Mikey giggled silently, watching from above, hidden behind branches and leaves, as Leo prowled underneath him. The blue banded turtle would take a few silent steps before pausing, barely breathing as he listened for a pad of a foot, the snap of a twig or the rustle of a leaf. Hearing nothing, he would continue, pausing a few steps before going on.

Mikey waited, holding his breath as he watched Leo move into the shadows of the forest. He knew this was where he had to remain statue-like, not breathing or even twitching. He could only pray the wind wouldn't dance through the forest – leaves falling would make the blue banded turtle look up. And that was the last thing he wanted.

"Alright Michelangelo," Leo whispered, causing Mikey to draw in a sharp breath. "I know you're around here somewhere. You can't stay that quiet for long – all I have to do is wait you out."

Not cool dude….

A grin filled Leo's face as he relaxed. "I'm impressed Mike – perhaps you aren't around here." And with that, he moved off.

Mikey watched, taking slow and tiny breaths as he watched his eldest brother move away and deeper into the forest, no doubt looking for Raph and Don. Don would no doubt be found first. While the brother was usually quiet and shy, he tended to let his mind wander off at the strangest times, resulting in him loosing focus.

And even though Raph had stayed behind to watch the kids, Mikey knew he was having his own game of hide and seek with the little ones.

Raph along with Leo, were always the last to be found. The blue banded turtle took everything, including an innocent game of hide and seek, too far. Raph would always try to outdo Leo, and that always made the game last a few hours past what a regular game should.

Snapping himself back into the game, Mike went on with his silent vigil. The cold night air blew around him gently, tickly his skin and whispering in his ear. He didn't like to admit it, but the night had always scared him slightly.

He was pretty sure it wasn't all those monster movies he watched, or the comic books about mummies and vampires moving through the forest at night, waiting and watching for unsuspecting humans to prey on.

Wait a second….mummies don't eat people. Or do they….

His thoughts strayed to the movie, the Mummy, with Brendan Fraser, and how the mummy, Imhotep, took the skin and body parts from victims to restore himself. A shiver ran up his body and he shook, taking another calming breath.

Chill Mike dud, you're just scaring yourself.

His froze, listening to the music of the night. The crickets chirped happily, owls hooted, and far away, wolves howled to the bright full moon above. There was also twigs snapping and dog whimpers and –

Dog whimpers? Mikey thought as he coked his head. What the shell?

Dropping to the ground, he prowled forward, following the sound. After a few minutes of walking, the sound of whimpers and small, pitiful moans hit his sharp ears like a knife to the chest. The sounds were sad and full of pain.

Mikey pushed aside a large brush and was met with a gruesome sight that made his stomach churn and his skin grow pale.

There was a small dog, a puppy by the looks of it, chained to a tree. One paw was wrapped in the chain attached to a twine collar, held firmly to his chest. The chain was wrapped around a tree and tangled in roots.

The puppy looked up as Mikey approached and let out a whimper in pain. Mikey winced, seeing scars marking the black puppy fur and a scar across the muzzle, still bleeding. As the orange banded turtle got closer, he could see it was a wolf pup – by the large size, triangular shaped ears, small tail, and a lean body with large paws.

"You poor thing," Mikey murmured as he dropped to his knees beside the puppy. He reached out, gently stoking the fur. Even in the blanket of the night, he could see ribs sticking out and feel the ribs under the fur. He felt a burning hatred towards the one who did this….

Who the shell could be so cold-hearted to do this to an innocent animal…a puppy no less….

Another moan made him look up and the sight sent more rage through his veins. A few feet away was a horse, head hanging low. Mikey could see the halter imbedded in the skin on the once pretty head and the mane hanging in knotted and grime covered clumps on the skinny neck. The hips stuck out on both sides and the bones could be seen even more clearly then the pups. The puppy at least had fur to hide his sorry condition.

With a shaky hand, he brought his shell cell to his ear and hit a button on the side. A few rings later, Mikey relaxed as the voice of Leo floated through the speaker.

