JANUARY TDM/EVENT

[monstertruckers]

code

The storm drives the Convoy to the very summit of the mountains, before hitting a blinding pitch. The wind howls and drives snow in a way that promises to freeze everything… And there’s also a twist of smoke in the air, to further blind everything.

There’s one thing visible through the storm: a massive fortress clinging to the side of the mountain. The Convoy pulls up into the shelter. It seems this will be the best place to wait out the weather, even if the storm lasts for weeks.

It’s a cold welcome for new arrivals. The garage offers scant protection from the elements, and a winter storm rages outside. Snow, lighting, and thunder all blend together and do their best to break the windows and doors of the structure.

The storm itself shows no signs of abating, at least until several days have passed. So it’s up to the new arrivals to figure out how to survive the storm, find better shelter… And weather the strange changes foisted onto them.

01: SUMMONING CIRCLE

New Drifters arrive to a cold and half frozen garage, almost swallowed up by snow drifts. The Convoy is just visible through sheets of snow falling from the skies, and it is parked in the shelter of a nearby fortress. Getting out of the garage and reaching the fortress will take some work, though.

Starting with digging out through the snow. At least there’s a shovel or two inside the garage and the gas station. But digging through the snow is still cold work, and it’s imperative to duck back in the garage and find ways to warm up.

There’s still a small fire burning in the corner of the garage, near the summoning circle. It curiously doesn’t seem to need fuel to keep burning… Though throwing more on it will certainly increase the heat of the flames. Be advised that the fire will also burn clothing and flesh if a Drifter gets too close to it.

02: FORTRESS

The abandoned fortress offers some reprieve from the elements… But the prior battles have found a way to seep into the stones. Ice and Fire both have an effect on the surroundings.
+FIRE Condition: Arcane lava is flowing through the foundations and seeping up through the stones of the building. This is especially clear in the kitchen and dining hall. It may be toasty to the touch, but it also threatens to set things aflame; objects and people alike. Drifters weak to fire will suffer from the increased temperatures.
+ICE Condition: The extremes of the fortress are freezing over in enchanted ice, leaving only the main hall and kitchen with any heat. Drifters who lack ice affinity risk frost bite and hypothermia while exploring the other areas of Bastion. Direct contact with the ice also carries a risk of encasing the limb or the entire Drifter in ice. Might need some help getting chipped out.

In the midst of all this, there are still rooms and beds available for those who want a change of pace from the convoy, or bedrolls for those who want to camp out in the main hall.

03: START UP

After digging out, one can see that there are various cars surrounding the garage. Some of them parked directly outside and sheltered from the worst of the storm. But a few are further out, and will also need to be dug out of the snow.

There’s also a certain connection between different newcomers and cars. Something that suggests a particular vehicle is theirs, backed up by possessing the key to that vehicle. The key to the vehicle may already be in the ignition, on the dashboard… It may have even been on their person, ever since they woke up in that garage. Either way, Drifters have the keys to the vehicle now.

…But there’s a few rough edges on these vehicles. Flat tires, cracked windows and mirrors, maybe some stuck doors and locks; all of them the sort of thing that requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.

04: WILD ELEMENTS

Even when taking shelter in the fortress, the storms from outside have a way of seeping through the bricks. And trying to take root inside any Drifters. Cold mists and winds seep into the castle, along with fire traveling across the floors and lightning crashing against the roof.

Drifters exposed to extreme elements will find those same elements seeping into their blood.

Teeth also grow along portions of the walls in long fangs, ready to snag at any newcomers. Drawing blood on those teeth can result in changes in the new arrivals… As well as pulling a monster out of the hallway to try and draw more blood.

These monsters frequently manifest as:
+Gyuki, a spider and bull demon fusion.
+YinYang, a Frankenstein abomination
+And Malzeno, a strange eldritch dragon.

05: FUEL PUMPS

The fortress also holds a network of pipes leading through the halls and connecting to the gas station. Text from the Convoy asks for at least a few Drifters to follow the pipes to their source, and activate them. Following those pipes leads to a chamber in the base of the fortress, with basins full of liquid.

Glowing and quicksilver liquid, at that. Liquid that looks like it could have been poured straight out of the moon. An inscription on the tanks reads “Moonshard fuel refinement” while a stack of papers details the various attempts to distill moonshards into an energy usable by humans without mutating them. It seems they’ve mostly succeeded with this attempt: once the valves are turned on, the fuel can be pumped into the Convoy and top off almost depleted fuel tanks.

