Chapter one

My feet slapped against the stone floor as I dashed forward, my hand on a sword at my back. My target was directly in front of me. I leapt up to one of the rafters near the roof, using a pillar and hid in the shadows. I slowly and cautiously crept along the beam. I stopped almost above my target and unsheathed my sword. I leapt from my hiding place and tackled my target. They were on their back with me on top of them, straddling their waist. I held the sword to their throat. The lights turned on, flooding the room. I blinked my eyes. I was sitting on a humanoid turtle. He had lime green skin and brown eyes. A yellow eye mask wrapped around his head. A bow was in his hand and blunt arrows with a cloth on the ends of them covered in paint. My sword was wooden. Footsteps sounded to my left. We both turned to look. A woman walked towards us. She had black hair that was cut to shoulder length and she had blue eyes. The woman wore a long sleeved black shirt and black pant that flowed with every step she took. I got off the turtle and he quickly got to his feet. We bowed our heads. A sign of respect to her.

"Mistress Karai," we both said in unison.

"Well done the both of you," Karai said, "Great work Sage-" she addressed me, "-however, look down at your leg." I did so and saw a streak of bright yellow paint going across the back of my calf.

"When did-" I started.

"As you jumped to the rafters," Karai replied, cutting me off mid sentence. She turned to the humanoid turtle beside me.

"Well done Jonathan. Go and get your cousins while I speak to Sage for a moment. I then wish to speak to all of you together." Jonathan bowed and left the room. I stood up straight, facing Karai; the woman who had raised my three cousins and I since we had hatched.

"You are doing well, I know this, but today was a rookie mistake," she said.

"I know," I replied, "I just didn't calculate it." Karai's face was still and serious.

"If you had been out there with real weapons, you would have been seriously injured."

"I understand."

"I hope so. One day I won't be there to help and you will be on your own." I looked into Karai's eyes. They held a deadly serious stare. She walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "One day you will lead the foot clan to the future and I want you to stay leader for as long as possible."

"Yes, Mistress Karai." She removed her hand and gestured to the shadows to come over. My three cousins stepped out and joined me. Yoshi (full name Homato Yoshi) had dark green skin and dark blue eyes with a white eye mask. Ollie stood between him and me. He had moss green skin and light blue eyes with a brown eye mask. Jonathan stood at my other side. Karai looked over each of us; her face softening.

"I am going away for a few months. I am needed back in Japan. While I am gone, Sage is in charge of the foot clan members still living in New York. Your job is simple; keep the New York citizens safe from any and all crime. Yuki will join you to get some insight in how to lead. Sage, teach him as I have taught you."

"Hai," I replied.

"You leave this afternoon. Dismissed." The four of us left the room. The moment the door was shut behind us, did I get congratulated from Jonathan, Ollie and Yoshi.

"Congratulations!""

"Rad, being the new leader!"

"Totally outstanding!" I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.

"Guys," I said, "It's only temporary. Just until Karai gets back. I don't think it will be permanent."

"We overheard your conversation," Jonathan replied, "You are destined to be a leader." A clapping sounded behind us. We spun around. Yuki stood there, leaning against the wall. He had black hair and green eyes. He was also Karai's only son and always gloated that he would lead the foot clan to victory.

"Congrats," he said, pushing himself off the wall and walking over to us. "Really it's great that you get to lead us." Yuki stopped a few inches from me, but I didn't want to back down.

"I'm glad you think that way," I replied, in a calm voice, "Karai seems to think that I will be a great sensei for you."

"Yes, yes, I too overheard the conversation and I hope to follow in the great leader's footsteps. Have a good day and I'll meet you in New York." Without another word, Yuki turned and walked away.

"Come on," I said to the guys, not sure of what to make from Yuki's words, "We'd best start packing our gear." We walked further down the corridor to the end. We separated into different bedrooms; each one with a sliding door. I slid my door shut and released a breath of air. I didn't know the first thing about leading anyone, well except perhaps my cousins but they were family. I crossed the room to a desk I had I had. A katana sat there on a sword stand. My katana was in a black sheath with a single cherry blossom painted at the side. The katana handle was also black and a cherry blossom charm hung from it. It was a gift from Karai, the moment I was old enough to handle a real weapon. I took it off the holder and attached it to my back. I placed my practice sword in a shoulder bag, along with spare elbow and knee pads. I slung my bag over my shoulder and looked at myself in my mirror. I too was not a regular human. I was a humanoid turtle. I had fern green skin and golden eyes. A light green eye mask wrapped around my head. I didn't have a shell like my cousins. It didn't form properly. Instead I had brown hexagonal shapes, made from shell, going from my shoulders to the base of my spine. I had a brown sash going around my waist. I grabbed my cloak that hung on my mirror and wrapped it around me. I left the hood off. I exited my room to find my three cousins just coming out also. They wore their cloaks and had their weapons on them that were concealed by the cloaks. We made our way out of the building and to the heli- pad where Karai was waiting. The four of us lined up in front of her.

"Good luck," she said, "I know you will do well."

"Yes, Mistress Karai," we replied. We turned to leave when Karai stopped us.

"Sage, stay behind for a moment."

"You guys go ahead," I said to Jonathan, Ollie and Yoshi. The three climbed into the helicopter and I faced Karai. She handed me a rolled up scroll that was sealed.

"This will tell the foot clan in New York that you are to lead them. Give it to the person leading them the moment you arrive. Good luck." I tucked the scroll into my sash before hugging her.

"Thank you mother," I said, "I won't let you down."

"I know," Karai replied, hugging me back. We broke out of the hug and I walked over to the helicopter. I climbed in. I sat down just as the helicopter took off. All four of us waved goodbye to Karai. Yuki sat at the far end of where I was; not wanting to sit next to any one of us. As we flew to New York, my stomach was up in knots. Ollie leaned forward and squeezed my hand.

"You'll do fine," he said, "I have faith in you." I smiled.

"Thank you," I replied. I watched the sea go past underneath and wondered what New York held in store for us.