"Yeah Mike? You okay?"

He always assumes the worst when we call….Mikey thought in amusement. "Yeah bro, but I need you and Don to come here."

"Why? What's going on?"

Mikey closed his eyes. "Gruber." He whispered, desperately trying to keep the rage out of his voice. He could hear his older brother draw in a sharp breath.

"Be right there Mike."

Mike stuck the small phone back in his leather pocket. The small puppy in his lab, chain cut away, was huddling on Mikey's lap, pressing close to the turtle for warmth. The turtle cuddled him closer, whispering comfort in his ears. He was sure, despite what his brothers say, that animals understood.

They could tell when someone was trying to hurt them….and when someone was trying to help. Animals could feel lots of things humans could never even begin to imagine – just nobody took the time like Mikey did to help all animals. After all, they were just innocent creatures who try and please.

"Mike?" Don's voice.

"Over here bro!" Mikey shouted.

A few seconds later, there were two footfalls and a second later, the figures of Leo and Don. Don quickly went over to Mikey, his light brown eyes softening at the sight of the cowering and shaking animal in Mikey's arms while Leo went to help and free the horse from its restraints.

"Let me look at it…" he said softly.

"Her."

Don met Mikey's gaze. The youngest turtle swallowed hard.

"It's a girl." He said in the same quiet tone. "Her name is Jade."

"Jade?" Don's eyes shifted to the dog's neck, looking for an identification tag. Seeing none, he looked back up at Mikey's tearful gaze. He knew it was too much to hope the dog already had a name – when Mikey saw a homeless animal, he had a name within a minute. "Alright then, Jade." He picked up the small puppy, noting the scars and bruises and thin frame.

Poor thing….

"Don, can you help me?" Leo called out.

Don nodded, handing Jade back to Mike before going over to Leo.

Leo was standing by the horse's head. Somehow, he'd managed to cut off the halter, leaving behind raw skin. His leather belt was wrapped loosely around the horse's neck. The poor animal had its head draped over Leo's shoulder, resting the large head on his thick shoulder.

After a quick check, he could see the horse was a mare, a female horse. And despite the mud and loose hair, he could tell she had once been a beautiful palomino color with a striking white blaze on her face and four even white socks.

Don ran his hands down her back, feeling the slight tremor. Hands on her rump, he started to feel for broken bones when he felt a strange mark. Looking down, he let out a low growl at the brand on the horse's hind leg. It was the same mark Raph had – the horse had once belonged to Gruber.

"This horse had been left to starve Leo, we can't leave them here."

"I know Don."

The two brothers swapped a look that said the same thing – there was no was in shell that they were leaving the animals out in the woods to starve.

"How's she doing over there April?" Don asked from the straw with the puppy. He had her wrapped in a large, fluffy towel, holding her close as he disinfected her scars. Jade had inhaled a bowl full of warm milk and a small bowl of plain oatmeal. She wasn't squirming at all, still too weak to move around much.

April was in the stall with Leo, fastening a buckle loosely around the mare's chest. Casey had found a horse blanket in a chest in the stable, tucked away, along with a grooming kit and tack. Leo had just got done making warm bran mash, found from a website. The small meal contained grain, mashed carrots, molasses, and a few slim apples slices, all stirred into warm water to make it warm and easy to swallow.

The mare had ducked her head down into the bucket, all but gulping the warm meal down. She also had a bucket full of water, slightly warm so it was still cold enough to drink but not too cold it would give her colic.

Don had read about colic and how the horse's insides twisted up and swelled till it burst. He knew that if it should happen, the best way to loosen it and save the horses life was too keep the horse up and walking and not let it lay back down. Walking eased the tension and pain.

"She's beautiful." April whispered, stroking the golden head. She taken a warm washcloth and washed away as much dirt from the golden coat and a brush. The coat was far from beautiful, but it was a big improvement.

Leo chuckled. "You going to name her?"

April gave a small smile. "I already did. Miracle."