But there is still a risk. Coming into contact with the fuel can instill a sudden, ravenous hunger and push new changes to the front. Prolonged exposure activates all traits at once, and will only revert the person when another monster has been hunted down, and their energy absorbed.

06: IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

The walls of Bastion reach an impressive 20 feet up and stretch for long distances… And have Husks merged into them, often in the hallways and occasionally in the rooms. The Husks clearly belong to either the Silver Tear or the Steel Wardens, given the insignias on them. Many of them are locked together, frozen in a fight. And their last words and thoughts are written on the walls in gold and silver script.

Most of the words are frantic, about defending the moon shards from heretics or freeing the moon shards from confinement. But if any of the words are read aloud, the Husks react by merging together and spawning a berserk heavy tank/tankceratops. Or a large Burner type monster. OR a dragon dinosaur with exploding, punching fists. Drifters may also get caught up in the monster changes, and fuse their own monster forms together!

07: MONSTER FUSE

An element saturation isn’t the only strange thing in the fortress. Anyone who makes contact with the fortress stones will find themselves building a resonance with a fellow Drifter. This grows stronger the more time they spend in the fortress.

Until finally the bond solidifies on the next change the Drifters go through and hits a fever pitch. The next threat they encounter WILL force a transformation. When that happens, their next change fuses their two monster forms together into something new.

Their fusion form is a combination of two Drifter’s traits. It is also twice the size it would normally be, and is well suited to taking on any giant sized monsters. It can even give Drifters a brief insight into the memories of their partner, as the fusion takes place.

When this happens, both Drifters can switch control over their merged form. Those with greater synchronism will have more control, while those who squabble and fight will find that their monster form becomes more feral and savage. This fusion lasts until the threat abates: when that happens, the fusion breaks apart, and Drifters return to their prior state.

08: STORM CALL

There’s something outside that isn’t just the storm; it calls out in a howl that can make the blood run cold, and also pulls at one’s feet. Until it hits a point where the Bastion doesn’t feel like a restful place. Drifters who hear the storm call need to step outside and find the source; the storm itself isn’t particular on if they search on their own feet, or behind some wheels.

Drifters who travel on their own feet will swiftly be overwhelmed by the storm, and a moon warp hiding in the snow, and forced to transform. It doesn’t help that there’s wild saber-tooth Barioth wyverns prowling the wilds and ready to pounce.

Being inside a vehicle helps to shield them from the worst of the storm and the changes, and also gives Drifters more traversal options:
Tough cars are capable of wading through even the deepest snow without getting bogged down, as well as towing any stricken or stuck vehicles out of the drifts.
Fast vehicles can follow rivers of fire and lava that move through the wilds, without burning up due to prolonged exposure.

Eventually Drifters will find their way towards the summit of the mountain, and the discovery waiting beyond.

09: MONSTER CHANGES

Between the weird fuel, the teeth in the fortress, and hostile elements trying to force changes, new arrivals can quickly find their humanity getting worn away and new monster transformations taking place.
With the cold weather and regal structures, the environment calls out to Undead. As long as the elements rage, all Undead traits are available and also:
+Warm Blood: Undead can easily track living bodies through the wilds and the fortress, sensing the warmth of their blood in contrast to the storm.
+Rivalry: Tends to form rivalry with other Undead monsters, becoming territorial and protective of potential food sources.
+Ice Affinity: Undead find themselves better preserved by the cold and thriving in it, energized and strengthened by the snow, and even taking on glowing blue veins and eyes.
+Fire Fear: The presence of fire inspires aversion, and even terror and need to flee from it. Smaller flames like candles provoke unease, larger flames like a bonfire result in more panic.
+Holy Symbols: Presence of Steel Warden symbols (a sword piercing moon) can cause unease in Undead, and even repel them a location.
+Snow Shift: Exposure to snow forces the Undead into a more bestial form. This could resemble a bat, wolf, or deer/horse/bull.

10: FROZEN HEART

At the summit of the mountains is a collection of freakishly tall and twisted trees. In their branches is a collection of frozen hearts growing like strange fruit. And further up is a massive object that looks like a deer skull with branching antlers. The ice storm flows from its eyes and mouth… And it shows no signs of ceasing without destroying the skull.

