Hey guys! It's been a long while since the last chapter which I apologize.

Now returning to the story: we finally come back to Raphael and Donatello, let's see what they're up to…

As always: let me know what you think of this chapter or the story overall. Thoughts and reviews feed an author's soul.

Chapter 11 : On Their Way

Donatello and Raphael had searched the woods and had found a small path in the tall, dry grass. Donnie explained that the trail was probably a frequent route for wild deer, and that because of its resemblance to a manmade path there was a greater chance that Michelangelo stuck to it rather than unbeaten ground.

Raph groaned as Donnie went into a deep discussion with himself about deer and other wildlife habits, but the hothead didn't complain. They had both been pretty unfocused and slow for the last two hours. The cold was already nibbling on their bones, and Raphael wasn't sure anymore if he still felt all his toes. – He knew Donnie couldn't, the tall turtle's head slumped too many times, almost falling asleep while standing. Raph had to physically shake him every time to keep him awake and focused.

Why couldn't they have just followed April's advice and returned to the house?

'April,' Raph thought. – Their sister and Casey had been calling them for hours already. Raph knew they were probably freaking out wherever they were. Both, he and Donnie, would have gladly answered the calls and tell them they were alright, but the problem was their coldblooded bodies were already so cold that the touchscreen on their phones wasn't detecting their skin anymore.

Raph was brought out of his thoughts as Donnie swayed a little too far to the side.

"C'mon, Brainiac, I think I see a kind of opening over there," Raph pointed with his numb finger through the thick branches and twigs. There seemed to be a tiny meadow further down. Raph didn't see it clearly but the grass there looked a few shades lighter, as if the first early morning light could reach it.

Donnie looked at the direction, squeezing his eyes to see better – because the flashlight in his hand totally couldn't help at all.

"We should stay on this deer track, I think its resemblance to a path would surely convince Mikey to stay on it." Donnie tiredly swayed on his feet.

"Well I think Mikey would rather be near an opening because it's lighter and the kid hates being in the dark alone," Raph deadpanned and crossed his arms.

Donnie blinked a couple of times as if weighting the two options thoughtfully. His gaze slowly lowered from his brother to the path, where he stood.

"But the deer path"-

"God!" Raph grabbed Donnie's trench coat sleeve, and yanked him towards the opening. "Mikey isn't a damn deer." He walked through the thick layers of twigs and dry leaves as his younger brother stumbled behind him like a newborn elephant. The flashlight in his hands flashed all around except the way they were headed. It wasn't long before Raphael had enough and snatched the light from his brother's grasp, and held it in front of them. Donnie seemed too dazed to even notice.

After a couple of minutes, and a few new scratches from branches, the two boys came upon the small grassy opening. The open sky above them was becoming lighter, and the birds started announcing the beginning of a new day. But the only thing the two noticed was a dead campfire in the middle of the opening.

Smoke still ascended from the blackened wood, and the ashy pile radiated a welcoming warmness that had both freezing turtles stumbling forward. Raph kneeled in front of the embers and dragged Donnie down next to him. Their freezing hands reached forward as they tried to suck in all the warmness it still held.

Raph couldn't help but close his eyes and smile at the treasure they came across.

"This fire must have been put out recently…" Donnie mumbled next to him after a quiet moment.

Raph's eyes snapped open and looked at his tall brother. Donatello's head stayed directed far to the right, where Raph noticed a small camouflaged tent under the trees. His breath got stuck in his throat as he grabbed Donnie's shell protectively. They both sat watching the tent in silence, waiting for something to happen, someone to come running through it.

After almost a minute Raph let go of Donnie's shell. He lifted himself up, his gaze staying on the tent.

"Wait here," he ordered Donatello, who nodded and stayed put, but his eyes followed Raphael.

Raph slowly walked over to the tent. He looked around at all the hunting equipment, carefully, and then crouched down before the tent. Hesitatively he reached forward and zipped down its zipper.

He let out a relieved sigh when he saw the tent deserted.

"There's no one here."

"Are you sure? –This is very suspicious." Donnie narrowed his eyes while looking around.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Raph grumbled.

Before returning to the warmness of the dead fireplace, he snuck into the tent and pulled out a thick and soft blanket. With the warm object in his hands he headed over to his brother, and plopped down next to him cross-legged.

Without giving any kind of warning, he pulled Donnie's feet into his lap and gently wrapped them up in the warm blanket. He scooted closer to the embers with the large feet grasped between his arms.

Raph avoided his brother's gaze, this kind of gesture was against his macho policy and he knew Donnie was offering him a goofy thankful smile in return. He noticed the flashlight beside him was still flashing and reached to down to turn it off.

