Hey, remember last chapter when I said this story is going to be really sad? Well, this is where it starts. I'm going to warn you not to get too attached to anyone, because I am a terrible person. I swear that next chapter, there will be more zombie fighting and, you know, stuff that happens in zombie stories. So...

-disclaimer goes here-

"We need to leave. If the zombies are only in the city, we can escape to safety. And if they aren't, we stand a better chance around less people." Leo said, directing his plan to Raph while making it clear that he didn't want the youngest two to hear anything. The four were walking through the sewers, Mikey consoling Donnie behind them, who had seemed to take the biggest toll from what had just happened.

"No, we need to stay in the city. That way, we can hide the sewers as still have access to food!" The younger responded, ignoring the hint altogether.

"Everyone knows that in every zombie movie, the zombies end up in the sewers." Leo said, holding a finger to his lips.

"Then we get to kick some zombie butt!" Mikey hissed behind them, and Donnie lifted his head.

"Zombies aren't real. When will you guys understand that?" He said, staring at Mikey. The mutant only shook his head, patting the older's back.

"No, then we—you know what? Fine! We'll see what Master Splinter wants to do!" Leo said, the argument ending as the four came up to the lair's entrance.

Raph only shook his head, running ahead and stomping into his room before anyone could ask him anything. Spike was sitting on his bed, being awesome as always.

"You look hungry." Raph pulled off a lettuce leaf for his pet, setting it down next to him. He smiled as he leaned over a took a bite of it. "Don't worry, Spike. If a zombie touches you, it won't get far."

"Talking to Spike again?" Raph stiffened before turning. Mikey was standing in his doorway and smiling like an idiot. "Leo talked to Master Splinter and April. He says pack lightly." Raph glared at him until he left, turning back to his pet with a groan.

"Spike, chew on your leaf if you think we should just hide in the sewers." Spike agreed, bringing a smile to his owner's face. Nevertheless, Raph got up and started packing. He finished quickly. After all, he only really needed some stuff for Spike and an extra set of sais.

He pulled his bag up, returning to the common area. Everyone except Donnie and Mikey were sitting there, bags sitting around them. A glance at the television revealed forcibly calm faces and a confirmation of what they had seen.

"Where's the B-Team?"

"Donnie's trying to get Mikey to only bring a couple comic books." Leo answered. Despite the messed up situation they were in, Raph barked out a laugh.

"Donnie, Mikey, and comic books? Ok, how long do you think it'll take for Donnie to start yelling?" Before anyone said anything, he got his answer.

"Mikey! Just bring three!"

"Ten!"

"Four!"

"Eleven!"

"Five!""Twelve!"

"That isn't how you barter!" The two continued to yell until Mikey yelled in pain. The two left the room, Mikey being dragged across the floor. His arms were clutching onto some comic books. "Mikey's bringing three comic books."

Leo stood up, waiting for Mikey to stop whining before speaking. "So, should we leave now, or should we wait a little?" The five looked at Master Splinter, who closed his eyes for a moment before answering."It'd be best to leave now before other people get the same idea."

The walk out of the city was uneventful. People had already begun to panic, running and screaming across the city, but none of them noticed those hiding in the shadows. It was hours before the group reached a more rural area of the state, the sun rising and casting light on the ground. At this point, Donnie was practically carrying Mikey, who looked ready to pass out, and April was yawning and stumbling every two steps. While they were having the most trouble, no one was completely awake, which explained the group quite literally running into another.

Leo was the first to register who they had just run into and why they weren't running in terror. "Dogpound? Fishface? Dexter?"

"See, I told you we should've stayed in the city! If they had the same idea as us, it had to be a bad one!"

"Shut up, Raph. We have bigger problems." Leo stepped forward, making a show of not pulling out a weapon. "We don't need to fight. There are bigger problems right now. In case you've forgotten, there are zombies." Donnie groaned softly, and Leo responded with a glare. "Despite what Donnie thinks, we are in a lot of trouble, and if we stick together, it'll be easier for all of us."

"Are you suggesting an alliance?" Dogpound growled, the idea leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

"An alliance sounds great! You guys can help me test out my new freeze-ray gun of doom-ahnuhnation." Baxter piped up, rubbing the back of his neck.

Mikey yawned, looking at Donnie in confusion. "Is doomanuhnation a word?" Donnie shook his head, stifling a laugh at his brother's question.

"Do we have an alliance or not?"

The ragtag group stood in silence a moment longer before continuing to walk while the sun burned above them.

They eventually arrived at an old warehouse. Almost instantly, Raph had fallen into well deserved sleep, but what seemed like minutes later he was being pulled out of dreamland. Blinking in irritation, he was greeted by Leo sitting above him. The fact that his older brother seemed wide awake only made him angrier.

"You, me, Dogpound, and Fishface are going to that store we passed by on the way here." Raph yawned, rubbing his eyes before standing. He scooped up Spike, who blinked and closed his eyes again."April!" The human jumped slightly, no doubt having just woken up as well. "Will you watch Spike while I go to the store? Not really safe for him to come with me, you know."

She smiled, holding her hands out for the small turtle. "No problem, Raph.""Okay, great! Just make sure Mikey doesn't get ahold of him and you'll be fine!"

"Raph? We need to go!" Leo called.

"Ok, thanks April!" Raph smiled one last time before running out of the warehouse and catching up with everyone else.

Hours later, the four returned, considerably worse for wear than they had been when they left and carrying multiple bags. As soon as he saw April, huddled next to Donnie and exchanging whispers, Raph dropped his bags and ran up to her.

"Where's Spike?"

"Uh." She glanced at Donnie, begging silently for help.

"Spike was getting pretty old for for his species." He put as much emphasis as he could into the words.

"Yeah," April said, nodding quickly. "And I think the move kind of shocked him." Raph grabbed her shoulders, leaning closer as a realization came to him.

"Where's Spike?"

"Spike…died. I'm really sorry." He stared into her eyes before turning to Donnie. His green hues asked for confirmation, and his bottom lip quivered slightly.

"I'm sorry Raph. There's nothing I could do."

"Aww, did the little turtle lose his pet?" "Can it, Dogpound!" Raph yelled, stomping out of the warehouse. From where April stood, she could see tears spilling out of his eyes.

Leo stared at the spot where Raph had been before, fighting a silent battle. Deciding the most Raph could do was kill him, he went out to search for and hopefully comfort his brother.

Raph was sitting about a hundred feet away from the warehouse, head between his knees. Leo hesitated before walking forward and putting an arm around his shoulders. Raph glanced up long enough for Leo to realize he was crying before laying his head back down.

"Hey, remember when you found Spike when we were five?" Leo asked, smiling softly.

"And we couldn't figure out what to feed him until Donnie got out his giant book?" Raph sniffled, wiping his eyes.

"And it took a week for you to convince Sensei to let you keep him, but by then he already had a name?" Raph smiled slightly before a new strain of tears fell down his cheek. Leo nodded, taking that as his cue to fall silent.