The frozen hearts are giving off a cold aura that freezes anything that doesn’t resist ice. Drifters will need to neutralize the hearts to dispel the cold aura. The hearts can be melted by fire, shot down with ranged weapons, magic, etc. When burned, the hearts give off a smoke that causes a terrible hunger and need to hunt in anyone who inhales it. Shattered heart shards also rain down and embed themselves in Drifters, and cause a berserk fury in those they cut.

But with each felled heart the barrier of the skull weakens, as does the storm. When the last of the frozen hearts falls, the storm skull fractures and breaks apart like brittle ice. Drifters can deliver the finishing blows, ending the storm in the process. After that, the way down the mountain becomes clear, and the Convoy may continue down without worry.

MICRO ENCOUNTERS:

PLEASE NOTE! These are small bits of set dressing for players to include in threads if they wish, rather than full fledged prompts or events. You may handwave your exploration of these areas, or thread them out.

Fortress Library: Books and screens seem to have fused together. Assorted data about monsters is on display here; everything from hunting strategy to contradicting praise of their strength. (Read: all lore information from the monster pages is available IC.)

Dining Hall: This time around the gas station and garage are empty of supplies… But there’s plenty of preserved foods in the castle kitchen and dining hall. Though the hot dishes are almost painfully spicy, and the cold served foods can almost freeze a mouth shut.

Snow Fields: Surrounding the fortress are fields of snow, ready to bog down anyone who wanders too far into them. It would be next to impossible for anyone to make it far on two feet without the aid of a vehicle… Or the aid of a monstrous transformation.

Fire Snow: The storm can wildly swing between temperatures, from freezing to burning with how the snowflakes fluctuate. They can suck warmth out of a Drifter’s body on contact, or risk burning any exposed skin.

Armory: The Steel Wardens kept an armory and arena close by for sparring. Various weapons and armor are stored here; some antiquated, some modern and augmented with technology. And everything but the older models are badly damaged by the elements; frozen over and metal crackled, or half melted from fire. They won’t have much use as weapons, but could be used as metal materials.

View from the Peaks: When the storm clears, one can look out from the peaks and see what’s next. A strange, twisted landscape stretches out below the peaks. And beyond that is something on the horizon; a massive city reaching upwards, and the buildings intact and gleaming. Going back to the Convoy reveals a new update in the database: Nirvana is near. And will be reached in an estimated 60 days from now.


NAVIGATION || RESERVES || APPLICATIONS

Comments

[faceguy]

Leo hadn't even considered the possibility that Donnie might be a vampire himself now - that'd be just one more problem on their giant list of problems - but he decides not to borrow any grief there. If Donnie is a vampire now, they'll cross that bridge when they get there.

At least Raph's back, too. Having them all in his sight again makes Leo feel better.

"Okay, good," he says, looking at Raph and then back at Mikey's party van. "Let's worry about atoning for sins later. We have to see how he's going to be when he wakes up. Then we'll treat the shrapnel wounds."

So saying, he'll clamber inside Mikey's van.

[mystic_hands]

Mikey's brows furrow at the way Vincent says 'probably not'. It's an honest answer, though, and Mikey does his best to take it as it is. This place messes with everything, he knows, and they're just gonna have to take things as they come. He nods, setting his jaw again to push back the worry, and gets the van opened for Leo.

It's obvious that Mikey has tried to find ways to make the van a little more comfortable for staying in. There's a careful pile of what looks like cedar tree branches with a slightly battered salvaged blanket spread over it so it's somewhere softer than the hard floor to lounge on. He looks at Donnie, who's still unconscious, just letting his hand pet in the thick fur again for a second.

"It's not a lot but I can get her running and crank the heater." he says, half to Leo and half to Donnie, himself, even if he can't hear him. He blinks up when Raph returns and hops off his bike, his brows lifting and his eyes widening a little at the change in how he looks. Is that new, too?! He doesn't know... but it doesn't seem to be hurting Raph any at the moment, at least?

"We might wanna leave that out here until Donnie wakes up." he says, "Otherwise I... think it's just gonna leak all over the floor..."

He hops up inside the van, himself, but he ducks into the driver's seat, instead, so he can get the engine running and get the heat going. It's not great heat but it's at least a little bit of warm.

"I don't have any first aid stuff in here, though... Do you guys know anybody who's got some?"

