SEVEN MINUTES PRIOR:

The large white mass cascaded towards Donnie and Mikey and remembering what he'd seen in a movie, Mikey immediately climbed the nearest tree right to the top and hung on the branches for dear life. That'd saved the movie character. It'd hopefully also save him and Donnie would do the same thing. It felt like an eternity that he hung there, but eventually the mass passed by him and he slowly climbed down unhurt.

"Donnie? Leo?" Mikey shouted anxiously. Seeing no one, dread bubbled in his belly. They didn't make it, he thought mournfully. Oh hell. How am I going to tell Sensei and April and how will I find Raph now?

An anguished moan pulled Mikey out of his thoughts. He realized that it emanated not far away from him and he rushed towards it.

Frantically digging through the snow with his hands, Mikey soon found Donnie, whose body had been crushed by the avalanche; his breathing labored, as he gazed into Mikey's eyes. Pain was evident on Donnie's face, as Mikey gripped his hand and blinked back tears.

"You're going to make it, bro," Mikey said tearfully. "You have to. We need you and love you. I'll look for…."

"No, Mikey. I'm not. My injuries are severe," Donnie said weakly. "I'm not afraid of death. It's my time and I accept it. I love you all and I'll miss you all so much. I'm sorry I failed you guys by dying and by not being able to find Raph. You find him, okay? Don't give up. I'll…."

Donnie's words trailed off, as he shuddered a final time, his body shutting down. His eyes then grew glassy and he stared vacantly around him. Gone forever.

Unable to contain the grief and desolation he felt, Mikey threw himself onto his brother's body and wept uncontrollably. His intelligent and loving brother was no more. Life was so damn unfair. Donnie had been such a wonderful person. He hadn't deserved this. It wouldn't have happened if Slash hadn't taken Raphael. Mikey wasn't a bloodthirsty or vengeful person by nature, but it was a different story if anyone messed with the people he loved. He'd do anything for them, even avenging their murders. He vowed he'd be the one to throttle Slash with his bare hands. It wouldn't bring Donnie back, but it'd be justice for all the heartache that Slash had directly and indirectly caused.

Mikey heard voices in the distance and his heart skipped a beat. The guys, he thought. They made it. Have to go to them. He pressed a kiss to Donnie's temple and headed to the source of the voices, his head bowed, tears running down his face and wondering how to break the news of Donnie's death to the others.

XXXX

Seeing Leo rooted to the spot, Casey ignored his own safety and lunged at him, pushing him out of harm's way and falling hard to the ground, his body shielding Leo's. The white mass continued rolling, destroying everything it encountered: trees, bushes and of course whatever wildlife happened to be in the wrong place. A solitary hawk hovered above, shocked that its intended victim had been swept away and an eerie stillness now reigned.

Panting hard, Casey climbed off of Leo and said, "Leo, you okay?"

Leo sat up and said shakily, "Yeah. Thank you. You saved my life. I thought I was a goner."

"No problem, pal."

"Did Donnie and Mikey make it?" Leo asked worriedly.

"I don't know, Leo. I hope so, but," Casey said and gestured towards the damage caused by the avalanche. "Nothing could withstand that."

Leo was about to reply, when he saw a familiar figure walking towards them, its head lowered. It was Mikey and Leo rushed to his side, grateful Mikey had survived, but fearful he was about to learn heartrending news. Something that'd devastate their family and that'd leave a huge void in it forever. The loss of another brother.

Mikey raised his head and Leo saw he'd been crying. Leo just knew. Donnie, their genius brother, was gone. No words were necessary. He pulled Mikey in for a hug and both sobbed freely, the leader allowing himself to mourn, instead of maintaining his usual stoicism. His brother, his baby brother, was gone and nothing would ever be the same again. Leo's heart ached for Donnie, who'd often been his confidante. The mild mannered genius had been taken too young and it was all Slash's fault. If the bastard hadn't kidnapped Raphael, none of them would be here and Donnie would still be alive. Leo's blood boiled at the thought and he imagined avenging Donnie by killing Slash with his katana. Splinter and Leo didn't believe in vengeance, but they'd make an exception for this and in Raphael's case.

The brothers broke apart. Casey, who didn't usually cry, blinked back tears and said sadly, "I'm sorry, guys. Donnie was a fantastic guy and I'll miss him."

"Thanks, Casey," Leo said. "Mikey, how'd it happen?" he asked in a broken voice.

Mikey wiped fresh tears away with the back of his hand and said, "He yelled that an avalanche was coming. I climbed the first tree I saw, right to the top, and hung there, praying it'd soon be over and we'd all be safe. When I climbed down…." Mikey paused and sniffed and Leo flung an arm around his waist.

"It's going to be okay, Mikey," Leo soothed and kissed his forehead.

