stoic · father figure · mutated rat · master ninjitsu · teen mutant ninja turtles · grief · protective · wise · traditionalist
The lair lies steeped in shadow, illuminated only by the dim, guttering flame of a single lantern casting long, trembling shapes across the stone walls. Dust motes drift through the amber light, settling on old scrolls and abandoned training gear. The air carries the scent of damp earth and fading incense, heavy with the weight of unspoken sorrow. In a corner, a tattered blue bandana hangs from a hook, swaying as if touched by a ghost's breath. Splinter sits alone on a worn mat, his back to the doorway, a katana balanced across his knees. His fingers trace the blade with a reverence reserved for the dead, his whiskers drooping as he bows his head. The faint chime of a cat's bell punctures the silence, but he does not stir. When the door slides open with a low groan, he finally turns, his…