[saisdoesmatter]

If the glow to his arms is bothering him, he doesn't show it, huffing once to clear the smoke from his lungs as the hellfire that sprouted when he was hunting isn't necessary right now. It's not hurting him either, which surprised him, but perhaps he was destined for this lingering demonic form. He's fought demons before - what else is new for a ninja turtle?

When Mikey mentions leaving the dead critter out here so it doesn't bleed all over the floor of his van, he nods to him. "You got it, M."

He lets them handle getting Donnie inside, ready to guard for any other issues if need be, but he glances to Leo and Vincent.

"Can I get a recap of what happened? Bullet points work."

[coffinturk]

There's plenty of time for sins to be worried about and atoned for. Vincent is, at least, used to putting that on hold and won't insist.

Also that. That right there, Mikey, that concept of leaking and other things is why Valentine had second thoughts about taking Donnie to his own room.

"I do." Rather than rob the communal supplies that have been collected over the months, the gunman is more than willing to give from his own stash if the turtle brothers will trust him enough in the moment to let him go.

Well, it's probably best to give them a moment alone with their brother, too and besides, there's little else he can tell. And Raph's request for a summary also gets some excellent highlights from the succinct vampire.

"Donnie went beserk. Tried to restrain him. When he used fire, I knocked him unconscious by drinking his blood."

Yup. Trust the bullet points to the firearms expert. Watch him start to stride off toward the Convoy's housing trailer.

[faceguy]

So Raph has demon-y traits now. Leo's seen so much at this point it barely phases him.

At least Vincent handles the highlight reel so he doesn't have to. He has no intention of stopping him now, as long as he's off to do something useful, instead focusing on trying to get Donnie comfortable.

He hasn't been inside Mikey's van much, but he doesn't have the time right this moment to appreciate his interior decorating.

"Go ahead and do that," he says to Mikey, about the heater. "He hates the cold."

In not just the way he did back home, Leo means. He carries Donnie over to Mikey's little... nest... thing (are all his brothers turning into birds??) and lays Donnie down there.

[purplexing]

There's but the quickest twitch of an ear, but otherwise the winged cerberus doesn't stir, the sockets of his three heads showing no signs of wakefulness, empty and somehow fathomless.

The little licks of violet flames that flicker across his black fur hardly hold any intensity of heat and faint enough that it's been easy to miss. Thankfully they don't seem to be catching fire to Mikey's makeshift lounge space. ...which is probably good because it'd probably be particularly flammable.

[mystic_hands]

When Mikey slides back out of the driver's seat, leaving the van running, he looks over at Vincent and nods.

"I dunno how much we're gonna need but anything you've got will help. Especially if we gotta deal with shrapnel." he says, his eyes flickering over to Donnie for a second or two. That's a really unpleasant thought, especially because he's got no idea how to do that kind of thing. He sets his jaw a little. If they gotta, they gotta, and he'll help best he can.

He's about to go over to sit close to Donnie again when he pauses and looks at Raphael, his brows furrowed. He looks different and that's worrying, too! But also... Mikey just found out Donnie can turn into a three-headed dog thing so maybe Raph's been able to do this for a while, too?

"You kinda look like a glowstick, bro... You good?" he asks him as he finishes going to sit beside Donnie. He wishes he had way more blankets for him. And pillows. Oh, maybe he can...

There's a little hesitation in Mikey for a second as he looks at those three skull heads. They're scary looking, he can't deny that! It's spooky! But it's also Donnie. So he scoots in close and lifts one of the heads so he cross his legs underneath a bit, letting it rest on top of them. He pets the thick fur, gently, something meant to be reassuring, before he starts parting it to see what wounds he can spot and keep track of. He's being very careful, since his hands are changed now, but thankfully that hasn't stopped him from being able to feel and reach out with their shared Ninpo to try and comfort his injured brother.

"It's gonna be okay, Dee. We'll take care of you. You're safe."

[saisdoesmatter]

With his blood still simmering from the hunt, Raph stays put and lets the others take care of getting Donnie situated. Especially since Vincent does give him a rough description of what happened between him and Donnie. He arches a brow at it when Vincent mentions biting him to blood drain - vampire, huh? He's dealt with them before. Usually there's more to changing into one when there's bites involved though, so he pushes back the immediate urge to be angry about it - there's so much that happens here that cannot be helped.

