Rating: Overall story rated T

Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon.

Warnings: Overall story contains disturbing imagery such as blood, gore and the like, and highly disturbing situations.

Summary: The world as they knew it has gone to ruins. The shadows, once their greatest allies, now harbour threats so great it's safer to risk walking in open daylight and Mikey and April will do anything to keep what remains of their family safe; even if it means abandoning home and everything they knew. This story is AU and is a collaboration between sampsonknightand Zelgadis55.

Comments, thoughts and concrit are always welcome.


A/N: While we used the names of real places in this story, please recall that as Canadian and Australian authors, we have never actually been to these places so don't expect any actual resemblance to the places mentioned. Also, this is a fictional world so artistic license is liberally applied XD

I know 'Aftermath' was due to be posted next but I'm not quite happy with it yet. This chapter felt more ready so I thought I'd get this one out first instead :-)


T420000: Yep! Recovering memories XD Honestly, I can't say about Raph as we haven't really explored that with him. He's a little young to do so. Also, he's younger now as a baby than he was when he was mutated so who knows how that'll affect him. Haha, yeah, no, fire in treehouse = bad! Snarky kiddie Donnie is fun! XD

Minnie1015: I love picking out names that mean something from other fandoms. It's fun! Haha yeah, it would be nice if it worked that way XD


Sekai no Owari

Ch 27

"Donnie, are you saying that you and Leo are starting to recover your lost memories? How is that possible?" April asked, just as confused as Mikey was.

"We must be," Donnie said softly, his head bowed, not wanting to look anyone in the eyes. "And I don't know. I guess they are coming back in our dreams but I didn't even realise until Leo said he was dreaming too and his dream was clearly a memory he couldn't have had previously."

"How could you have known? Dreams can be weird at times and the fact that Leo dreamed something that actually happened, none of us could have known this was going on," April said with a smile, a new hope washing over her. "Even so, the question is how does that affect you? I mean it's a dream or is it like you're regaining your memory? I mean, Leo insists it didn't happen but it did, so does it feel real?"

"I don't know..." Leo replied, a bit confused, "It felt real but it doesn't, I mean I know it didn't happen... I mean right now it never happened..."

Donnie rubbed a frustrated hand over his face. He'd long since stopped making Raph's food for the day. "What Leo said."

Mikey moved closer and placed a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder.

"It's like, I'm aware it's a dream when I wake up but while experiencing it, it feels absolutely real and whatever I learn in it, I retain. Yet, there is still that dreamlike quality to it as though it were happening to someone else... but..."

"But?" Mikey prompted gently.

"The more time that passes since dreaming it, it's like the more it settles into my memories as if it's always been there."

"That's good, then," Mikey smiled happily, pulling Donnie in for a quick, but unwanted hug.

"It's frustrating, Mikey! If it really is memories, which it would seem to be now that I have more information, then I'm only getting them back one day at a time!"

"Which is how you got them in the first place," Mikey replied softly.

"Yeah, I guess, but..."

"At least you guys are getting them back," Mikey said quietly. "Which means, you'll eventually remember the times with Master Splinter, all the times we spent together showing up Raphie, and..." he smiled cheekily.

"Mikey! If you dare say it one more time, I will be the one hurting you," April warned, knowing that normally it was Raph that threatened when Mikey overdid the Battle Nexus gloating.

"… my epic Battle Nexus victories!" Mikey cried out triumphantly, ignoring the toothless threat.

Rising to her feet, April snatched the tatty cushion beside her; she'd so had enough of that saying and she understood why Raph was always so irritated by it.

"Eek!" Mikey laughed, poised to dodge. "You might wanna put some clothes on there, Ape. I know you feel comfortable around us now but did you ever think that we might be uncomfortable with you clad only in your underwear?"

Donnie, face bright red over the obvious being brought up, turned further away, unable to even look at April out of the corner of his eye.

"Fuck sakes, Mikey grow up!" April tossed the cushion at him, "Geez! It's not like it's as lacy as the pair you tricked Raph into putting on his head! Besides, it's no different than me wearing a bikini and it's a sports bra so nothing is showing anyway!" She huffed in annoyance, moving towards her mostly dried clothes and studiously ignoring them all as she got dressed.

The cushion actually managing to hit him in the face made Mikey laugh all the harder, "You should get angry more often, Ape!" he eventually managed to choke out. "Your aim improves dramatically!"

-:-

The sun was dipping low in the sky before they reached their next destination. Originally heading along the river towards Newburg, where they could then turn inland so as to avoid cities and areas of large population before ultimately heading south, they'd left too late in the day to make the destination marked on Leo's maps. The rain and concern for little Raph had held them back, ensuring their lack of progress. Further compounding their problems was running into a couple of zombies in the afternoon and having to skirt around a small party of humans. So it was then that they decided to stop at Bear Mountain for the night.

April and Mikey had argued between them about the alternate destination but time slipping away had decided the feud. Unfortunately, as the group came close, their worst fears were proven.

Surrounding the camping grounds and cabin area was a large wooden fence, reinforced in places with chicken wire and topped with barbed. It was still a work in progress and as a result zealously guarded by humans with rifles.

"I told you stopping here was a bad idea," Mikey crowed triumphantly. "Told you there would be people holed up here since it's away from civilisation!"

"We aren't here for the grounds Mikey," April scolded; she'd explained to him many times why here rather than somewhere else, yet his stubborn streak was showing more than normal.

"I know you said there're caves but it's probably still too close. What if Raphie cries? They'll hear it and investigate! We'll be boned if they do!"

