Book 3: Olá Americano... Turtle?

Impatient

 The sun had yet to show its face through the forest, giving the flora and fauna an indigo hue. The fire was only lit by the small specks of hot embers that no longer cackles or emitted smoke. All the big lugs were sleeping like bunnies, well, most of them. Repetitive beats of buzzing vibrated against one's plastron. Normally a heavy sleeper, Raphael could not ignore the sudden movement hiding underneath him. In order to make it stop and keep from disturbing his family, the large terrapin carefully lifted himself. The blankets over him moved with his bod and dragged along others. The ones affected by it moved some but did not wake up. When they stopped moving, Raphael continued much more slowly until he could pull up his phone that he mistakably left in the folds of the blankets. Knowing well, he squinted his eyes and kept the phone low to his body to turn down the brightness. Once it was dark and grey, he took no time to figure out who was on the other end when he answered it. Out of respect for those around him( surprising, right?) and just from his own personal tiredness, he answered with a muffled moan into his pillow.

"Get your shell up. I'm at the water." That voice woke him up. The quick movement s made a shuffle, but no one else was disturbed by it. Whipping his top half up and around, he saw that where Mona should be was no longer inhabiting her. Before he could ask, the mutant girl had already hung up.

No one at the camp heard the biggest beast rise and move away from them. On his way, he yawned silently while also rubbing his eyes and avoiding to run into anything that may ruin his day. Soon, the running water ambience began to catch his ears. With his eyes beginning to clear, he moved more fluidly and less like a zombie. With the final piece of the jungle to get through, he got to the clearing. The water showed no light but had a shadow to guide its own movements downstream. To his far right, she was there. Mona had not yet see him come. Sitting down, she stared at the river with her arms wrapped over her extended knees. She did not wear her mask and it appeared that it was not with her at the moment. Soon, she acknowledged his presence and stood up. Raphael smiled as he approached her.

"Alone again." He gave a sigh of relief. Outstretching his arms, he made a grab for her and pursed his lips. Before he could get there, the lizard lady smoothly pushed his cheek to get his head to face the opposite direction and walked past him. "Whoa, curve!" He laughed despite Mona not turning around and laughing with him as well. "Can I know why?" Mona Lisa crossed her arms and turned to face him. His smile dropped when she had that serious look in her eye. So much for a 'good morning'.

"How long do you expect to keep this up?" She asked. The turtle grunted and swayed head a few times for a stretch.

"Not too long. These kind of games get boring real quick." He admitted. Upon that thought, the river seemed very pleasing to him. Raphael unbuckled his shoulder pad and unclicked the belts that supported his shell. They hung around his waist after unclicking the ones that were wrapped around his shoulders.

"I meant this whole secret we have going on." Oh, this again?! The big brute stood dumbfounded for a minute to get his thoughts right. Mona's features were less hard and more upset and concerned. She expressed more as a sad puppy holding herself rather than the tough cookie she always upheld. Raphael untied the cotton rope belt around his waist and pulled off his pants for the seatbelt straps to fall on top of them. He drummed up a response as he pulled off his forearm armor, gloves, and wraps around his hands and legs.