the prod warily, and as though he doesn't know exactly what it is despite the fact that he absolutely does. At the attempt to prod Malcolm, Don is very much in the way, and growls in response to the zap.

It's not bad. He has definitely had far worse. An unfortunate side effect of his hobbies...

But Don reacts as though it had been more painful than it was. With the lightning speed of a ninja, he snatches the prod out of the man's hands. He pulls it so the wrist-strap forces his attacker up against the bars hard enough to smart, but no real damage done. It's actually barely hard enough to bruise, but PissBoy's arm is fully inside the enclosure.

He could rip the man's arm off right now. At least dislocate the shoulder. Easily. A light warning growl. Don holds the man in place for only a fraction of a moment that probably seems forever to PissBoy. It's just long enough for the guy to know that Don could destroy his arm if he wanted to, right now. Before his friends have time to react. They have trapped a very strong creature, and angering it while engaging in stupidity like threatening its baby is a good way to earn oneself a Darwin award.

A warning growl. The other humans might punish Don afterwards, but PissBoy's arm would already be irreparably damaged if Don chose to do so. If they wondered what some of the protective noises Randal and Liam made would one day become, this is probably similar. The whole encounter lasts barely more than a split second, though it likely feels longer.

Instead of actually hurting the guy, Don backs off before help can even react. He is clearly letting the fool go. But before fully releasing the man, he snaps the prod clean in two.

Then politely, and gently returns it to the man and retreats to the back of the cage with Malcolm.

He doesn't want to cause trouble, but he will NOT let them hurt the baby they gave him either.

Lots of unnecessary dick jokes and ragging on each other for no one being as well endowed as a 'monster' and the usual locker room talk...

Until the wetting on PissBoy's pants...

Muzzle had been more clinical then his fellows noting the size and shape and anything else he figured he needed to and may have been amused but didn't partake in the chatter other than to note it might be kinder to the dragoness to try artificially pairing for more babies to replace the lost ones, or maybe more kind to the turtle as the dragoness was usually pretty violent with all but their newest interns and or lowly staff like cleaners.

He is muttering as he makes notes and snorts, laughs with others when previously known as LitterBoy is peed on! And is pretty sure no one noticed he notes down reading out as he writes and puzzles, " Newly dubbed Olive makes me wonder if the young give off a scent or sound or something only some get caught up in to make them protect them? Our short time captive mermaid had resumed her human shape to come to their defense her first night at the Rescue facility, ruining our punishments for disobedience during a sample gathering. She had gathered them, soother them and placed them together. And now Olive, a male mutated... turtle or a actual living Kappa... Whom I though would be like most of his kind and have no interest in the child has actively parented the boy since we have it to him. Malcolm has been less mimicking human sounds and making other sounds so I suspect it's a sound. Of which the mermaid used sounds defensively and in attack whilst with us.. and gently with them."

Writing and ignoring for a moment PissBoy reaching for his prod. But not 'Olive' placing the relieved sounding little one out of reach, and taking the zapp meant for him.

There was a rush of panic but Muzzle held up his hand with the scribbling pencil, " no we could make it worse by trying to get in the way and if we make noise we will attract attention we don't want... Shhhhh."

Someone tried to be out of Olives reach but covered PissBoys cursing shouting self... Man was shocked by the strength of Olive, used to the little ones defence of each other but not having expected this! His cry of surprise was covered and he is panicked - Olive would feel the pulse race and scent the rush of adrenaline... The fear... But still the man would not be able to pull free even with the help of the one covering his mouth.

They have a long wheel base van - indistinct and non descript so they do not want to attract the wrong eyes!

Muzzle is noting the way Olive could have used violence, but hadn't yet.

Seemed this was more a warning and he is back to writing down, still talking out loud about the ease with which after letting go and making the tugged men topple back hah! That the big turtles broke the prod.

Malcolm, like whenever his brothers intervened for him, or anyone of them, stayed under and behind... But hissed and puffed himself up tail out! For a moment he had not noticed what was going on, giggling, rubbing against Donnie's shell, a much relieved - a short alarm almost whistle at Donnie's pained reaction to the shock - when Donnie held the hoooman Malcolm scurried to the blankets and buried himself in the pile, his entire lower end stuck out but his head covered!

Only peeeeking out when he feels Donnie move and seeing him coming threw off the blanket with a happy sound and immediately tried to climb into those big arms! Into his lap! Clumsily!

Unlike the human the screech roar from the other cage only made him chirp and glance that way. Not understanding the sounds might have alarmed his mother on the other side and she was once more as she had for years now was trying to find a weakness, to get free and protect them.

Muzzle noting it all down kicking the broken prod at another to scoop up. " well... Like the mermaid I think we will need signs, we can't have anyone getting too hurt..." absently rubbing the long slashes down his arm.

The others are less cool about it but there is more teasing and they are trying to appear like they are just a sports group of old buds and fooling around to not attract any undue eyes.

Some nuts and dried jerky meat chunks were added to the cage. The dragoness could wait until she stops making noises!

Their packing to get on the road... Though sending PissBoy to go get cleaned up - and his new nick name might be BrownPants now...