"They're not that close, Mikey. It's a good hike up the trails and I doubt anyone would seek shelter there when there is a camp here. Think about it, there might not be so many zombies around here because these people would keep the area clear for their own safety. It's ideal compared to some abandoned house in a neighbourhood filled with walking, rotting corpses!" April narrowed her eyes in annoyance. Why couldn't he just trust her judgement with this?

"I get what you're saying but still, sound carries, especially at night and especially in the mountains!" Mikey protested. "We can trust Donnie and Leo to keep their voices down but there's no reasoning with Raph."

Donnie rolled his eyes but held his tongue, already knowing the ultimate outcome.

"Donnie? Don't Mummies and Daddies fight like this? They are brother and sister why are they fighting like they are married?" Leo asked Donnie, tugging on his elbow padding.

"Like Leo can talk considering how he and Raph always carried on," Mikey grumbled, the edges of his mouth quirking up with amusement.

"That's something only they can answer," Donnie replied to Leo. Then he turned to Mikey. "Let's just go to the caves without arguing? Before we lose the sun? It's not like there's much other choice and you know it."

"Please, Mikey, just this once let me have it and the next I will not argue unless it's a stupid idea..." April begged before walking off and muttering under her breath, "which the majority are."

"Fine..." Mikey sighed, glancing down at Leo and seeing how tired he was after the long walk. "But we have to be really quiet up there."

"I know the perfect spot that many don't know about. Follow me." April took the lead, sneaking away from the human camp.

"Do you know how hard it is?" Mikey suddenly asked a few minutes later as they trudged through the woods.

"Hard?" April asked reluctantly, knowing full well she shouldn't be rising to his bait.

"Yes," Mikey nodded in agreement as he helped Leo over a log too large for the little turtle to jump over the way Donnie did. April simply went around it.

Seeing April's confusion, Donnie sighed and explained, "He means to keep silent for hours."

"Really? I normally ignore him so I don't realise when he's quiet," April shrugged.

"Rude!" Mikey sniffed indignantly, jumping lightly over the log now his brother was safely over it. Besides, he knew the opposite was true. He always worried everyone when he was silent for too long, sending shivers and alarm bells up their spines as they feared where the next prank came from. As a result, he occasionally liked to use that to his advantage to mess with them without actually doing anything. It could be hilarious to see his brothers so jumpy for no reason. At least, it had been back when things were better.

"Sorry the truth hurts Mikey, like how I was right, this was the right choice," she mused, pointing to a thick growth of bushes. "It's still covered, just like I remember it."

"We won't know for sure if this is the right choice until we get found and murdered in our sleep," Mikey retorted, pulling the bushes aside and revealing a large, gaping hole leading into the side of the mountain. "Give me your infrared goggles, Donnie," he asked, holding out a hand expectantly and wriggling his fingers.

"Huh? Oh, okay," Donnie replied in slight confusion at the sudden request. He dropped to his knees to scrounge around his duffle for the requested item. "What do you want them for?"

"To make sure no bears or anything else decided to make this their home first," Mikey answered grimly, taking the proffered item. "April, Donnie, stay on guard and keep watch."

As Mikey disappeared into the dark space, Donnie swallowed and pulled out his kali stick, holding it at the ready as he watched all around intently. "Really wish I had a bo I could use at times like these," he muttered.

"I would offer yours back if that was an option," April agreed. "You were only able to teach me so much and I don't feel very confident with using it correctly. I mean, I doubt stabbing is the proper way to use it," April explained, letting out a small nervous laugh.

"Only sometimes when in its Naginata form," Donnie chuckled, twirled his kali stick in hand. "I can give you some pointers later if you like. I just, can't demonstrate properly since it's too long for me until I grow more again."

"That would be nice, considering originally you were going to teach me. That is until Leo put his foot down," April smiled as Leo looked up at her.

"Why did I put my foot down, sis?" Leo asked in confusion.

"Because you thought it would be more dangerous for me not learning one on one hand combat to kill the zombie quickly and there was only one Naginata and that was Donnie's main weapon," April answered softly. "Though I recall you and he did into a heated fight over what weapon I should learn to use until I told Donnie I was fine with your decision just so the two of you would stop arguing."

Not sure what to say to that, Leo blinked at her, perplexed.

"If that's the case, I'm surprised you bothered to bring it with you," Donnie said, keeping his attention focused on the surrounding woods.

"I didn't," April pointed out, "Mikey did and said I was best to use it, mainly because of Raph."

"That makes sense," Donnie replied softly, adjusting his grip on the kali stick; he ached so badly to use the bo again, the only weapon he'd ever done well with. "A distance weapon is best considering the circumstances. Okay, when we're settled for the night, if there's room inside the cave to swing a bo, I'll give you a lesson."

Just then, there was a rustle from behind and Mikey burst out of the cave. "Well, I did find something long dead further in but nothing alive so we shouldn't have any neighbours to fight over the property with," he announced cheerfully. Holding the bushes aside, Mikey motioned for them to move inside. "Welcome to our home away from home. I bid you to mind your toes on the stalactites and watch your heads as you go in, cause there's some low ones hanging down near the entrance."

Donnie sighed. "Stalactites are the ones hanging from the cave ceiling. Remember, they hang 'tight'. Stalagmites are the ones on the ground because they 'might' one day reach the ceiling," he explained wearily. They'd gone through this so many times before...

Mikey grinned and waved a dismissive hand, "Whatever. I know what I meant."

Glowering at Mikey's refusal to care or perhaps to tease, Donnie pushed past, pulling out his torch and flashing it around the cave as Leo and April followed him inside.

