"So...Donnie?" Destiny asks.

The purple-masked brother sits at the table across from the wolf girl, sketching out some sort of algorithm. His little pink tongue is poking out the side of his mouth, making her smile a little. She had come in here on the basis of getting some questions answered, yet she can see that the turtle's attention is divided at best.

Donatello doesn't look up from his current project. "Yes, Destiny?"

She exhales through her nose, lips pursing as she rests her elbows on the table. "Can you tell me what the Foot is?" His pencil stops mid-stroke as his face grows wary. She continues, "I heard you guys say something about beating up the Foot when I first got here, so..." She exhales and makes her lips motorboat. "I've been silent about it, but I need to know."

He sighs, finally looking up at her as he places the writing utensil down. "Well...I guess you deserve to know, since they tried to hunt you down and all."

"Hunt me down?" she echoes, eyes widening. "What—"

He holds up his hand, silencing her. "Basically, the Foot Clan is a group of ninjas," he starts. "They're...ruled over, you could say, by a man known as the Shredder. Who is Shredder exactly? To be brief, he is a ninjutsu master who is determined to destroy Master Splinter, me, my brothers, and then he wants to rule the world. Honestly, he's rather psychotic." Although he says it with an air of confidence, fear flashes deep within Donatello's russet eyes. "The robotic ninjas that attacked you are called Foot bots, which means Shredder probably sent them after you."

A shiver crawls up her spine at the thought. "That's...lovely," she squeaks.

He frowns and shakes his head. "It's the exact opposite. It's amazing my family has lived this long with him around."

She looks away, suddenly feeling far more cautious. "So...he attacked me just because?" Her jaw shifts. "The white-haired guy that shot me didn't look like a ninjutsu master."

Donatello arches an eye-ridge. Something flashes in his dark eyes. "White-haired guy?"

"Yeah, a guy in a cloak with pink eyes. He was the one leading the bots on that night," she says. "Do, uh...do you know him?"

The turtle purses his lips, his fingers starting to tap against the table. "Unfortunately, yes. We haven't interacted with him much, but we know enough. He hardly ever leaves Foot Clan HQ and when he does, he stays at a distance and uses his bow and arrows," he says. "His name is Diaval and he's a young guy, probably only...twenty or so?"

"Oh..." Destiny mumbles.

The turtle leans forwards, clasping his hands together on the tabletop as a serious air blankets him. "Des, I have to know, did the bots aim to harm you or did they try to capture you?"

She shifts in place, frowning. "I suppose...capture? It was like they were trying to overwhelm me instead of kill me."

Donatello sighs heavily, shaking his head. "So Shredder wants to recruit you. Shell..."

"Why would he want to do that?" she asks, another tremor shooting up her back.

"My best hypothesis is that he finds your abilities useful," he says, lifting one hand to rub at his chin.

She scratches at her head, lips still tugged into a frown. "Abilities? Like what?"

"The fact that you can change forms. No mutant that we've ever met has been able to do that, much less turn into a giant, powerful wolf."

She swallows, her claws unsheathing. She looks to them, brushing them off and pretending to look completely enraptured by them just so she doesn't have to meet Donatello's eyes.

"I don't even want to know how he plans to get me on his side," she whispers, her tail curling around her ankles as she says it.

There isn't a direct reply. She hears Donatello's footsteps make their way towards her after a moment. A hand touches her good shoulder, making her reluctantly lift her head to face him.

"Don't worry, Des. Nothing is going to happen to you," he says, adding gentle pressure with his hand as he says it.

She inhales and exhales slowly. "I trust you."

He smiles.

---------

Later that night, everyone is fast asleep except for Destiny.

She's feeling antsy, laying on her back as she stares at the ceiling. She's spent about a week inside the lair, with Michelangelo doing one training session per day with her. While he isn't the best teacher—what with getting distracted easily and such—she does feel like she's improving. Her options are limited because of her injury, but nevertheless, she does what she can.