Malcolm pays them no mind loving on Donnie eagerly little tail, doodle thankfully all tucked away! Wagging madly! eager to play, he doesn't recognise the fruits rolling around them or any of the rest of the food... As food.

But he does recall water! Pointing at one of the new bottles sent rolling into their cage.

There is definitely an eye roll worthy moment during the locker room banter, but Don mostly tones it down.

While Muzzle is taking his notes, Don is paying attention to what he's using. It's old school, actual pad and paper. Interesting. He makes a mental note of this, even though most of his attention is on Malcolm.

He hasn't actually met the mermaid the guy is talking about but Don is glad to hear a bit about the encounter. Haley had mentioned it, but he had a little more information now. Don was glad his brothers had gotten her out.

Don hadn't anticipated the drive to end this man that he felt. Malcolm's sounds, the screech from Haley... they're both powerful and feed that desire. He controlled it, but there is a glare sent toward the man holding PissBoy's mouth. Don could rip off PissBoy's arm and reach through the bars and get the second man too. End him the same way. He could. But he doesn't.

He leaves the men with a growl and a warning. No. Touching. The. Kid.

When he snaps the prod in two, a small, flat-ish piece of metal is hidden in his hand as he returns the pieces and moves to Malcolm's "hiding" spot.

The little guy's backside sticking out of the covers is adorable. Don can't help but smile, almost chuckling. He repeats the series of clicks that Haley tapped out on the shared wall. All is well. It probably seems intended to comfort Malcolm, but that in particular is meant for Haley. He switches to a churr as he reaches for the partially covered little one. He uses the moment he's snuggling Malcolm to rearrange blankets and secretly tuck away his small scrap of metal into the nest. It's far enough into the corner that Malcolm is unlikely to cut himself on it.

The churr stops, and Don watches the humans warily as they put the food and water in the cage. He makes no move toward them, but he does shift so he is between them and Malcolm. Making his intent to protect the child as clear as possible. But since they leave the kid alone, there is no problem here. And Don goes back to snuggling the little boy.

He churrs again, a light affirmative for Malcolm spotting the water. Yes, he'll get it for them, as soon as the humans pack up and close the doors, leaving them alone again.

Only once their captors have finished packing up and closed them back into the van alone will Don approach the food and water. There are limits to what he might be able to smell, especially with the other scents of the food, but he will check it out as best he can before eating  any or offering it to Malcolm. He can't imagine the humans would want to hurt them at this point, after going through all this trouble, but he checks all the same. In part to create the habit for as long as he's here.

Poor kid doesn't even seem to recognize what it is...

Haley doesn't know what has happened, but Donnie's clicks help her calm down, her frantic scratching and tail thumps fade, then she is calm listening with dragon ears trying to pick up what she couldn't with human hearing alone. Though with how her side of the crate is especially design to keep her flames in  sounds were as muffled when they have the vents closed like this.

~

Whilst on the other side Muzzle is quietly berating the others as they pack up themselves. Ordering Pissboy and Muffler to go clean up, they had five minutes. The rest climbed into the front and passenger bench seats of the long wheel base van, Muzzle holding a meeting once the sent away pair had taken care of themselves about how they would approach the captives whilst travelling. Especially regards any attempts to touch the little one.

Muzzles notes were all on paper. An intern would put it all digital but for now it's a thick stack of notes, most of them at the moment about the mermaid and the latest what he had just started observing about Donnie. Though he has labelled Donnie Project Olive as in his skin color.

Malcolm is entirely ignoring the humans, soft happy play clicks and nuzzling into those cuddles, never in his young life had he so much of it aside from his brothers so he is thoroughly Mike style absorbing the snuggling!

And also like a Mike fascinated by what Donnie is doing in sniffing the food watching closely and interest, yep their food before this had been some  and muesli bars so this was all odd. Except maybe banana and apples that they had on occassion plus basic salads and reptile pellets. The oranges, mandarins, whole avocados and jerky meat stripes plus the water. He leans up to try imitating Donnie, sniffing at food bits, maybe drooling a little!

Unfortunately, Haley will have to wait until they're back on the road. Don doesn't have any way to communicate to her while the humans are still staring at them. He's not ready to speak while they're around yet.

He will gladly explain later. He's pretty sure she'll enjoy the story.

Don rather appreciates the meeting happening as PissBoy and Muffle go clean up. For starters, Don now knows what they will try. And secondly, Muzzle is the only one facing Don during the meeting. A rather perfect opportunity to stare at the guy.

If anyone else turns to look, Don is focusing on Malcolm.

The notes could prove interesting. Especially if they are ever left unattended nearby.

It is only after the meeting has concluded and the humans have loaded the van again that Don approaches the food. It seeeeems okay. And actually pretty decent, healthy food.

He does  check the water before he offers it to Malcolm first while he checks the rest of the food. Once content it's okay, Don shares the offering with the child. Anything that Malcolm hesitates over, Don will try first, and show Malcolm that it's food. With as much as the sweet, snuggly boy reminds him of Mike, Don's sure it won't take much.  Oh, the little guy is adorable!

And now, Don has avocado pits to add to his little piece of metal. They are carefully hidden.  Only once they're safely on the road again will Don attempt to speak to Haley. He has quite the little story for her.