"Dead thing? As in Zombie?" April asked warily from the doorway.

"Psh! No way! I wouldn't lead you in here if that was the case!"

"Well, then what do you mean by something long dead?" April repeated, becoming annoyed.

"A raccoon," Mikey replied. Then added as if in afterthought, "I think..."

"Oh, lovely," April sighed, walking deeper in.

"It's pretty old. Been there a really long time," Mikey further explained. "Not too bad once you get away from the entrance, right? Nice and flat, lotta soft sand too."

"Yeah, I remember it like this. Been years since I was last here but it looks the same," April smiled remembering old, happier times with her father and sister and sometimes Uncle Augie.

"I have to admit, it's a good spot but I'm still worried we might be heard if Raphie starts up," Mikey admitted anxiously, looking around. "Anyway, we should be able to have a small fire in here once night falls completely as long as it's far enough inside that the glow won't give us away so I'm going to go get some firewood. Donnie can help me while you get settled in here."

"I'll get this place comfy for the night and Leo can help me, "April agreed as she looked around to find the right spot to have a fire pit.

"Cool. Just don't unpack anything more than what we absolutely need," Mikey warned, already heading for the cave mouth. "You never know, we might need to leave in a hurry."

"I know," April smiled, shaking her head at him.

Mikey flashed a smile at her, then disappeared from view.

-:-

The otherwise cool cave felt warm and cheery with a healthily glowing fire crackling merrily away. The small family spent a couple of hours getting some training in with first Mikey and Leo and then, as Mikey watched Raph, teaching him that fire is hot and dangerous, Donnie with April, helping her to improve her limited skills with the bo.

Once everyone was done and a small dinner had with the last of the canned food and some nuts from the vending machine found back at the maintenance centre, Mikey and April told a few stories until both Leo and Raph were asleep. Donnie volunteered to take first watch since he had always had a harder time sleeping early than anyone else and April and Mikey curled up to sleep, with Raph and Leo nestled in between them.

A few hours later, Mikey took his turn at watch and chose to sit outside the cave in front of the bushes that concealed the entrance. He took the spy glasses April had found the other day and peered into the night.

As he sat, he frowned. After he and Donnie had come back from collecting firewood, April had thrust his baby bother into his arms and disappeared into the encroaching twilight with the rope snare she'd made and the frying pan, only coming back after setting up the trap and collecting a few berries. Sadly, they knew from prior experience that catching anything in the trap wasn't guaranteed and Donnie made April discard the berries after announcing they were poisonous. They still had a few packets of nuts and other snacks but were running dangerously low on food overall. After all, they hadn't had much left in the lair in the first place and neither could they carry much when they had to leave in such a hurry.

Hearing nothing but the sounds of nocturnal animals foraging on the mountainside and a couple of distant noises from the campgrounds below, Mikey turned his face up to watch the bright stars. The half-moon sank low on the horizon, burning bright orange as it began to disappear. Owls hooted and crickets chirped.

And Mikey worried.

His gaze fell on the campground again and he felt helpless, realising once more they no longer had a home or place of safety to return to, and his brothers... they were now too young and too helpless. He clenched one fist tightly as he peered through the binoculars at the cabins and tents filled with displaced families, his heart breaking as he wished it were possible for them to join them and knowing it was not.

They hadn't been prepared to leave home, though Leo and Raph had been talking about it before the accident.

Loudly.

More than once.

Mikey knew in order for his family to survive now, they were going to have to cross lines they never considered before.

Preferably before they became desperate.

-:-

Mikey carefully shook April awake and she opened her eyes and bleared silently up at him.

"Your turn," he murmured softly.

Looking around and seeing the fire still going but low, April let out a yawn. She gently kissed Raph's head, receiving a sleep-filled coo as she turned her head towards Mikey, "Okay."

Mikey dug into the pouches on his belt, checking to make sure he had enough smoke bombs and that his picks and shuko spikes were there. Then he went and pulled the heat vision goggles from Donnie's duffle and headed towards the cave entrance.

"Mikey?" April eyed him suspiciously, "What are you up to?"

"I'm going down to the campground," Mikey replied in a cheerful but quiet voice.

"What? Why?" April jumped to her feet, then flashed a look towards the sleeping turtle that stirred a bit. Luckily, however, he didn't wake up. Walking up to him she crossed her arms, annoyed he would dare to do something so foolish, "Mikey," she hissed, "I do enjoy your jokes but this isn't one I particularly find funny."

"It's not a joke," Mikey pouted, a little hurt that she thought he would do such a thing. "I'm just going down to check things out. Don't worry, no one will see me. I'm a ninja, remember?"

"Who is living in a world filled with the undead that can smell you and hear even a ninja..." April pointed out softly. "Mikey, I don't know about this, it's risky and if even one person sees you, we would have to make a run for it in the middle of the night and we have no clue what is ahead of us and you know it's too dangerous to travel at night."

Mikey regarded April solemnly as she spoke, then placed his hands on her shoulders in a move meant to reassure, "I get it, Ape, but I have to do this," he said softly, not wanting to wake his sleeping brothers. "From what I can tell from this far, is they only have like three guards. One on the gate, one on the unfinished part of their fence and one who is doing rounds on the inside of the fence. Trust me, I'm taking this seriously, okay?"

"Not doubting you are Mikey, it's just..." April tightened her lip, falling silent.

"I get it," he repeated in a whisper and drew her into a quick hug. "Keep an eye on me with the tracking app if it makes you feel better but don't call me, okay? I wouldn't do this if there was a better way."