She crawls from her bed, which is still located in the guest room, and snatches her backpack from the spare chair. Digging around, her hand clasps around her pocketknife. Having extra protection is never a bad thing.

She hurries to the door and pushes it open. She pokes her head out, listening for anyone else who may be up. Not finding anything, she slips out and steals off down the hallway, passing the turtles' rooms as she goes. She reaches the living room, continuing across the quiet lair floor.

She reaches the turnstiles at the exit to the lair, slowing to a stop as she looks down the dark sewer tunnels. She starts to sniff for the correct way out. Still, even as she figures out the right path, she doesn't move quite yet. Everything Donatello told her about Shredder and the Foot Clan rings in her fluffy ears, yet that mild fear of the man she's never met only slows her steps slightly.

She's being completely reckless right now, she knows that, but she can't stay down here much longer. Sure, it's been alright, but she's the kind of girl that needs to feel the moonlight on her skin every now and then. Spending a week surrounded by teenage boys, pizza, and video games only makes her want to get outside even more.

She takes a deep breath, flicking her dark tail as she straightens up. Before she can take another step, a voice rings out from behind her.

"You shouldn't be going out yet."

She spins around, pupils dilating and claws unsheathing. Leonardo stands a little ways away from her, arms hanging loosely at his sides and expression tired.

Destiny lets out a long breath. "Leo, you need to stop doing that," she says.

The eldest turtle leaps over the turnstiles easily, joining her at her side. "What if the Foot attack you again?" he asks, his eyes narrowed.

"That was a one time thing," she retorts, although the words sound like a lie.

"Don't be cocky, Des," he scolds, pouting his lip out slightly. "If Shredder is trying to recruit you, it won't end well."

Destiny's mind travels to the conversation she had with Donatello earlier, but she chooses to keep her mouth shut when it comes to the matter. "Okay, and I'm perfectly capable of surviving out there by myself," she defends, crossing her arms.

He frowns. "Are you perfectly capable of fighting off Foot robots?" he asks. "Because it didn't look like it a few nights ago. You hardly escaped with your life, and that was with a small platoon."

"That was different."

"Of course. Back then, you didn't have a screwed up ankle."

Anger flares in her chest as she grits her teeth. "I'm the same age as you, Leo. Don't treat me like a child," she snaps. "I'm not helpless. I'm going up there, and I don't care if my foot aches a little either."

His face softens just slightly. "What if—"

"There are a lot of what if's. I don't want them to hold me back."

He sighs, his gaze falling to the floor. "I could stop you...but I know what it feels like to be stuck down here." He looks back up, meeting her eyes. "Go. Be safe."

"For the last—" she starts, but then she realizes what he said and that makes her stop. He's letting her go.

She composes herself, trying not to look as shocked as she feels. Leonardo doesn't drop his sapphire eyes from her, the authority in them making her internally squirm. She takes another deep breath.

"Thanks Leo. I'll see you soon," she says.

With that, she takes off down the tunnel with the leader in blue watching her leave.

-----------

The night air feels so good, even if it stinks of pollution and garbage. All that matters to Destiny is that it's outside. She can see the moon and the few stars that aren't blocked out, and that alone makes her feel so much better.

There's nothing on her mind that can distract her, meaning she can focus on trying out the skills that Michelangelo has been teaching her over the past week. Aching foot be damned.

She takes a deep breath, placing one foot in front of her. She smiles and take off across the rooftop, reaching the gap between the buildings swiftly. She leaps, her powerful legs sending her zooming into the air. She sticks the landing and keeps running, letting out a howl of joy. Even her sprained foot can't hold her back now. She's free again.

Her pace doesn't slow, leaping and twisting and jumping as if she's growing wings. She can't help but laugh, her ears perked and her tail wagging. It's been too long since she's done this.

Eventually, she does slow to a stop in order to catch her breath. She tilts her head up at the moon as she lets her body relax. A wave of nostalgia crashes over her, making her heart ache with memories of how simple her life seemed to be before she met the turtles. Still, she believes that all things happen for a reason. What that reason is, she does not yet know.