Instead, he nods to Vincent as acceptance, not bothering to stop him as he wanders off. He has a feeling the guy'll be back anyway. Raph'll play guard-demon for now as the brothers tend to Donnie.

The question from Mikey makes him snap out of 'stare at everything mode' and he blinks for a moment, then glances at an arm. "Huntin' musta activated some stuff fer me, lil bro. M'fine. Focus on getting Dee comfy."

He double checks to make sure there's room for him to guard dog within the van, since Leo's gotten Donnie to the new Donnie nest, and closes the door to keep the heat in. After all, he doesn't have the ninpo like the others, so being ready to throw down while they help Donnie is the role he easily slips into, staying near the door in case.

[ It's an Epic Bandage Gatherin' MONTAAAAAAAAGE ]

[coffinturk]

Once Vincent has been given the grace to leave unhindered, he picks up the pace. The distance is not too far and bandages don't usually fight back.

At least not this month.

But Vincent intends to do more than medical supplies. Blankets, yes. Towels, water both drinking and used for cleaning. There's always some water on for heating in this cold fortress so that will be on the way too.

Just give him a few moments more...

[faceguy]

Leo sits down on Donnie's other side, gently parting the fur so he can try to find any of the wounds Vincent mentioned.

"If we find any shrapnel still stuck in there, leave it until Vinny gets back." He carefully picks along Donnie's legs, noting anything he sees in a mental checklist. "Because... you're not supposed to take it out until you have bandages ready, to stop the bleeding. Right?"

He glances up at the other two, then, wishing not for the first time that he knew more about what he was doing.

This would be a great time for his on-again-off-again healing powers to be on again, but there doesn't seem to be any such luck. When he reaches for the way he felt back then, he gets nothing, even though one of his brothers is in trouble. It's so frustrating.

But the most important thing is getting Donnie back on his feet, so he buries his hands back in his fur again, hunting for injuries.

[purplexing]

Aside from the scratch and fang wounds on his necks, there's not much to be found, harder still with his dark fur. But finding some of it matted on his side near one of his birdlike legs is as telling a sign as any.

It's difficult to tell anything from the injuries there. They don't look all that deep nor very big, but whatever had made them can't have gone in too far. Perhaps the shards had simply dissolved.

Maybe it's Mikey's coaxing, or Leo's probing for those wounds, maybe it's a combination of both, but something pulses in response, a weak bump through their ninpō connection, and perhaps a flicker of purple in one of those skull's sockets...

[ Sigil Bonus : + Mental Acuity = strong ninpo maybe?? WORTH A SHOT! ]

[mystic_hands]

Mikey feels it instantly.

He's always been the most 'in tune' of the brothers but, here and now, too, he's doing his best to let Donnie feel him. All of them. He knows this Raph doesn't have ninpo like they do, or at least it was never unlocked for his family but...

He closes his eyes, letting Leo focus on looking for injuries for the moment as Mikey focuses, instead, on that connection between them. The weak and tiny pulse he felt was familiar. Purple. He reaches out to it with more determination this time, to see if he can feel anything else about it. If he can get an idea of what state Donnie's in, it would help give them a warning.

But he can also try his best to send feelings of comfort. Calm. Most importantly, though, the feeling of being safely surrounded by his brothers. Leo over there. Raph nearby. Mikey here with Donnie's head in his lap.

You're okay. You're safe. We're all right here, Dee.

[mmmm delicious infernal pack mentality]

[saisdoesmatter]

Raph wasn't linked like these three are through Hamato ninpo, but for him, something else was there. Lingering behind the whole adventure they've had so far. He hadn't thought too much of it at the time when Donnie-cerberus helped him from a monstrous merry go round when the insect transformation took hold of him. But it made a certain level of sense to him, since he and Donnie were close.

Now? After he went hunting and the other bits of infernal rose up - there's something more. He's had a sense of things before from years of training, but now? It feels deeper than it did before. At least right now with Donnie shifted as he is. The little blip of purple in the socket makes him pay attention to it, feeling the way it sort of tugs at him.

Staying near the door was one way to be protective, but he shimmies himself a bit closer to at least keep a warm presence to Donnie so he knows that he's surrounded by his brothers. After all, he remembers Donnie talking to him through a mental connection back then...so...he might as well try.

C'mon, Dee, I even went out and gotcha somethin' ta eat. It's outside though so no chompin' on either of your bros. So you might as well wake up so you can go ham on it if you wanna.