"Okay," April shuddered. She was uneasy about this and hated the idea of him going alone; it would have been different if one of his brothers was with him, if they were the correct age. Even so, she did understand his determination, regardless of how uneasy she was, fearing the worst and knowing everything could go south in a matter of seconds.

"Thanks," Mikey smiled gratefully. "Keep them safe, I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You better be," April nodded, wondering if she should watch from outside or wait within the cave.

Flashing a bright grin, Mikey waved and slipped silently out of the cave.

Letting out a sigh, April went over to Raph, gently picking him up and laying him snuggled beside Donnie. With a gentle touch, she moved Donnie's arm to hold his brother and then exited the cave, turning on her Shell-cell and watching the darkness anxiously, praying Mikey would come back safe and sound as he promised.

-:-

Aware of the direction of the breeze, Mikey crept silently forward, approaching the small, makeshift village in the dead of the night. With the moon now long since gone below the horizon, there was only starlight and the small lanterns of the campsite to brighten the landscape. With the fence only a short distance away, he pulled the goggles over his eyes and studied the tall, wooden barrier intently.

It didn't take long to pick out the heat sources of the guards, burning hotter than those sleeping in tents and cabins. Mikey bit his lip, counting the heat sources as best he could, some blurred into each other as couples or families cuddled but at his best guess, there were around ninety-one people in the site, along with various other small bursts of heat.

Racing silently to the fence, he slipped on the shuko spikes as he ran. Keeping an eye on the heat sources, Mikey jumped, landing quietly halfway up the fence and digging in his climbing tools. He scaled up the side, pausing at the top. The roving guard strolled past, yawning widely and noisily and Mikey tutted silently to himself, shaking his head sadly at the guard's lack of focus. Once the human was far enough away, he cleared the top and jumped, landing with barely a puff of sound on the ground below, then he pelted for the nearest shadow and melted into it.

Within about half an hour, Mikey had explored every corner of the camping ground, bar the inside of cabins and tents, though he did peek inside windows where there were some. His heart leapt in his plastron as he realised just how many children there were and he wondered if he should be there after all. Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought; his brothers were all children now too and they deserved to survive just as much as anyone else.

As he searched the site, Mikey found a large woodshed where the survivors were stockpiling wood, and nine axes. He lifted one of those, a small one that would be easy to carry; he couldn't continue to risk wrecking the blade of their only katana. He smiled grimly to himself at his prize and moved on.

Coming across the communal mess hall next, Mikey was pleased to discover there were no guards posted here. Thankfully, the group living here seemed to trust each other enough not to bother and so he slipped silently inside. There, he took a deep, appreciative breath. Someone had been baking bread and pie and his mouth watered at the delectable scent. Glancing furtively out the door, he made up his mind and walked to the kitchen. There he grabbed a couple of loaves and a blueberry pie, before looking through the kitchen carefully. His eyes lit up at the sight of a bowl filled with eggs and he all but smacked his lips; it had been months since they last had real eggs. Unable to get fresh supplies in the city, he'd been forced to use powdered eggs or egg substitutes in his cooking and it hadn't been the same. Carefully, he picked up four, wrapping them carefully in a dish towel hanging to dry. Then he headed back for the door to leave.

Suddenly, the door to the mess hall flew open and a torch shone throughout. Mikey's heart beat wildly with fear in his chest as he quickly threw himself under a nearby table. The light switched off and the door closed just as suddenly and Mikey wilted in relief. Then he heard the sound of footsteps.

Mikey looked up, seeing the grotesque shadow of a large human male walking past and shrank back, hoping like shell for the man to keep going. The torch suddenly flicked on again, its light contained by shining into a corner. Mikey listened, breathing shallowly as the sound of a drawer opening reached his hearing. There was the faint rattle of cutlery as a knife was drawn. A few minutes later, the human walked out again, sandwiches on a plate and Mikey closed his eyes in relief.

Several minutes went by before he crawled out from under the table and headed for the door once more. He surreptitiously looked about and seeing no one nearby, slipped out of the building and made a run for the fence. As he climbed it, he saw two of the guards side by side and realised they were eating. Biting his lip, Mikey hoped that if that were a regular occurrence, then no one would notice the food he took, meagre as it was. Then, quickly, he was over the fence and making his way back to the cave his family holed up in.

-:-

"Honey! I'm home!" Mikey sang quietly as he approached April from the side. He could see she was watching the Shell-cell intently but still managed to make her jump in surprise at his sudden reappearance.

"Bloody hell! Mikey, you're an arse right now..." April scolded him as he chuckled, then she blinked at the bag in his hand, "Where did you get that and what's in it?" she accused.

"Down in the camping ground," Mikey replied warily, looking at her as if she might bear down on him any second. "It was just sitting there in the open on the bench in the mess hall."

"That doesn't mean you can just take it!" April exploded quietly, somehow managing to keep her voice mostly down. "They are going to notice stuff missing and then they'll figure out someone got into the camp and start looking for them." She shook her head in disbelief at his blatant stupidity.

"Which is why we need to leave before the sun comes up," Mikey said softly, his heart aching over the fact he'd had to steal. "I'm sorry April, but there really wasn't much choice and I didn't take much: they had like a dozen loaves of bread sitting there cooling overnight. I only took two, four eggs and a pie. Oh, and a small axe!" he added, turning his shell and waggling it so April could see the tool.

April let out an exasperated sigh, "I guess what is done is done. I swear though, I thought you were a ninja, not a thief, unless they're the same thing." Smiling, she went inside knowing how her ninja family didn't like being associated with thieves or assassins despite the historical connection.

