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Some TMNT stuff really isn't for little kids. |
Onida is a horse spirit who assumed the human form of an elderly Tlingit woman when she met April O'Neil during the latter's walkabout through Alaska.
History[]
In the 1940s, somewhere around a dozen families attempted to settle on Kruzof Island. The harsh environment made it nigh impossible to get a foothold, so they all left. The last family to leave took their half-tamed white horses, save for one mare which they couldn't catch before they left. She remained wandering the wilderness for the rest of her days. The guidebook, written in 1962, says that the horse was last spotted in 1959.
April O'Neil, taking a cross-country sojourn after finding out that her father drew her to life with a magic crystal, was reading about this story in a guidebook when she was startled by an old woman. April turns around, expecting a fight, but the kindly old lady introduces herself as Onida, a Tlingit of the Raven Clan. Onida says April is "pretty as a picture", and despite that being a common phrase, April, in her paranoia, assumes it's a jab at her origin, despite her not revealing any of it. April storms off and declares she wants to be alone.
April begins to feel bad about snapping at Onida. A few days later, she comes across a mother grizzly and her cub. Onida sneaks up behind her and gives her advice to back away slowly and silently. Once out of harm's way, the two women race to the beach and drop down into the sand, having a heart-to-heart. Onida points out that April seems happier than the last time they met, and April apologizes for her reaction. As night falls, they build a campfire, and April reveals her origin. April says that her father's belief in her brought her to life, but now that he's gone, she doesn't know what's keeping her alive. Onida says her own belief in herself is, but astutely points out that April had actually come there to die.
April is surprised that she figured that out, and says that knowing her origin has blinded her and consumed her thoughts, and that's why she wants to eke out her existence there, to get it all out of her head. Onida tells her she still has a choice, every action she makes is a choice.
The next morning, April is out hiking and comes across the grizzly mother and cub again. This time, the mother is agitated and chases April off of a cliff, with her only able to save herself by catching a root protruding from the side. The grizzly loses interest in her and bumbles away, with April left fearing for her life. She looks down and sees the ghost of Master Splinter floating there, and April declares she doesn't want to die. Onida appears at the cliff's edge and offers her her hand if she's serious about it. April takes and embraces Onida, trembling.
Later, as April paddles away from Kruzof in her kayak, she thanks Onida again for saving her life. Onida slowly transforms into the spirit of the white horse and thanks her for remembering her life.
See also[]
- Character gallery: Onida