dayum...the feeels right there...i want to murder hun now...shred head be better...i need a tissue *cries*...awesome feelz to the story keep it up! _

SleepingSeeker, you've written some incredible stuff, but this one went above and beyond. I can't believe it hasn't gotten more attention! The imagery alone as you establish the setting left me reeling right alongside Leonardo and his loss. Not only that, but you really force the reader to sit back a moment and think about what really is important.

I know I have never reviewed one of your pieces before (I apologize for it is long overdue), but I have long admired your work SleepingSeeker. Admittedly, it's probably because I view you in such high regard that I have been too shy to say anything up until now, but this piece was so phenomenal, I could stay silent no longer. It truly was devastatingly beautiful and you give me much to aspire towards in my own work. Thank-you!

wonderful story

*sob* Heart-wrenching doesn't even begin to cover it. Your dialogue and imagery skills are very impressive and the flow of the story runs so well

Seeker, this was awesome, as always. It really resounds. I tend to write about the darker/more realistic aspects of life, as I find them meaningful; this story sums up why I tend to read and write the things I do. It's powerful. There's just something about death that brings life into perspective. Perhaps it is because most people push thoughts of death from their minds until it touches them in some way. In any case, death hits close to home, it forces one to re-evaluate life-what's important, what's not, what matters, what doesn't-until entirely new perspectives form.

Raph follows Leo because he has nothing else. Though they always had a love/hate relationship (with a side of jealousy), Raph does the mature thing and extends an olive branch to Leo. He is hurting and he knows Leo is as well; moreover, he knows the only way they can heal is with each other. All of the petty crap-the rivalry, the machismo-it no longer matters. They need one another and band together. It's touching.

Your work forces me to view the characters in new ways. That is high praise. Whenever I'm lookig for a quality TMNT fic, I simply look up your page and read something I haven't read yet. It never disappoints. Awesome work, as always. I shall return for more in the near future.

Poor Leo and Raph! This is a very sad story. I have no idea why, but for some reason I didn't cry. This kind of stuff usually makes me bawl my eyes out.

That was heartbreaking, but brilliantly written. I enjoyed the softer side of Raph

Ohhhhh my gosh. Yes, tissue please! Agh. This is just beautiful and sad, and your descriptions are very vivid. Wow! I think my favorite part about it is that Raphael REALLY is the younger brother here, and he's still in character; in fact I've never seen him portrayed this way, this accurately before. So bravo!

I need a tissue... I seriously cried during this story, I had no idea what you had coming when I started reading this and it hit me with no warning. I had no idea it was Leo in the beginning either, and I think that that was REALLY well done! I love how you made Raph somehow Leo's younger brother, yet someone who he depends on at the same time, this is just a work of art! I can't wait to read about Splinter, I always look forward to a heartwarming tale... ;)

Definitely needed tissues for that one. Beautifully written, emotionally gripping...I'm lost for words. A new contender for the top of my favourites list.

Woah, yeah that's definitely a, uh... different take on Splinter? I almost thought that the scene with Leo and Splinter was a dream because of how harsh Splinter was. Like he was a compilation of Leo's own guilt and self-hatred at the death of his brothers that manifested to appear to be Splinter. But I don't think that's it.

I guess I'm not 'upset' by the way you portrayed Splinter, just really confused.

Tissue *nods* Yes, please, like a whole box of them :'(
That was just so SAD, SS. My heart feels like it's been tied into a hundred little knots. I mean, brilliant work and all, but... I listened to the song as I read, and I must say this story will most likely haunt me the rest of the night.

Jeez, I don't even know where to start in terms of coherently reviewing this thing. That intro... oh gosh. CHILLS! You gave me such chills with that prose, with the way you spoke of the character's emotions and described the scene. Just thinking about it has me shivering in my seat.
And I thought it would be Raph who would run like that... but Leo? That knocked the wind out of me, figuratively. To be literal, I gasped aloud. Oh goodness, okay. Calm. Deep breath.
The mere fact that I can't seem to get a handle on my emotions right now should speak volumes. Just... amazing oneshot. This will be tucked away into my favorites, for sure.
Can't wait for your next master piece. :')
Cheers! your red writing rebel

Good LORD! Your prose is gorgeous and emotional; it's wonderful and had me wrapped up in it in an instant. But, just like with your Tender Trap story, you start writing Splinter and your characterization crashes the entire thing.

WHY is your Splinter such a JERK? It's almost like you seem to think that you can only write strong attachments if the character disregards established connections with everyone else in comparison. I'm not saying that Splinter is a saint; he has every right to feel frustrated, broken with sorrow and angry. But Leonardo is also one of his children. At the very least, I would have expected him to be extremely conflicted, battling with the natural urge to blame someone and not wanting to foist it on Leo (ya know, because the guy is HIS SON) at the same time, even if he secretly really thinks so. These kinds of situations need to be written with more complexity. Having Splinter react simply with violent and icy outbursts of hatred seems odd to me. Put simply, his reaction doesn't make sense.

It feels like you don't bother to balance his affections for the people he has accepted as family, nor his established morality. You've tripped up on this more than once. For example, in the Tender Trap series, in all his fuss about Donatello (it's warranted, don't get me wrong) he doesn't seem to care about April, her situation or her emotions at all, despite the fact that he has expressed her importance to him (or at least a level of fondness) in both 2k12 and 2k3 canons. You tilt him too far to one side when it should be more complicated than that. Scenarios like this are rarely black and white.

You are a wonderful writer; for me, the way you write Splinter is your only issue. Seriously, that is the only problem. Remember, Splinter isn't just a tool that causes teenaged turtles to angst/intensify said angst; he is a character all on his own. Otherwise, you are definitely one of the gems in the community, and can only continue to grow. Please consider what I have said. Thank you!

Awww, what a sad little story. I can see Raph wanting to hang on to Leo and reassuring him that it's not his fault that the others died. Yeah, you do write Splinter as cruel sometimes, but I can see Splinter acting that way at times out of anger and grief. He really does love Leo and the others. I can't wait for that Turtle Tot story for sure. Nicely done on this.

The Bubbly One,
Shell

A tissue? Gah, I need a dozen! You really got me with this one. Mikey and Donnie both? And then Splinter dies of (I assume) a broken heart? Man, this is just too tragic for words...