Mikey sniffed indignantly as he followed her inside. "I mean, sure, some ninja are thieves and assassins... but we're not, we're the good guys!" Right now though, Mikey really didn't feel the part but it was that or let his brothers and April starve as they ran out of emergency supplies. Even if they didn't actually starve to death, if they were too weak from hunger and were attacked, they wouldn't be able to defend themselves adequately. They needed to get food where they could and the axe would help too. "I didn't leave them without, I only took just enough to keep us going and as for the axe, they still have half a dozen more of them," he explained desperately, hoping April would understand.

"You don't need to justify yourself, Mikey, I was just teasing," she said softly, her heart hurting for her friend and what he'd felt forced to do. "Besides I never once thought you weren't one of the good guys. If you weren't, there would be no people left down there and you would have brought back far more than that."

Mikey breathed a sigh of relief at the words and smiled tentatively up at her as he sank to the cave floor. "So why do I feel so bad about it? Even though I know I had to do it?"

"Because it's wrong but at the same time you had no choice. That is the difference between people that steal because they can and people that steal because they have no choice. As long you feel bad, it proves you still care about the difference and won't cross the line."

"I guess," Mikey murmured quietly, looking down and hoping he'd never have to do such a thing again and knowing he would. Then he yawned and stretched. Looking back up to April who sat near him, he said, "I'm going to get a couple of hours sleep. Wake me about an hour before dawn? Because we are going to have to leave early because even if they don't notice and come looking, they have guards who will be watching the area for threats as the sun rises."

"Goodnight Mikey," April told him and then left the cave to keep watch from outside.

-:-

As the sun began peeking over the horizon, the small family was trekking down the mountain heading away from the campground but towards the river.

Donnie yawned widely, feeling as though he were about to break his jaw, and blinked against the brightness of the rising dawn. "So why did we have to leave so early?" he mumbled sleepily.

"For starters, we felt it best to leave before anyone decided to walk around and notice us; yesterday no one would have dared to wander around before dusk and..." April sighed, seeing how Mikey was leaving her with the explanation, "Mikey took some things from their camp."

"Makes sense," Donnie yawned again, wishing he could find it easier to wake up in the mornings.

Mikey, carrying the still sleeping Leonardo, picked up the pace a little.

"Yeah, well, soon we'll be near the river and then you'll wake up properly, Donnie," April snickered, noticing the long, tiresome yawns.

Mikey chuckled, already planning to push Donnie into the cold water once they arrived. "You know Donnie, always has trouble waking up before ten. He's always been like that, ever since I can remember."

"Not my fault!" Donnie protested through yet another jaw-cracking yawn. "I wish I could try coffee or something... that'd probably help."

"True on both accounts," April chuckled again, "but this time around there is no caffeine to aid you."

Donnie tossed April a dirty look and stumbled over a tree root as he yawned so wide his eyes watered. "Ow..."

"Just stating the truth," April shrugged, "although I've never noticed how clumsy you can be in the morning. Then again, within three minutes of dragging yourself out of bed, you'd already had a cup of coffee and were working on your second."

Mikey turned an amused look at his brother as Donnie whined, "Well, maybe Mikey should have stolen some coffee too..." Then he paused stock still in the middle of the path as realisation dawned in the golden glow of the rising sun.

"Wait a second..." Donnie began slowly, looking up at Mikey with his face reddening with fury and disgust. "You went down to that campsite and stole from them?"

"Uh, yeah...?" Mikey replied, taken aback by how long it had taken Donnie to realise what they'd been talking about. He'd been hoping that maybe his brother wouldn't notice after all.

"How could you?" Donnie was now wide awake and aghast. "It's one thing to take from people's dumpsters but an entirely different thing to take from their homes!"

"I didn't take much," Mikey defended himself. "I only took just enough to get us through the day!"

"Donnie, at the moment there is no other choice," April stepped in. "It is not like he took anything that would threaten their survival and neither was he caught in the act and nobody got hurt. If they had nothing, Mikey wouldn't have done what he did."

Donnie stared angrily down at the ground and began walking again, right past Mikey without a word.

"Donnie, you know how little food we have and the snare didn't catch anything overnight," Mikey begged softly.

"Master Splinter wouldn't have approved," Donnie replied just as quietly, through grit teeth. "He taught us better than that."

Mikey pursed his lips and resumed walking after his brother, adjusting his hold on the sleeping Leonardo. "I happen to know there were a few times when things were really desperate growing up that Master Splinter did exactly the same thing. He only ever took just enough to see us through 'til the next night. He also took medicine a couple of times when we were really sick."

"I doubt he would want you to starve," April pointed out, looking around to make sure nothing was lurking in the bushes.

"How do you know for sure, Mikey?" Donnie demanded to know after a couple minutes of walking in silence, contemplating what both Mikey and April said.

Mikey glanced back at April before turning back to face Donnie's shell. "Master Splinter told us after we came back from a town on the other side of the country a few years ago. While we were nearby in the woods, you'd broken your leg after being knocked down the cliff in a fight. It was bad enough that it got infected and you got a fever before we could get you back to town to do anything about it. So..." Mikey shrugged, taking the chance to shift Leonardo's dead weight, "we broke into the hospital to get you some drugs and one of those removable splints. The two branches and our masks we'd used before getting to town just weren't cutting it," he explained.

"After getting home, we felt really guilty about having to do that and even worse when we realised we needed to tell Master Splinter the truth; you know how impossible it was to lie or keep things from him."