"I found Donnie squashed like a bug. Oh, the agony he must have been in. I held his hand and he told us he loved us all and he'll miss us so much. He told me we mustn't give up on finding Raph and that he's sorry he's failed us by dying and not being able to help us find Raph. Then he died. That was so Donnie. Always worried he was going to let us down and never thinking about himself. Oh, Leo. What are we going to do now?" Mikey wept. "The radio was also smashed and we have no means of contacting April and all of our supplies and the map was lost in the avalanche."

"First, we bury our brother. Then we go bring Raph home. We're not losing him forever as well! Then we'll mourn Donnie and will have a celebration of his life. I studied the map earlier and if my memory serves me, there's a cabin not too far away from here that the park rangers use when the weather's foul. Should be food there and maybe Raph's being held there.

"I hope to hell you're right," Casey said. "Because I'm getting a horrible image of us having to do what they did in that movie Alive."

"What happened in that movie?" Mikey asked.

"People were stranded in the middle of nowhere in bad weather and had no food. They had to resort to cannibalism."

Mikey's eyes widened in horror and he said fearfully, "I don't want to be eaten. Leo, that's not going to happen, is it?"

Leo glared at Casey, furious for upsetting his brother and said, "Of course not, Mikey. That was just a movie. You know a lot of movies aren't based on facts."

"I'm not making it up!" Casey protested. "They really did eat one another!"

Leo elbowed Casey hard and hissed, "Not helping here, Casey! Mikey, relax. No one is going to eat anyone, okay? We will find that cabin. I've never let you down before, have I?"

"No, but…."

"Then have faith, Mikey. Take us to Donnie, so we can say our goodbyes."

Mikey nodded and led Casey and Leo to Donnie's corpse.

XXXX

Leo's eyes glistened with tears, as he studied Donnie's prone and battered body. It was true. He was really gone. He bent down, touched his temple to Donnie's and whispered, "I love you and will always carry you in my heart, Donnie. I swear I'll avenge your death and we'll get Raph back. I promise. And you didn't fail us. You are a hero, Donnie. You always selflessly devoted your life to us all and we….We…."

"We're going to miss you so much," Mikey said miserably. "Nothing will ever be the same, Donnie. Not without you. What are we going to do without you?"

"Despite our differences, I liked you, man," Casey said. "I'll miss you too. I'll miss the bantering. You were one heck of a guy, Donnie, and I'm sad you're gone."

Distant thunder rumbled and Leo looked up at the now gray sky that threatened to bucket down with rain at any moment.

"We need to find shelter," Leo said. "And fast. We'll bury Donnie under that bush over there and cover him with branches. Hurry. We don't have much time before the rain comes."

The trio lifted Donnie up, hid him under the designated bush and covered him up with branches, praying that'd be sufficient to ward off any surviving wildlife.

Inwardly Leo vowed to return one day and to find his brother's remains and to give him a better burial. Donnie deserved that than being hurriedly stashed under a bush.

The thunder roared again and Leo whispered, as tears rolled down his cheeks, "I'm sorry, Donnie. I'm so sorry. I love you. I'll stay gold, as you always told me to and I'll never forget you. Farewell for now, little treasured brother. Until we meet again."

"Goodbye, Donnie," Casey said.

"Bye, big bro," Mikey sniffed. "I'll miss you forever."

Leo led them up a steep path, praying that his memory had served him right and they'd soon find the cabin, otherwise they might really have to resort to the grisly notion of cannibalism and he knew who'd have to go first. It certainly couldn't be his little brother and he couldn't do that to Casey. It'd have to be him. He'd willingly do it in a heartbeat to spare his brother and his friend, but he also would prefer not to, so his dad wouldn't lose yet another son and so he, Mikey and Raphael would be reunited with their dad and they could grieve Donnie's loss as a family. What was left of it anyway.

As if reading Leo's thoughts, Mikey whispered, as Casey bent down to tie his shoe lace that was loose, "I know what you're thinking, Leo."

"Huh?"

"That cannibalism."

"It's not going to happen, Mikey! Stop thinking about it!"

"If it has to happen, I want it to be me," Mikey said and swallowed hard. "I mean, I don't want it to be me, but Casey's going to be married and he's going to have a bright future and…..You. I don't want it to be you, Leo!"

Lightning flashed and Mikey squealed in terror. He hated thunderstorms and would often find comfort with his brothers in their rooms when they happened.

"It's okay, Mikey," Leo whispered. "You're fine. I'm here."

Another flash of lightning occurred and Mikey almost jumped out of his shell.

"It's okay, buddy," Casey said and placed a hand on his arm. "You're fine. Hey, Leo, there's a cabin on the other side of the river there. Think we can get across it?"

"If we tread carefully. Watch where you step and go slowly."

The trio headed to the lake and cautiously picked their way across it.

A/N A huge thank you to everyone following and reading this story.

Do the guys make it? Will they have to resort to drastic means to stay alive if there's no food at the cabin?