"What? It's not true. Tell me it's not true. It can't be. Let me in there, Alvin!"

Simon sat up and placed his hand onto Theodore, trying to feel for any signs of life.

"Alvin, tell me you feel that. On.. on his wrist."

Alvin reached down and grabbed hold of his brother's wrist. He felt what he thought was a pulse.

"Alvin, I do feel it. It's not just you. Our brother is still with us. Hang on, Theodore. We'll get you warmed up. Somehow."

Alvin sat Theodore up and hugged him, letting his tears flow onto his brother's fur.

"Don't worry. I'm sure that when morning comes we'll all be home and this nightmare will be over."

"Simon, get real. We're alone in the middle of friggin' nowhere, our brother is almost dead and we're next!"

"Alvin, that is not true. We lived through winter before and we can do it again."

"It's called hibernation, stupid! Do you see us doing that right now? No. Theodore would still be with us if we were hibernating."

"He's not dead, Alvin. Not yet. I'm sorry that you have given up hope already but I'm hanging onto as much as I can. If we don't make it out of here alive…" Simon shivered and began to tear up.

"Yes? Then what will happen, mister smart guy?"

"If we don't make it out of here alive, at least I'll die with someone I love."

Simon rushed over to Alvin and held him close. The duo began to shake from the bitter cold creeping in from the outside.

"Come on. Let's try and get some sleep. Keep Theodore in the middle, and maybe our body heat will keep him alive long enough to see another day."

Simon shook his head and laid down next to his brother. He patted Theodore's head with his right hand and then tried his best to get some sleep. With the cold, sleep was hard for Alvin and Simon. From time to time Simon would sit up and check on Theodore, only to lie back down again. When the sun began to rise, the incoming beams of light caused Alvin to groan.

"Oh! I was having such a good dream, too. Simon? Is he… you know. Still alive?"

"Yes Alvin, but just barely. He desperately needs warmth and even then, he might not make it. Speaking of which, why are your lips all blue?"

"I'm cold, Simon… too… cold. I have ice on my tail, for crying out loud."

"Me too, Alvin. I'm.. oohhh…. Colllldddddd…"

"Simon! Not you too!"

In desperation Simon removed his shirt from Theodore and placed it back on himself.

"Oh yes… the… the warmth."

"Simon! Theodore needs it worse than you do."

"Yeah, I guess… guess you're right. So sorry, Theodore."

As he placed his shirt back onto Theodore, Simon noticed that his brother's leg twitched.

"Alvin? Did you… you see that?"

"Yeah. He moved! Dear god the actually moved!"

"Don't… don't get excited….it was a…just.. a…"

Simon fell forward and faced Theodore. He reached his hand outward and held it as tight as he could.

"Simon! You… you too? No. It can't be…"

"Don't worry about… me, Alvin. We'll be… be okay."

Simon let go of Theodore and rolled onto his back. Alvin looked outside and could see the remnants of the fire from the night before sticking out through the snow. He quickly scampered down the tree and took what sticks he could carry. He tried his best to start a fire within the confines of the hole but was having difficulty. His hands were too cold to maintain a decent grip on the sticks.

"Come on, damn it! I need the fire to save my brothers!" Alvin said in frustration.

After more failed attempts he could see smoke but had no fire.

"Come on, Alvin. You can do it. For Theodore and for Simon. Do it!"

He grasped the stick once again and furiously tried to get the fire started. He saw a spark fly from the stick and out the hole, followed by another soon after. Alvin then laughed as he looked down and saw that he indeed had a fire. A small one but a fire none the less. He then ventured back down the tree to try and gather more sticks. He took what little he found and went back to the fire.

"I really should have thought this through. A fire inside a hole in a tree? Not too smart."

Alvin picked up Theodore and dragged him as close as he dared to the fire. As he laid him back down, Alvin went back over to Simon and placed him next to his brother.

"This is bad. My brothers are going to die!" Alvin yelled as he felt his eyes starting to tear up.

Alvin felt himself shiver again. As he tried to stand up he became dizzy and fell down in between his brothers. He tried his best to sit back up but his muscles were not responding. In desperation he placed his hands on the ground and pushed. He managed to lift himself an inch or so from the ground before his arms gave out and he fell back down.

"Sorry I couldn't save you two. I… I love you guys…"