"Yeah," Donnie agreed, taken aback.

"So Master Splinter told us how he'd had to do similar a few times during a couple of really bad winters when we were little and couldn't help him scavenge," Mikey continued, staring straight ahead. "I'm not proud of what I had to do last night but I won't watch you, Leo or April slowly starve. And if anything happened to us, then Raphie would be helpless."

Donnie nodded and kept walking silently. After some time, he stopped and turned to face Mikey seriously. "All right, I won't question the morality of what you did last night but next time you plan to do something like that, I want to at least know about it before you do. I might be able to help."

"Okay," Mikey smiled in relief, "that'd be good, bro."

Donnie nodded and cast his eyes around the area as the small group began walking again. "Good. In fact, I can help right now!" he suddenly said triumphantly as he darted off to the side and knelt by the rough track. He scrabbled among the greenery a few moments and then turned, holding up a couple handfuls of plants, broken off by the stems.

"Weeds?" Mikey asked in confusion, staring down at what Donnie held.

"Is that pigweed?" April shuddered, not sure why he would bother picking it up.

Donnie looked at the clump of greenery in his hand and replied, "Well, that's one name for it, but it's actually called Amaranthus or Amaranth. It's versatile and even better, rich in vitamins and minerals such as A, B-6, C, folate, calcium, mag..."

Eyes glazing over, Mikey held up his hand, causing Leo to slip in his hold. He hurried to readjust so he wouldn't drop his brother. "Okay, Donnie, we get it, but..." his face screwed up slightly.

"You're going to suggest we eat it, aren't you..." April asked and then let out a heavy sigh.

Donnie nodded, "Well, yeah."

"That's great, Donnie but does it taste good? How does it need to be prepared? I don't know any of this stuff and I wouldn't exactly trust your cooking skills, no offence intended," Mikey interjected. "Actually, I take that back, I really wouldn't trust your cooking skills. I still remember the last time you tried to cook before you were forced to try again when we were sixteen and Master Splinter and I were sick."

"I was seven, Mikey!" Donnie cried in dismay, aghast at the memory. "And that was a bad experience! Master Splinter had us all trying to cook together instead of one on one!"

"Sounds like there's an interesting story there," April smiled, hinting to be told it. Mikey flashed her a grin before turning back to Donnie.

"Yes, and then he wouldn't let you, Leo or Raph near the kitchen again for years, bro!" Mikey retorted, louder than he intended and managing to disturb Leo. "And with good reason!"

"Mikey, you're too loud..." Leo whimpered drowsily.

"Yes, Mikey," Donnie added reproachfully. "You don't want to attract anyone our way, otherwise leaving so early would be a waste of time, right?"

"Me? You're the one who yelled first," Mikey huffed indignantly, hiking Leo up on his side.

"Children please," April snickered. "Doesn't matter who started it, it's best it ends now and we continue on."

"Yes, mummy," Mikey and Donnie replied in unison, exchanging amused looks.

"And that is when I shiver when you both act the same," April said, tensed up and taking a large breath and sounding like she was hissing through her teeth. She walked past them both in a hurry before either could dare to say anything else.

Mikey's shoulders shook in silent laughter, disturbing Leo once more, even as Donnie tried and failed to keep a straight face.

"Mikey," Leo whimpered again. He smacked him in the plastron weakly as his eyes started to close once more.

Mikey grabbed Leo's hand, holding it in place. "No," he said firmly. "It's time you woke up and started walking for yourself anyway, little bro."

Donnie quickly stuffed the handfuls of amaranth into a side pocket of his duffle and looked after April who had stopped to look back in annoyance beside a large tree down the impromptu track.

"But I'm still tired," Leo whined.

"Doesn't matter, the sun's up now and so should you be," Mikey replied firmly, placing Leo down on his own sleep-wobbly feet. "Besides, it's too dangerous for me to keep carrying you. If we get attacked, I won't be able to defend us properly."

Leo let out another sigh of protest but didn't argue, "Okay..."

Mikey nodded in relief, glad of no further petulance and began walking again, "Let's go, we don't wanna keep the nice lady waiting."

"Umm... Mikey..." Leo tugged on his arm, crossing his legs.

"What?" Mikey asked, glancing at April who was doing a passable impression of Sonic when left waiting in the games too long.

"I have to pee," Leo whispered.

Mikey sighed, of course he did. "Okay, well, just duck behind the bushes there, I'll wait for you right here." Then he looked up to April again and held up one finger as if to say, 'just one minute' as Leo dashed for the bushes.

Donnie shrugged and crouched down again to pick more amaranth while waiting.

-:-

A couple of hours later with the sun rising higher, they finally made it to the river's edge. Mikey looked up and down both ways and then grinned at April, "Beautiful day for some wading, right?"

"Says the turtle who doesn't wear shoes," April groused, looking at the water to see if the floor was okay for her to go barefoot or if she would have to get her shoes wet. Again.

"Heh, sorry, Ape, but if they come looking for us and find our trail, it's better if they don't know which way we went," Mikey explained with a cheerful shrug.

"Mikey, I swear," April shook her head and sighed. "I understand, just saying." April took her shoes off, tying them together to hang over her shoulder so as not to hit Raph.

"Okay guys, walk straight into the water, then we turn and walk upstream," Mikey said, stepping forward and into the drink.

Leo, more than eager to follow, giggled as he felt the cool water around his knees and wanted to play in the water only to stop when April called his name.

"Leo, I'm sorry sweetie, but this isn't the time to play," April instructed before hesitantly adding, 'Maybe another time," upon seeing the once bright smile on the little turtle's face become gloomy and dispirited.