The sky was becoming whiter by the minute, and it only kept reminding Raph how much time had already passed. His stomach turned as another thought of his baby brother crossed his mind. He squeezed Donnie's feet closer to his plastron, protectively.

"We'll warm ourselves a little, then we're back to searching."

"Agreed," Donnie slurred and nodded, and Raph couldn't help but look at him. He looked pale and exhausted, and he shook slightly in the thin trench coat, but his features still held a soft smile Raph couldn't help but return.

Minutes ticked by as they stayed by the embers, none of them wanting to leave the warmness. Donnie's head had slumped a couple of times and Raph made sure to shake him awake every time. He wondered if Mikey had been able to shake himself awake unlike Donnie…

The sky was already a bright white when Donatello's T-phone suddenly started ringing after a while. It startled Raph but his shoulders slumped when he realized what it was. The tall turtle watched the small phone under his belt for a few seconds before reaching down to answer.

"Why do you bother, Donnie? It's pointless…" Raph muttered and hugged the large, wrapped feet in his lap. This whole rescue had been out of hands from the whole beginning. They were disconnected from each other, didn't know where they were, and where to search for their lost brother.

"Hi, April."

Raphael's head snapped up so fast it was a miracle he didn't break his neck. His eyes were wide as he saw his brother on the phone. How did he answer? Their hands must have warmed up just enough for the touchscreen to sense them.

"Donnie! Where are you guys?! Why didn't you answer?! I've been freaking out for hours!" Raph could hear April's voice screaming into Donnie's ear, but the tall boy didn't seem to notice the hysteria, and kept his tired, blank expression.

"We're sitting by a fire but it's out-"

"Give me that!" Raph snatched the phone from Donnie who didn't complain. "April!"

"What fire? – Raph? What's going on? What's with Donnie? He sounds off."

"Yeah, Don's not himself right now."

"Is he okay?"

"He was never really tolerant of cold weather. But he's kinda okay."

"Thank God. I thought something bad happened to you two. Why didn't you answer our calls?"

"The touchscreens didn't sense our fingers anymore. Being coldblooded can be a real thorn in the side."

"Oh… Are you alright now?" April asked worriedly as always.

"Better than before. We found a small campfire and tent with no one around. The fire was out but it was still warm enough so we were able to warm ourselves up a bit-"

"You're by an empty tent? Where?"

"I have no idea. –Somewhere west from the farm."

"Is the tent like –like for a hunter or something?"

"Uhm… yeah, I think so?" Raph looked over at the tent to see all the hunting and camping equipment again.

"Does it maybe have like… like an old geezer smell?"

"What the hell?" Raph's face twisted in confusion.

"Forget it, Raph," April muttered. "I think I know where you are. We're headed there with Casey but we still have a good hour until we reach it."

"Why are you headed here?"

"We met the huntsmen who own the tent. One of them saw Mikey less than two hours ago and he said he wandered towards Buck Peak. He shouldn't be too far."

"They saw Mikey? –Wait! –He's still awake!?" Raph shoot out which startled Donnie. Mikey was still wandering around! This was more than a relief.

"Hopefully. Listen, Raph, you and Donnie have to go northwest from where you are, towards Buck Peak, a large hill. The old man told us Mikey wandered in that direction, it's the only lead we have."

"April, I have no idea in what direction northwest is!" Raph panicked.

"I can't help you with that! …Ask Donnie! He should know," April suggested, mirroring Raph's sudden panic.

"Okay… okay… I'll figure something out. I'll call you later, April."

"Please do."

"See ya."

"Yeah, see you." April's voice sounded unsure, but Raph didn't feel the urge to soothe her at the moment.

He canceled the call and turned to Donnie, who's been staring at him and listening to the whole conversation. His face looked a lot more focused than before. His expression was stern but held the hope April brought back.

"Okay, little bro. I have to count on you to figure out the way."

"Northwest's that way," Donnie pointed across from them.

"You sure, Brainiac? That was pretty fast, even for you," Raph questioned, knowing how unfocused his brother had been for hours.

"Positive," he said seriously.

Raphael nodded, "I trust you."

He lifted Donnie's feet off his lap and pulled off the blanket. They both wobbled back to their feet and Raph threw the blanket over Donnie's head. "Wrap yourself before we reach Mikey." He helped Donnie tuck it around his shoulders but then quickly stepped back when he caught himself in the act.

"Now let's hurry," he turned in the direction Donnie pointed before. "If we're lucky, he's close."

"We'll find him, Raph." Donatello clasped his hand on his brother's shoulder, reassuringly. Raph looked up to see new confidence and seriousness that overwhelmed all the exhaustion that had kept Donnie down for hours.

Raph returned the same look, new confidence overflowing him as well. They knew where to search, and the light of day will help them find Mikey even faster. Everything was going to turn out fine.