Farewell
@tmnt-fandom-family-reunion (Cabin 15) ~ Cadoo 🐾 (Feel free to reblog + interact with the boy, he's strugglin) Don squeezed his eyes shut, his tail flicked out behind him, thumping repeatedly against the edge of his makeshift bed.
He’d crawled his way home the night before, exhausted from a full week of mischief, exhausted but happy. Don had flopped down into his nest for a well deserved sleep, comfortable, content, and looking forward to the following morning. He had plans to go back to his cabin after breakfast. To visit his friends, his brothers. He’d been woken up by the camp’s final event announcement, blaring over the intercom. “...our camp-sanctioned farewell meeting is upon us.” Don didn’t get up. Oh. Camp was ending. He’d be home soon. Back in his proper dimension. In his proper lair. With dad and Leo, and Raph and Mikey. Leatherhead and Casey and April. Back with his proper family. Like his instincts wanted. Like he wanted. …. Don thought….he thought he’d be happier than this. Excited maybe? At ease?
Of course he expected to feel a little upset, after spending months connecting with his cabin mates and interacting with other versions of his family it was only natural for there to be a feeling of loss. This experience was never going to last forever, or at least they’d all assumed so. He’d been prepared really, this wouldn’t be the first time that he’d had to part ways with new friends or family. This wasn’t catching him unawares. Really. Logically he knew that. So why…. Why was he so….sad? No. Anxious? Scared. Scared to go back home. He could hear his heartbeat, too fast as it kept pace with the stressed swing of his tail. His head was buzzing just behind it, a not so soothing white noise to fill the gaps between beats. Don wriggled until he could bury his head under the blankets, it did nothing to muffle the noise and he whined, dragging his claws across the bottom of the nest to shred the sheets he was laying on. Not like he’d be needing them much longer. This was ridiculous. Stupid even. On the verge of panic over going back to his rightful universe. Why did that thought scare him? Terrify him?He was going home. Home. Where his nest was. Is. Where his family was. Is. Where they are. And sure, this week would probably be the last time he’d see Mike or Smokey or Mikey or Hunter or Scout or Mercury. But that was expected. That’s how experiences like this worked…when they weren’t orchestrated by some villainous higher power. You come, you meet new people, you leave. Maybe you go on a couple side quests, learn some fun morals and life lessons. Befriend a group of turtles who you can actually have a conversation with again. Sometimes you get to keep a souvenir, sometimes you even get to remember it all! None of that really mattered though, because he’d be going home and he’d be going to see his family and- He’d be alone. Don’s breath stuttered and his throat clicked. His hindlegs pushed him further beneath the blankets, curling up as tightly as he was able. A high distressed trill left his beak, smothered by the folds of the comforter. His head buzzed louder. Half formed thoughts and instincts fighting for purchase. No. That wasn’t right. He wouldn’t be alone. His family was is there. But it’d be quiet again. That didn’t make sense either. Especially when his baby brother was involved. The lair was never quiet. He would be.He would be quiet again.
Don blinked. Something cool slid down his cheek. He’d gotten comfortable here, distracted by the games and newness of it all. He’d forgotten that this wasn’t normal. That he wouldn’t be going back home to something like this. He wouldn’t be able to initiate play or physical touch like he could here with Hunter or Scout or the nibbles. Because his body language wouldn’t be understood. He wouldn’t be able to enter a room and announce himself, say I love you, respond to a question like he could with Mikey or Smokey or Mercury. Because he now spoke a completely different language. He wouldn’t be able to expect the same kind of patience, understanding, or flexibility like he could with Mike. Because he and his brothers were teenagers and despite every crazy thing they’ve experienced thus far it still wasn’t enough to help deal with what was wrong with him.Don would be alone again. And after months of not being alone he wasn’t sure if he could survive that.