[ I lied, I am totally adding a bit of montage. ]

[coffinturk]

The cucco stares at Vincent curiously as he stops by his room to pick up some of those things. It has food, water, it's fine. There's an almost inquisitive "cluck".

"Stay here," answers the gunman. There would be nothing good that comes of the chicken-like beast following him back to the van. But it's not as if there isn't a moment where he reaches out and lightly pets the top of its head.

Then he's gone back into the cold. The cucco rustles its feathers and settles down into the nest. If the next "cluck" sounds like a supportive farewell, it's... well, probably the imagination.

[faceguy]

Leo feels it, too, though maybe not as strongly as Raph and certainly not as strongly as Mikey. Still, he's been feeling Donnie's emotions, intentionally or not, for awhile now, and he feels this bump, too, coming through the connection they all share.

He looks up just in time to catch the faintest spark of purple.

"Okay," he says out loud, "I think he's coming around. Let's be ready."

He reaches over to give one of the skull heads a few scratches with his fingers, the way he knows it likes.

Come on back, Dee. Everyone's waiting.

[purplexing]

It seems like a strenuous task to claw his way back into a more conscious state. But he feels and hears them, his family, his brothers. His ears flick again, falling back slightly at the soothing scratches, glow brightening in that skull, lighting up finally in the others.

His vision swims, and unfortunately the first thing he transmits is his pain, deep and throbbing, eliciting a whine from all three heads. But Donnie's never liked pain. Next is the the sharp twist of hunger, a voracious sensation that grips him enough to try pushing to his feet, even with the everything swimming around him. His legs don't seem up to the challenge just yet, collapsing under him as the inside of the van seems to be turning in upon itself in his dizziness.

[mystic_hands]

The slice of deep pain that resonates over their connection pulls a gasp from Mikey. His shoulders hunch and his hands press against Donnie more, fingers digging into the fur as he shudders from it. It's strong. He can even feel points on his own body aching with the ghosts of Donnie's injuries it's being transmitted so strongly. The dizzy, too. Hunger. The whole thing feels jumbled and confused and Mikey reels for a second himself at the wash of it.

He doesn't let go, though.

Mikey's never really done this kind of thing with his mystic before but, hey, if he can tear open time and space, he's gotta be able to do this, too, right? So he draws on his ninpo harder just, instead of making his chains or creating fire, he sends a pulse of that warmth outwards through it. Bright and calming and reassuring. Like a warm campfire on a chilly night. A sunbeam on a summer day. If he can just keep Donnie from completely panicking...

It's okay, Donnie! We have food for you. We're getting stuff for your hurts. Go slow.

"Leo, can you help him roll more upright? Maybe it'll help?!" he asks, "Raph, I know it's gross but maybe you can bring a piece of that thing in here for him? A leg or something? I don't care, I'll clean up later."

[saisdoesmatter]

He might not have the mystic that the others do but he can definitely feel the residual hurts and needs from Donnie. He figures it must be because the infernal stuff he's inherited has activated and doesn't think too much harder on it. When Donnie tries getting up, he shifts his weight to move, but pauses when Mikey takes the lead and asks him to get a piece of the critter for Donnie to eat.

"Good idea. I'm on it," he says, leaving the two of them to help Dee as he undoes the door, pulling it open so he can slip out and shut it behind him to keep the heat in for Donnie.

Tromping over to his bike, he looks over the dead thing that he's hunted for them. It'd probably be easier to do if he had a blade or something to butcher it, but there's no time. Instead, he pulls it from where it's slung over the bike, bringing it to the ground so he can grab hold of a leg, leverage it with his other arm, and start to pull. The glow of his veins brightens as he puts his strength into it, feeling the way that muscle and sinew pulls and rips away.

It takes a bit of work but with a rumbling growl he rips the damn thing free, not caring if it bleeds across the ground before he's tromping right back with the newfound 'drumstick', pulling the door back open and sliding into the van with the food.

"One snack for Dee: bloody rare."

[coffinturk]

Raph might catch a glimpse of the man in red and black coming out of the convoy with supplies. The cloak is... wings, stretched and domed to shield supplies against remaining winds and snow; nothing worse than passing blankets in covered in snow.