Mikey glanced back, "Sorry little bro, but we have a long way to go before we're safe," he apologised. Then a hint of a teasing grin played the edges of his mouth and he added, "And on that note, let's hope there're no piranhas around here."

"I'm going to be fish food!" "I'm going to be fish food!" Leo yelped, but not too loud, fearing the fish might hear him and come for him.

Donnie sighed exasperatedly and shook his head in disbelief, "You know there aren't any piranhas in the Hudson River, Mikey." He turned to Leo, walking backwards in the water. "Our big brother was only teasing Leo, there aren't any around here and piranhas don't normally attack people unless they are already dead or severely injured."

"They eat the zombies then?" Leo asked worriedly.

"They probably would," Donnie smiled indulgently. "However, as I already said, there aren't any around here."

"Okay," Leo said looking around, more relaxed than he was previously.

"If piranhas probably attack zombies, would they catch the zombie disease from them or would they have to be bitten by the zombies first?" Mikey mused thoughtfully. "And if so, would they become zombie piranhas or..."

"Mikey!" April snapped upon seeing the nervousness increase in Leonardo again.

Mikey chuckled as he continued walking, somehow managing not to splash as he did the way April and Leo did.

"Mikey, you really need to control yourself sometimes," April said under her breath, "Or you will frighten our brother into a chicken."

"Leo?" Mikey snorted in disbelief. "Not possible! He was always the bravest of us all. Besides, they're getting their memories back each night!"

"Even so, creating new fears won't help him," April protested.

"Yeah, I guess," Mikey acquiesced reluctantly. "Sorry Leo," he called over his shoulder, making sure not to be too loud with the way sound carried across water.

"It's okay, Mikey," Leo nodded with a smile, running his hand through the delightfully cool water.

"Still," Mikey grinned cheekily back at April, "we have Donnie to set him straight."

"Leave me out of this," Donnie grumbled, giving Mikey the stink eye.

"I thought you enjoyed sharing knowledge? Mikey asked innocently. "You always used to tell me interesting stuff when we were both kids."

Donnie bristled at the innocuous reminder that while Mikey was no longer a 'kid', he was. "Yes, I do enjoy sharing the things I've learnt but I don't enjoy doing damage control. Which is what I used to have to always do for you after Raph scared you stupid with his tall tales."

Mikey instantly sobered. He'd never realised that was the case, though he'd always appreciated how close they'd become because of it. "Sorry, Donnie," he apologised contritely.

Donnie nodded, knowing Mikey couldn't see and kept pace behind him silently

"Mikey, not to go off topic but how long do you think we should walk in the river?" April asked, seeing the slow progress this was making them have. "I don't know about you but we need to come up with a new plan because I don't think we will find much shelter further on without going into a town."

Mikey motioned far ahead, "At least until we are around that next bend up there or until the edge is rocky enough to walk on without leaving footprints, whichever comes first. Then we disappear up into the trees and keep following the river."

"Okay, too bad we didn't have a boat or we'd make more progress," April sighed wistfully.

Mikey reached back and tapped the axe sitting against the back of his belt. "That's part of the reason I grabbed this."

"Meaning?" April raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Cut down some small trees to make a raft with," Mikey grinned back at her, using the excuse to look further back and make sure there was no one in sight. To be honest, he felt exposed walking in the water but the shore was simply too sandy to risk coming out of just yet. Even if the people from the Bear Mountain camp didn't come looking, which he really doubted they would, there could be others along the river or those people could simply patrol the area regardless. There were sure to be rival factions out there looking for what they had too.

"Is that so?" April nodded, looking around again. "Hopefully we can find an area we can find the right wood and not attract too much attention then."

Mikey nodded, "Yeah. Uh..." he hesitated, screwing up his face in confusion, "What do you mean by 'right wood'. Doesn't all of it float?"

Donnie glanced back and up at April, to see if she was going to answer or if he should.

"No, not all wood floats. I've even heard a saying that all wood does until it hits bottom. Mostly fresh wood will sink and there are some species that their density is greater than that of water so it will not float regardless. There are other factors as well but to tell you the truth I don't know what they are or which wood is the right type," April sighed, wishing she'd paid more attention to that article than she did.

"Shell," Mikey muttered, "there goes that plan to speed this up some."

"It's okay," Donnie spoke up. "While I don't know about every type of wood, I do know of some which would work. I'll let you know if we come across some after we can leave the river."

"Awesome! You're the best, Don!" Mikey exclaimed happily, then paused as he heard a loud gurgling from behind. Slowly, he turned around to look, incredulous alarm on his face.

"What's wrong?" April shivered at the expression on Mikey's face only to hear a mischievous snicker beside her as she eyed Leo, catching on as to why Mikey was acting like that.

"Was that your stomach, Leo?" Mikey asked, eyes wide in disbelief that it could have been that loud.

"I'm hungry Mikey," Leo admitted as his stomach grumbled again.

"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Mikey asked, his expression turning sympathetic. He shrugged one strap of his backpack off and swung it around to more easily pull one loaf of fresh bread out. He tore off four chunks and passed them back before putting the remainder away.

"Probably because he was sleeping when we left," April pointed out, thanking Donnie with a nod of her head for her chunk that he passed on to her.

Mikey pulled a face and pointed out that Leo had been awake for close on two and a half hours now.

Shrugging, April sighed, "Even so Mikey, kind of hard to think about food at the moment."

"Not so hard when your stomach starts telling you off. I know from personal experience."

