Thirty-First Theory [Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[The last thing they remember, they were warm in bed with their other brothers. Now they are two, and for reasons beyond their comprehension they are waking up in a snowbank.

The sun is bright, the snow is wet, and the frigid air seeps into their bones.]

Raphie, I'm - I'm cold.

C-c’mon, Donnie. [He latches onto his brother’s hand and starts pulling him out of the snow.] We n-need a better hidin’ spot.

Okay.

[The two tiny Turtles climb out of the hollow in the deep snow and, huddled against one another, strike out in search of shelter.]

((Five-ish-year-old Turtles, no conscious memories of Luceti. Replies will come from tinytechturtle and saidontmatter. April will threadjack eventually to take her little guys home, but initial rescuing is open to any kind soul who doesn't want to see a pair of young reptiles freeze to death. Have at, kind souls of Luceti.))

Comments

[saidontmatter.livejournal.com]

[His eyes widen, a little sparkle of awe mixing with the fear. He remembers babies. Babies like the little pink rat babies he found under that old newspaper in the sewers, all blind and squeaky with little feet. He liked babies. He tried to take them home in secret and Splinter got mad at him. By the time he found out about it, the babies weren't wiggly and squeaky anymore, and he'd felt miserable.

He remembers this lesson. His expression turns grave, and he whispers grimly:]

'S gonna die.

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[And so are Donnie and Raphie, if they don't get someplace warmer really soon. Even as scared as he is, Donnie can't fight off the cold anymore. It seeps through him, and he begins to sink back into the snow.]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Raphie sits down in the snow next to his brother and huddles close to him under what little warmth the coat provides, his movements slow and eyelids sagging.]

Th-the babies w-were my f-f-friends.

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[The warmth of the coat isn't enough to prevent him from falling asleep.]

I'm tired, Raphie... maybe we'll wake up back at home...

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

[saidontmatter.livejournal.com]

[He watches her pick up the funny book through droopy eyes, leaning his head against Donnie's shoulder and sluggishly rubbing his beak with one hand.

Master Splinter was right. Topside was bad. Very bad.]

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[Out for the count. He'll be conscious again later.]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

April; April, are you there?

Hiatus? What hiatus?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April is surprised to hear Winry's voice calling her over the journals.]

Um....yes?

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

The guys are here, as kids in the snow. I... I can't carry them back myself. Can you help me?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April's got a bad head cold. And she only catches part of that message. The guys are kidding around in the snow?]

They know better than that! How am I supposed to help carry over three hundred pounds of turtle?

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

No! They're small - kids. Just please hurry up, I think they might be dying!

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[Well THAT gets her attention!]

DYING?! WHERE ARE YOU????

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

I'M-

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[Oh Winry. Pregnant women never get cold. They're like nuclear reactors.

April signs off as soon as she understands where they are and gets there in a big hurry. Also, she's dressed like she's about to explore Antarctica.]

Oh my GOD. They're...they're TINY CHILDREN.

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

I'd carry them by myself, but I can only hold one.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[And this is when April NOTICES OMG WINRY'S PREGNANT BUT MAYBE WINRY'S NOT PREGNANT MAYBE SHE JUST PUT ON WEIGHT DO I SAY ANYTHING DO I NOT SAY ANYTHING SHE'S JUST A KID OH MY GOD SHE'S TOO YOUNG TO HAVE A]

Baby?

[....Yup, that could not possibly have been handled any better, April.]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm pregnant.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Ha ha ha ha ha. Yes! Pregnant! I meant, uh, congratulations.

[April stoops and lifts Donatello gently, tenderly, and cradles him under her coat.] This is so......weird.

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

It's definitely an experiment, but... I don't know, it seems to be all over the place this time. It is weird.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April gives her a very significant, long, penetrating glance before answering.]

Yeah. All over the place. Look, Don explained to me what happens when they get too cold: they sort of go to sleep. We need to get them warm.

[She corrects herself:] We need to get the air AROUND them warm.

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

...Would a warm bath work? Or will it send them into some kind of shock?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April adjusts her hold on Donatello so that he's nestled quite comfortably against her chest.]

Donnie's exact words were "gradually warm the air around us." I think we should stick to that if we can. Although maybe if we DID run a warm bath and get the bathroom all hot and steamy, it would help.

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan. Are you guys still staying at house 55?