Issue #14: Leave Heaven Alone

Following the action of "The Final Conflict," the Turtles are flying high above the earth in the warm mouth of Cudley the Cowlick. Cudley ascertains that the Turtles will be needed in a section of the world that faced dire distress everyday. But, he sensed that there may be a more important reason that the Turtles would be needed here.

Cudley spit out the Turtles in a green, vegetated clearing. At first the Turtles thought they were in Central Park, but in fact Cudley had taken them to the rainforest of South America. Cudley bid them farewell, and disappeared into the sky.

"You can't leave us here!" Mikey shouted.
"Not in the middle of some Jungle!" added Raphael.

"No -- not jungle... Tropical Rainforest!"

A jaguar-man leapt from the high branches of the trees and introduced himself -- he greeted the Turtles in peace, and they did the same. They tried to find out exactly where they were at from their new friend Jagwar, but were cut short when a jeep full of mercenaries with guns began shooting at them.

Following Jagwar deep into the forest, the Turtles came upon an ancient temple.
"Once I was worshipped here ... now it is my place of refuge." He continued to explain that the men shooting at them were mercenaries working to destroy the land -- for a "quick buck". The previous day, they had killed a friend of Jagwar's, Chico Mendes, who was an activist for the Forest People's rights. Now, they held an American news journalist captive. The Turtles agreed to help Jagwar in saving the reporter.

They ate some fruit of the Jangala tree to regain strength for their mission that night. As they did so, Jagwar told them a story about the circle of life (if you want more info on that, I suggest you watch The Lion King). After resting a bit, they headed out to rescue "she who is called April O'Neil!" The turtles were astonished and beat feet even faster to rescue their first friend.

They ambushed the guard and freed April. More guards came to fight... one of them armed with a chain saw -- which sliced through Donatello's bo. He was furious because it was a gift from Splinter. After they wasted the guards, April began to cry tears of joy. Then they noticed Jagwar was crying too. He cried for Chico Mendes, and also because he could smell a fire burning. He remembered that we lose 50 acres of rainforest every minute, and he thought of all the little lives that were killed or left homeless in the wake of the fires. He cried because he didn't know what else to do.

Five thousand miles to the north in New York City, a business man in a high rise was getting a phone call. The voice reported to him the rescue of April O'Neil and of her rescuers -- "Mutant Animals." The man sitting in the fancy chair looked outside to the giant city, and expressed his interest and gave orders to follow them. Mr. Null took another puff of his cigar and inquired about a bank take-over in Hong Kong.

Read my version of April's Journal: From the Journal of April O'Neil