Donnie sighed again, remembering all the times Mikey had mimicked his stomach talking whenever he complained about lack of food.

"But we are running, right? So... I thought it wasn't a right time... I guess my stomach won," Leo said in a low voice, not meaning to make Mikey upset with him.

"Yeah, you're right Leo, it's not a good time to stop right now but there's no reason I couldn't have given you something to munch on like I just did and then there's always Donnie's weeds we can munch on. We can easily eat and walk when the food's like this," Mikey said, waving his own hunk of bread with a comforting smile.

"I didn't know you had that and Donnie's weeds are gross," Leo admitted.

"True," Mikey admitted, "but you did know we have a few cookies in packets left and a couple of ration bars. I know they aren't really breakfast food but sometimes, you just gotta make do," he shrugged.

"Okay, Mikey. I'm sorry," Leo mumbled through the last bite of bread.

"It's okay, Leo," Mikey said softly, stopping and crouching down to meet Leo's eyes. "I know we often don't have enough to completely fill our tummies but I'm not going to let you starve, no matter what it takes, okay?"

"Okay big brother," Leo smiled happily.

"Good, now come on, we need to keep moving," Mikey smiled, relieved. He stood up and slipped back in front of Donnie to lead the way once more.

-:-

Mikey looked up in alarm as something alerted his senses. "Get down and keep quiet, guys," he hissed, ducking behind a large shrub and peering over towards the river nearby.

"Mikey, what's wrong?" April asked, doing as he said and quickly pulling Leo down beside her.

Mikey motioned towards the river as Donnie joined him behind his shrub. "I think I heard a shout from the water," he murmured, barely loud enough for April to hear.

"Could it be from the humans you stole from?"

"Maybe, who knows," Mikey replied with a shrug, his sharp eyes peering towards the water.

Moments later, a small cobbled together catamaran sailed into view with three men on it, one watching the back, another watching the woods and the third steering. Immediately after, another similar boat appeared on the other side of the river, watching the other side. Both watchers on the boats carried rifles or shotguns.

Mikey gulped and reached up slowly to tug his bright bandanna from his face, figuring the hue of his skin would at least make him unnoticeable as he watched. "Keep your head down, April," he warned, worried about the colour of her hair.

Nodding she did so, looking around to see if there was any way out of this.

Once the immediate danger sailed past and out of sight, Mikey breathed a sigh of relief and sank to the ground. Then he looked up, "Let's move a bit deeper into the woods," he suggested, still in that low, worried tone.

"Agreed," April warily looked back.

For some time, they moved deeper into the woods, Donnie keeping his eye on the compass as they eventually turned back in the general direction of the river, something they thankfully knew courtesy of the maps photographed into April's phone.

"Ever thought of shaving, Ape?" Mikey suddenly piped up, watching Raph snatch painfully at a lock of her hair as they walked.

"If I want to have my eyes look too far apart... no," April rolled her eyes, gently trying to untangle the baby turtle from her hair.

Mikey grinned, going temporarily cross-eyed as he tried to imagine the look. "I think it'd look great!" he teased. "What do you guys think, Leo? Donnie?"

Donnie glanced at April and clamped his mouth shut, wisely refusing to be drawn into it, but he couldn't help the mental image that flowed into his brain.

Leo glanced at April, then to Mikey and didn't get it, "I like sis's hair, it's pretty."

April smiled at him thankfully then shot a dirty look in Mikey's direction, "Mikey the day I go bald is the day we glue a skunk toupee on your head," April threatened in case the mischievous turtle ever had any bright ideas.

Mikey laughed, trying to keep the volume down just in case, "That would go great with my Elvis impression." He sang a few bars badly and waggled his hips, demonstrating.

"Yes it would, because it stinks," April taunted, barely concealing the twitch of her own lips.

Donnie's shoulders shook as he tried to contain his laughter.

"Ouch! You wound me so!" Mikey retorted, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Yet not enough to prevent you from torturing us in the future. Then again, I guess I can't blame you for being so awful considering how tone-deaf you are," April let out a heavy, exaggerated sigh and let her hands fall to her side.

"Tone-deaf? Moi?" Mikey asked, mock offended. "I'll have you know I have the most perfect ear around here!"

Donnie swallowed his derisive snort, knowing that while Mikey was actually pretty good when he bothered, that Leo had been better. At least, that had been the case when they were all twelve. Somehow, based on everything he'd heard he had his doubts that the older Leonardo still sang.

"Just because you can hear well doesn't mean you hear properly like the rest of us. You're in denial Michelangelo." April softened her voice sympathetically, "But it's okay, your singing days were never meant to be... And no, just because the zombies are attracted to it doesn't mean you still have a chance to make it on stage."

April smirked at Mikey knowing he couldn't beat that one without digging himself a deeper hole. Still, she wouldn't be surprised if he changed the subject all together to give him the higher ground. As she was about to counter another attack with a preemptive strike before he could rank up some points, a blood-curdling scream echoed, polluting the air as her heart jumped into her throat. Her terror overwhelmed her and sweat formed as she realised the scream was Leonardo's. Frantically, she faced forward only to see him no longer in sight.

A dash of sea-green and orange darted past her peripheral vision and she was helpless to watch as Michelangelo threw his top half over what she now saw was a sudden drop in the path ahead and she was horrified to realise that was where Leonardo disappeared to.

Suddenly, Mikey slid further and over the edge with nary a sound, also disappearing from view.

"Mikey!" April screamed in horror.

-:-


A/N: *winks* A literal cliffhanger especially for you, Minnie XD