Just as she's about to keep going, she catches a glimpse of something shining out of the corner of her eye. She shifts her gaze to the nearest billboard, taking in the spot where she saw it. Her mind snaps to the first viable solutions; trash, piping, or armour.

She tilts her nose to the sky and inhales, shutting her eyes as she catches the scent of metal and faint sakura blossom perfume. Her eyes snap open, breath hitching as her pupils dilate. Someone is watching her.

"You gonna come out or keep hiding?" she calls. Goodness, I must be feeling gutsy today.

A girl who looks about her age steps out of the shadows, leaning against the board. She's very beautiful, red and black eyeliner accenting her smouldering caramel-coloured eyes and her ruby red lips tilted upwards in a smirk. The hair cut close to the back of her head is blonde whilst the rest of it is black, a few longer strands hanging down by her high cheekbones.

"Hello mutant," she says, running her thumb across her tantō blade.

Destiny extends her claws, settling herself in a defensive position. "Have we met?" she asks.

"Not directly," she answers. "You don't know me, but I know a lot about you, Destiny," she adds in, making the wolf mutant bare her teeth. A look of amusement flickers across her face. "I'm Karai."

Destiny's animalistic green eyes narrow, but she doesn't speak. Karai spins her tantō in her hand before sheathing it behind her back. She leans her weight onto one leg, lifting a hand to her lips and letting out a short whistle.

There's the rushing sound of air behind Destiny that makes her turn around. A hooded figure alights on the ground a few feet away from her, a bow in his hand and a quiver of arrows hanging over his shoulder. The light catches his ear and it glints silver.

"You," Destiny growls.

The white-haired boy says nothing, his expression that of bored neutrality. Karai rests one hand against the billboard, glancing at it with casual grace.

"I believe you've met Diaval," she says. Destiny's hand flies to her bandaged shoulder for a moment. "Say hello, Di."

The boy clenches his jaw, making his spiked tooth brush against his lip. "Hello Destiny," he nearly mutters.

Destiny looks back to Karai. "So you're the mastermind behind this?" she asks, malice in her tone.

Karai laughs. "No, no, we're simply following the orders that the Shredder has given us."

If Destiny had been in her wolf form, her hackles would've risen. She feigns confidence, refusing to slump her posture or tuck her tail between her legs. She lifts her jaw, cold defiance in her eyes.

"You know, he's asked us to bring you to him, one way or another," Karai continues as she jumps down from her ledge, stepping closer to Destiny as she places a hand on her hip. "Diaval was supposed to reach you before the turtles did."

Diaval stirs in place, one pale hand clenching at his side. "Wasn't prepared for the wolf..." he says, pink eyes glaring straight at Karai.

"You failed in your mission, that's what father cares about," she snaps in his direction, making him flinch. Her brown eyes fasten on Destiny again. "Look, we don't have to fight. We've got a proposal for you."

The wolf mutant softens in surprise, blinking a few times as her lips part. "Proposal?"

"Shredder has found your abilities useful," Karai says. "We want you to join the Foot Clan. We'll train you to be an actual kunoichi, you'll have a home, protection..."

As she speaks, Destiny feels a small tug at the back of her brain. An image flashes before her eyes.

She's seated in a dojo that's decorated with lights and incense candles. People are scattered around the place, laughing and talking, and Destiny feels warmth surge through her. A woman walks by, stopping to hand Destiny a small plate of snacks and a cup. She ruffles Destiny's curls lovingly before hurrying away with a smile on her face. Destiny eyes the snacks, hesitant, then looks down at herself. She's wearing new clothes instead of the tattered ones that she still possesses.

"Nice place."

Destiny turns to see Diaval standing at a distance from her, a glass of punch in his hand. He takes a sip of the drink, a calm look on his pale face as he observes the festivities going on before them. His strange eyes flicker to her, illuminated by the candlelight. Lights dance across his hair like Christmas lights on snow.

