Okay, here's the last chapter…OR IS IT? You see, I actually continued the story a little bit further than where this one ends, but I'm not sure if I should post it. So I'll ask you guys, my readers, for your opinion: Do you want an extra chapter that goes a bit into Mikey's recovery and reflections from the turtles, Splinter, and April? Or does this chapter cut off where it should? Please tell me what you think. All that aside, the story will continue, as it has done for all this time…

"Ya shoulda' seen the size a' this thing—it was a freakin' mountain! An' we figured it was probably what those wolves collected from the forest an' all—"

"—That must've been the keeper's pile!" Leo exclaimed suddenly. "Dagger had told me about it when he got some blankets for Mikey."

"Okay, so it was called the keeper's pile or whateva'," Raph irritably responded to Leo's interruption for what seemed like the hundredth time. He was growing impatient at his brother's unnecessary input in the story of his and Don's experiences, but he let it slide this time. For now, he was happy that he was even able to argue with Leo—but of course, he'd never admit that. "So anyway, we started ta snoop around more an' still came up with nothin'." Raph said, continuing his tale. "But then we heard some noise an' decided ta check out whereva' it came from."

"That's when we ran into you, Leo," Don finished. Raph nodded proudly in agreement.

"And the rest is history, I suppose," Leo said listlessly.

"So, whaddya think, Leo?" Raph said in an amused tone. "Jealous that Don an' I could track down wolf spirits with our minds? How's that for mystic power, huh?" Raph elbowed Leo in the plastron playfully.

Leo cracked a smile. "I don't know Raph, I don't think I'd call that having mystic powers…" he trailed off mockingly.

Raph pushed Leo in the shoulder, making his brother stumble for a second. "I knew it, Don! He's totally jealous—"

"—Raph, I'm not." Leo cut off, shoving Raph back.

"It all starts with denial, bro," Raph retorted with a wide smile. He gave Leo one more teasing jab in his plastron before both brothers fell into one of their usual brawls. Though, this one was more for the fun of it.

Don rolled his eyes at the sight and jostled the sleeping turtle on his aching back. Mikey had been switched to his shell a little over an hour ago. "Well, I guess they're back to normal," he said under his breath. He twisted his head to peer at Mikey who had let out a few thick coughs. Don could feel the youngest shift a bit then settle back down, murmuring something unintelligible in his sleep. "Guys, you're getting too loud," Don warned his two bickering brothers. Suddenly, Raph and Leo froze and separated sheepishly.

"Sorry," Leo said with a guilty smile. He and Raph stole a glance behind them to see Mikey.

Raph was first to turn quickly back around. "So, much longer 'till we get back, genius?" he asked, his back to Don.

"Well since we've been walking for around three and a half hours, I'd say within the next half hour," Don replied.

And sure enough, true to Don's word, the turtles arrived in front the farmhouse half an hour later. They were exhausted, but still pushed themselves to get Mikey inside. But before they could even set foot on the old wooden porch, the front door burst open to reveal a very worried-looking Splinter.

"My sons!" Splinter cried as he ran up to Leo, Raph, Don and Mikey.

"Sensei!" three turtles called back. Splinter was pulled into a bone-crushing hug by Leo and Raph. When finally released, he said, "I have missed you all, and am glad that you all have returned."

"What have you guys been doing?" April shouted suddenly as she and Casey marched through the open door over to the turtles. "When we got that phone call, I thought you'd be heading straight over and—"

"—An' we were, April," Raph calmed. "But stuff happened…an' we got caught up 'n somethin' big."

"It's a long story, but right now, it'll have to wait," Leo said. He turned his eyes to Don, giving a silent signal.

Don promptly started to walk into the farmhouse with Mikey in tow. "Casey, Raph, I'm gonna need some help," he declared sharply, not looking back.

"Uh yeah, I'm comin'!" Casey called after Don. He dashed into the farmhouse behind the turtle without another word. Raph followed slowly after them. After giving a reassuring look to April, Splinter left as well, leaving April and Leo alone outside.

At the sight of an unconscious Mikey, April's angry frown had dropped into a look of concern. She put a hand on Leo's shoulder, noting the dirt that had caked on to it, and said softly, "Is Mikey okay? When you phoned us, it sounded like he had a small fever, but…" she stopped, swiveling her eyes to the open door of the farmhouse.

Leo sighed. "He's pretty sick now, yeah," he said in a low voice. He moved forward to the door, escaping April's hold. "But he'll pull though." He flashed a peculiar smile to April then vanished into the farmhouse.

For a moment April stood where Leo left her, thinking about what she had just witnessed. She had known the turtles for a while now and believed to have seen every side of them. She had seen them as silly and playful teenagers, fighting with each other now and again. She had seen them at their best and worst; victorious and jovial, wounded and angry. But Leo's expression was something new for her. Or rather, the feeling that Leo, Don, and Raph gave off was what caught her attention—a content, all-knowing feeling, as if they had learned a life lesson or something. April turned back to face the trail that the turtles had just come from, and looked down it as far as she could to where it faded in the dense forest undergrowth. "What happened there, out in the wilderness?" she muttered solemnly to herself. After another silent moment, she made her way back into the farmhouse. She shut the large, creaky door behind her gently, careful not to make too loud a noise; though from the sound of things, she could tell it was not going to be a quiet day.