"Wow, would you look at this sunset? Can’t see one of these back home. Wish we could have brought Klunk." Mike turned back towards their camp, where the others were.

Their camp was a safe distance from any road - it had taken a while to get here and get set up - and they hadn’t seen any one else in all that time. It was just them and nature out here, no need for disguises or anything. It was a nice change, to be able to just be.

"It’s probably better we didn’t Mike, Klunk will be safer back at the farm." Raph commented from his place in a nearby tree.

"Yea... He’d have probably wandered off from us anyway. Cats." Mike shrugged.

Don was kind of edgy about this whole trip, he enjoyed camping, but still…. Well, they had never had a ‘normal’ camping trip. They were always being ambushed by something. "I know I’d rather be back at the farm.." he muttered, leaning on his bo staff.

Sure, camping was supposed to be peaceful and relaxing, but they had all brought their weapons, just in case. After all, ninjas had to be prepared for anything. Especially these ninjas, who unlike many, were not entirely human. For the most part, they considered themselves turtles.

"Oh sure, the farm, nothing weird ever happens there…ha!" Raph shook his head.

"Enjoy it while you can Donni. It’s our last trip up here." Leon sat admiring the view. How could anybody have sold all of this land off to real estate developers? There were so many memories around here, for all of them. Not all were good, but each one was important. He sighed.

Mike sat next to him. "Yea, we’ll have to find a new place."

They passed the time watching the sky darken, munching the snacks they’d packed, picking out the constellations that appeared, joking and sharing memories. Eventually the cold air and their own tiredness crept up on them. They rolled out their sleeping bags, got settled down and were soon drifting off to sleep.

"Guys…do you think April n’ Casey will ever sell the farm?"

"Nah…no way Raph!"

"I hope not. Nite Raph."

"Nite…"

"Nite…"

"Nite…."

Sheep sat in meditation, fourteen pairs of knitting needles still clicking away rhythmically.

To anyone passing by, she would have looked like she was sleeping, but she couldn’t sleep in times like these. No WonderLander could. Her eyes were closed in concentration. She went with her mind were she could not go with her body, to the Spirit Plane.

Cheshire Cat was there. "What is going on Sheep?"

"Panic. And Madness. Dora couldn’t get the Board unlocked and a great many have taken up a hunt for Nobody. We can’t get the Mirrorwall to align with Oz for you. Can you not come through the Spirit Plane CC?"

"I’ve not attempted it before Sheep! Certainly, I come here much, for speedy travel within a plane, but to physically go between planes from the Spirit Plane…there are terrible risks. And limits to what even I can do. And even if I was able to return, I don’t know if I could do any good anymore."

"It is generally accepted then, that we’re all doomed CC. I suppose, it was bound to happen." Sheep seemed resigned to her fate. "What do you think it will feel like, death…?"

Cheshire Cat shuddered. "Individual death is one thing, and being alive, I don’t know…but the death of a world….of home. Sheep, please don’t become useless on me! There must be something…"

"What’s wrong with being useless?"

"There’s nothing wrong with being useless, as long as you are being. But to be useless when your being is endangered seems…to defeat the point of being. And that’s one point not even I will try to defeat! What were you saying earlier about Nobody?"

"They’re looking for him. There’s no record of him leaving WonderLand, as he was supposed to."

Cheshire Cat considered what he had been told. The timing of Nobody retiring. The tree, just the one. Taking the kitten, who hadn’t learned as it should, then heading directly for the Mirrorwall. The Chess Board, locking up with the Red King in check. And other things, things of the past. Encounters with Nobody.

The fur on the back of CC’s necks rose a little at the name, he’d never gotten along with the fellow. He had no proof of sabotage, and could not fathom a reason, yet. Not yet. Give it time. "So they haven’t found him, Sheep?"

"Not a trace of the lad. Nor in Oz, as you likely know."

Mirrorwall…Mirrorwall…how could it have not seen Nobody leave? CC furrowed his brow in thought. "What was the other dimension Mirrorwall’s locked to now?"

"Earth."

Cheshire Cat contemplated this. He knew, he couldn’t explain how, that this was where the conflict would be. The kitten and Gryfon must be there. Nobody could be there. Maybe there were answers there too. "Sheep. I must go."

"Where will you go friend Cat?"

"Earth. From Oz. I’m not sure how yet, but I will try. Tell WonderLand to prepare for the worst. In case."

"They are. They think the world’s done for in less than a week."

"Oh...that’s right…I meant war though. Usually the worst is war. Tell them War."

"We can’t! Two of our army’s are frozen on or by the Chess Board…the other four armies have lost all morale. Not that cards have the best backbones in the first place, now they’re virtually spineless!"

"Well, see what can be done friend Sheep. I don’t like my odds. We’re in a knot."

Sheep smiled as Cheshire Cat’s presence faded, she held up her knitting. "Ah, but, what knots can do, if only you know how to tie them properly." she bleated to herself. With a sheepish grin she sent her spirit out again, this time to a darker place...

April leaned out onto the porch, where Casey and Splinter were. She waited for a break in their conversation. It came quickly.

"Did you call the cops?" Casey asked, scooting over so she could sit next to him.

"Yes. No one’s reported a missing statue, but they said they’d send someone out in the morning. They’ll probably just be out in the garage but they might come into the house."

"Ah. I’ll remain in the attic during their visit then." Splinter stretched and breathed deeply, enjoying the evening air.

The three of them sat there, looking out at the sky. They were all thinking it, but none of them said anything for a bit. April broke the silence. "You think the guys are okay?"

Splinter nodded. "They are ninja."

"Besides, they’ve always managed to get back here before." Casey added, trying to lighten the mood.

"Is that supposed to be reassuring?" April smiled. She sighed and leaned on Casey. It was so quiet around here without the guys….

There was a series of crashes from the barn/garage just then. They sat there a moment after the silence had resumed.

"What was that?" Casey whispered, getting to his feet, lifting a baseball bat from under the swinging chair. Splinter and April followed in silence, April armed with a tennis racket.

Splinter broke off, to enter from the side door. Casey and April waited and listened by the front doors, ready to block any intruders exit. After a moment, the left front door creaked slightly.

"It was just the cat." Splinter held out a slightly speckled Klunk.

April dissolved into nervous laughter, Casey opened the door a little further speaking as he looked around. "Argh! I just cleaned up this place! The paint cans….so much for repainting the basement tomorrow. Hey! Are those my golf clubs?? AHHHH! Bad Klunk! Bad, bad, bad…"

There was a new sound, they all paused to hear it. This one closely resembled an egg being broken. Sort of a thin snapping. It was coming from the back of their truck, where the statue was. The three of them watched in horror as a series of small cracks became visible on the figure.

Klunk had clawed his way onto Splinters shoulder by this time, and was preparing to jump to the ground from Splinters back. It was quiet an accomplishment for the old rat to manage to stay calm. It had taken time to get used to a pet cat, he still wasn’t sure he liked it. He closed his eyes as a cat tail crossed his vision. Why doesn’t the cat just jump already?

He was shaking from his own nervousness, unable to focus on what was going on around him. He couldn’t even sense Casey or April anymore, or hear the snapping. He felt the cat’s weight leave his shoulder, breathed in relief and opened his eyes.

A tall humanoid mouse stood in front of him, on either side of her stood two wide-eyed humanoid rabbits holding candles, one much taller than the other. The mouse placed her hands on her hips and looked at Klunk, who returned her gaze. "Well, that didn’t exactly work…" she said.

"...doomed…" whispered the taller rabbit.