"You could have this. Home, family," he murmurs, his voice unnaturally soothing to Destiny's ears. "Isn't that what you want? All you have to do is join us. It's not that hard."

Destiny opens her mouth to speak, but she hesitates. This isn't what she wants, not like this. She doesn't know anyone in this room. She clenches her hands into tight fists and shakes her head.

The illusion shatters and she's back on the rooftop in New York. Nothing has changed except now, Diaval is standing next to Karai. The kunoichi's lip curls a little. Diaval's blank expression flickers with surprise.

"No, I won't join you," Destiny says, her hand inching towards the knife that's still secured in the pockets of her tattered jeans. "No matter what you say. Find some other mutant."

"Some other mutant won't cut it," Karai says.

"Me? Really? I think you're delusional."

"No, see, that's where you're wrong." The dark-haired girl's devious expression grows. "You're unlike any other mutant we've ever seen."

"Because of my ability to change forms?" Destiny scoffs. "That's nothing special."

"Wrong again." Karai smirks and twirls her blade, going into an attack pose. "Now I've got your attention. Too bad I won't answer your questions," she teases.

Destiny growls low in her throat as she whips her blade out and prepares to fight, her aching muscles protesting against it. Diaval shifts to the side, stumbling over his own feet for a second as he reaches for an arrow. Karai thrusts a hand out to him and stops his movement, a look passing between them that Destiny can't read.

"Ooo, you're gonna fight? I'm impressed," Karai comments as she turns her head back towards the girl.

An air of determination settles over the wolf girl's countenance. She lunges, swinging her tiny blade at the newfound opponent. Karai blocks effortlessly, still smirking. That only angers Destiny more.

Karai swings her leg out and Destiny dodges, leaping over Karai's next attack from her tantō. The lethal kunoichi doesn't slow down, not going easy on Destiny at all, but she didn't expect her to. This isn't training with the turtles.

Destiny actually manages to dodge a few more attacks, but just barely. Karai is fast and skilled, striking like a snake. She places a few good kicks to Destiny's ribs and the wolf mutant slashes her across the face, leaving a small red gash, but that's all she can pull off before she's knocked back again.

Destiny's stupid foot is proving to be a real disadvantage.

Karai touches the cut on her cheek, her brown-eyed gaze growing almost murderous as she advances on Destiny. Something in the wolf girl's mind clicks, reminding her that this chick is a skilled kunoichi and Destiny just happens to have some defensive moves.

Her conscience gets the best of her. She transforms into her hulking wolf, smacking Karai aside with one sweep of her paw before Karai can comprehend what she just did. With her down, Destiny spins around and leaps away across the rooftops, her strong body straining and her paw aching. A few arrows whiz past her head, but none meet their mark.

Once Destiny is far enough away, she returns to her humanoid form. She shimmies down a building side, moving to the nearest manhole. She shoves it open before dropping into it. She winces, limping more heavily back to the lair, gripping her bruised ribs as she moves.

Stupid girl. Your foot is barely healed, and you just have to go and do that?

As soon as she gets back to the lair, she moves as slowly and stealthily as she possibly can. She doesn't want to wake anyone (again). She scans the area, and her gaze falls on a curled up form near the TV.

Leonardo, sleeping with his katanas in hand, rests with his head on a pillow. His face is tranquil and serene, his fingers slack around his weapons. She finds herself smiling as she moves closer to him. He must've stayed up waiting for her to return.

That's...really sweet of him.

She glances at her bruised body, grimacing. She'll have to get Donatello to check them out tomorrow, which means that she'll undoubtedly get another lecture.

For now, she grabs a nearby blanket from the back of the bench and drapes it over Leonardo carefully. He breathes softly, murmuring something under his breath. He looks so innocent and sweet when he's sleeping, like all his worries have disappeared.

She smiles a little before turning and limping to bed. She gets inside her room and flops down onto the mattress, falling asleep almost immediately.