"Miracle?"

"Think about it Leo," April said, seemingly lost in thought. "It was a miracle that they survived – she's in horrible shape. She's a really fighter."

"They both are." Leo said softly, looking over at Jade and Miracle. It truly was nothing short of a miracle that they were still alive.

Like Raph…

"We're not going to let them get away with this are we Leo?" Mikey called out.

All eyes turned towards the blue clad turtle. The tension in the stable grew as they waited for the answer.

"No."

"She's gorgeous." Raph said simply, stoking Miracle's velvet soft muzzle. The mare had her head hanging low over the stall door, pressing her head into Raph's offered hadn. Her ears twitched annoyingly as flies buzzed around her head.

"It's amazing really." April said, shaking her head. "Any other animal that would've gone through what these two did would be terrified of everything. But it's like they understand we're trying to help them."

"They do."

Everyone turned to the orange banded turtle. He was sitting in a straw pile with Jade and Raph's three kids. The black wolf puppy was sitting by Carley, gently taking part of the offered bread in her tiny green hand.

"They understand." Mikey went on. "They just need someone who understands too." His blue eyes flickered to Raph and Miracle. It was obvious they had a connection – that they had bonded within the short hour. "And Raph does."

They suffered the same fate at the hands of Gruber – shared the mental wounds that would never heal. They bore the mark of a man full of hate.

To the others, the mark, the brand, meant pain and torture…hurt and suffering. But it also signified something deeper than pain. It meant they were alive.

Survivors.

Leo looked at Raph with a tired smile. Raph may never be the same but he was still filled with passion….a never ceasing fire.

A fire that no man could put out.

"I have a question though." Casey suddenly spoke up.

Leo sighed. Only Casey could ruin a moment like this with a stupid question or comment. "What?"

"What ya gonna do with em?"

Okay, maybe not so stupid a question.

"Jade is staying with us." Raph spoke quietly. "Miracle is going to a home where she can help other kids heal from wounds of the past."

Leo exchanged glances with Don. Somehow, he always knew Jade was going to stay with them from the moment his family laid eyes on the tiny wolf pup. But he was glad that Miracle would be going to a better home.

It would be almost impossible to keep a full grown horse in the sewers. And besides all the problems they would have, it wasn't fair to Miracle for her to be locked down where there was no room to run, no sun to shine on her beautiful golden coat, no grass to graze…

"Thank you Leo!" Mikey squealed, jumped to his feet and grabbing Leo in a crushing bear hug. The second the youngest turtle had seen the look on Leo's face, he knew Raph's words were true.

Don chuckled at the sight. Mikey was acting like someone had just given him a puppy…wait, someone did.

After a short reunion with Leo and a few girly screams, Mikey bounded over to Don, acting like a kangaroo, hopping around with seemingly endless energy. Don held up his arms, protecting his face as Mikey's arms wrapped around him.

"Okay Mike!" Don shouted, seeing a flash of blue and green out the door as Leo fled to the safety of the woods. He struggled out of his brother's grasp, wishing with envy that he was in Leo's mask and escaping the hugs and love of Michelangelo.

Leo picked his way through the woods, pushing aside branches that hung low in the path. Dry leaves crackled under his weight as twigs snapped.

Its amazing how things can change so quickly…five years ago there was five of us. Now, there are eight of us and a dog. I'm an uncle with a son-like nephew….how can things go from good, to horrible, to perfect?

"Move it you stupid beast!"

Leo froze, eyes scanning the forest before gathering himself and jumping into the tree above him. Using his arm muscles, he hoisted himself up and towards the trunk of the tree. The shadows cast by the leaves blocked him from the sun and hopefully, from anyone down below.

Slowly a large shape moved forwards. Leo leaned forward slightly, squinting. He winced, hearing the sound of leather striking flesh and the pain filled whinny of a horse.