A supply of medical goodies- bandages and a few precious suture kits as well as high proof alcohol for sterilization- it's definitely drinkable as an option but... hey, teenagers don't need that right? Their monster bodies are pretty sturdy, yet there's no sense in courting chance. It would probably also help soothe Mikey to have as much as he's accustomed to in order to work with.

And containers of water. Probably clean cloths.

He'll be there in a moment; indeed he's close enough to call out to if necessary.

[faceguy]

Inside the van, Leo does as Mikey suggests and reaches out to help Donnie move into a more upright position.

"Easy, Donnie, it's okay," he says, voice low like he's talking to a spooked animal. "Raphie's bringing you a snack, and then-"

Oh, speak of the devil (hah); Raph is indeed back, with a very gross hunk of meat that Leo won't look at too long.

"There we go," he says, trying to guide Donnie in that direction now.

[purplexing]

The wild glow in those skulls' sockets flickers with his brothers' collective attempts to soothe him, but his hunger seems a more potent driving force, that flare stoked anew as he catches a whiff of fresh blood and meat, and hopefully he doesn't trigger everyone's hunger for how strong it hits.

Donnie lurches forward again. So much for slow. He barely manages to keep his feet under him, purple flames flickering across his black fur as all three heads lunge towards the stump of a leg. It doesn't take long for him to dig in past the first bite, straining to keep upright as he tries to sate his ravenous appetite.

It's not at all pleasant to watch three skull heads ripping into flesh and crunching through bone- actually it might be worrying how easily he does so. He can't quite turn down the feelings that ride with it, the hunger being slowly tempered by the satisfying taste, and the way bones break between his teeth soothes that lingering need to bite and shred.

[mystic_hands]

Oh, the hunger hits Mikey pretty hard, given how strongly he's holding onto that connection to try and help keep Donnie stay calm. The hunger isn't the problem.

It's the feeling of satisfaction that comes from flesh rending and bones cracking between his teeth along with the visage of the three heads sending bits of blood and gore splattering as they tear into it.

The box turtle's stomach gives both a sympathetic rumble of hunger AND a dangerous roll over it. His head snaps to the side and he closes his eyes tightly so he doesn't have to look. He can still hear it. Feel it. He can even smell it. Oh geez, that's... so gross..!!

The really distressing part, though, is that Mikey can feel how it makes his own changed teeth almost itch... like he wants to be doing the same thing Donnie currently is. Why does it feel like that would taste good?!

[saisdoesmatter]

It's not surprising in the slightest that Donnie moves for the food once he's somewhat upright. Raph practically tosses it to Donnie once he's after it, not about to lose one of his hands as the three heads snap it up and start crunching away. It's not exactly the most pleasant thing to watch, but given the monsturous sides of them? Practically commonplace now. After all, they all needed to recoup their energy when it came to new adventures and how badly the hunger strikes.

He shivers lightly and glances away. It's not easy to watch at times though, even if it becomes more common to all of them as the changes occur.

"Should I get more?"

[coffinturk]

The brush of hunger and feral need does not hit Vincent as hard. But he's close enough to pick it up and understand its danger. This time he's free of the smoke's influence from the summit and while he's gotten to know Donnie, he's not as close either physically or emotionally as the brothers and this spiritual connection of theirs.

But does he remember how feral they all looked and think it's a good idea to approach a denvan full of teenageferal beaststurtles and their prey?

No, you see him stop right there about five yards away from the remaining parts of the corpse, and though his senses are drawn to the blood scent and warmth he can see and smell, he chooses to call out instead.

"Leo. Mikey. Raph."

He suspects that Donnie's the one that's most indisposed still. But you young men better come out here and help not your dad with getting the groceriessupplies in so help him.

[faceguy]

Leo can feel the hunger, but it's muted because flesh and bone don't interest him at all. There's a sympathetic understanding of the hunger, the satisfaction, but it all feels distant for him. Something he used to know, and doesn't anymore.

When Mikey starts looking like he might puke, Leo reaches over to tuck him against his side instinctively.

"S'okay, Miguel," he says, averting his own eyes from Donnie's feast. "It'll go away when he's full."

Probably.

He's about to answer Raph when he hears Vincent call their names. He starts to get to his feet, possibly taking Mikey with him.

"Yeah, you can grab more while we help Vinny with whatever he brought."

Though now Donnie is so covered in blood that figuring out what's a wound and what's dinner is going to be a pain. Maybe they should drag him into the convoy and hose him down...