Miracle…

He reached for the hilt of his katana, prepared to draw it out if he saw the golden coat of Miracle. Instead, he saw a dirty gray horse stagger into view, a large bulky shape on its back. The horse staggered, tripping over a root. Leo felt himself start to burn with anger as the man brought out his crop again, striking the horse harshly on its rump. Blood trickled down and the horse lifted its head, letting out a sharp whinny.

Leo could easily see the horse was in the same sorry shape Miracle was in when they found her – bones sticking out everywhere, blood and bruises marking golden hair. He could see the horse the man was riding was in the same sorry shape.

"Move it!" the man jerked up on reins while at the same time hitting the horse. He raised his head up, snarling.

Leo thought his heart would stop in his chest when he saw the gray eyes – he recognized the man from the picture. The man from the internet photo on the website where Don saw the reward for Raph…his gray eyes were wide and full of something Leo had only seen in Shredder's eyes.

Gruber.

Leo wasn't sure what happened next. One second he was in the tree, viewing the man who had hurt his brother with disgust. The next thing he knew, he heard the surprised grunt of the horse and the yell of the man.

The next second he was on the ground, sword drawn, kneeling over Gruber. His sword was pressed painfully against the man's throat, drawing a thin line of blood. He knew that behind his blue mask, his chocolate eyes were full of revenge and the need to get back at him…for everything he had done his brother and to his family.

The man's gray eyes widened as he took in the green skin. He knew that turtle….

"You." He hissed. His eyes suddenly widened and a chuckle erupted from his throat. "You're mine!" he cackled. "I knew you would come back! I broke you!"

Leo had to stop himself from applying more pressure to the man's throat. "Don't you say another word." He hissed. "That was my brother you captured. My brother you branded."

"Mine." His eyes gleamed wickedly.

"No." Leo growled. "He was never yours. He's ours – he's our brother. And if I ever find that you've come near my family again I'll kill you." He looked away, trying hard not to end the crazed man's life. "It's against my honor not to kill you and let me tell you, it's taking all my power not to press down like this…" he gently pressed down.

As much as it went against everything he was taught, he felt pleasure seeing Gruber's eyes fill with man and it pleased him to hear a hiss of pain come out of his lips.

No…this is wrong…

But if feels so good to avenge my brother….he did this to Raph…he deserves to be in pain too…more….

STOP!

Leo jerked away as though he'd been stabbed. He withdrew his katana. "You have one chance." He said in a low, deadly voice. "To leave and if I ever you find out that you've hurt another animal, I will hunt you down."

His eyes narrowed even lower. "And I will kill you."

He got off of Gruber and walked towards the horse that was standing off a few feet away, head hanging low till it almost touched the ground. Leo could see it was a stallion by a quick check.

"Easy boy…easy." He murmured, reaching out with one hand to grab the dangling reins. The leather cut into the gray skin on the head, the area around the bridal raw. Gently grapping the reins, he made his way towards the buckle and undid it. He slid the bridal over the ears and let it fall to the ground. He quickly did the same with the saddle.

Undoing his belt, he copied like he did with Miracle, sliding it loosely around the horse's skinny neck to act as a guide. "Easy there boy. No one's going to hurt you again."

He blinked suddenly, standing straight up.

"He's wanted in two countries Leo. If you even find him…don't kill him." Don's voice. "Hold him and turn him in – he's dangerous Leo. Never trust a crook."

Never trust a crook….

"Shell." Leo whirled around, drawing his blade again, towards Gruber. The only spot left was faint marks made in the leaves where the man had laid only a minute ago. Leo growled, looking around, hoping Gruber was still in his sights.

He'd let his honor get the best of him…he'd let Gruber go and now he was out again – he could hurt more animals.

What have I done?

He did what he thought was right. He thought he could give the man another chance….he was stupid. He was a fool. He had one thought echoing in his mind…one thought that he knew would haunt him until he could look at Gruber's laughing gray eyes behind bars.

What have I done?

Yes, Leo saw gruber and let him go. *runs and hides*

if you wanna see Don cream Leo for doing it, review!

Please?