February 11th: Sacrifice - Super Saturday word count - - pay an escalation cost for each /

400 words - To escape you must leave one of your own people behind to be captured by the /

+ 200 words - One of the escapees suffers from Heroic BSODbr /

+ 200 words - Add a heaping helping of Finagle's Lawbr /

+ 200 words - Everything ends up on fire

The door to the Crane School had never appeared so imposing. It seemed to stretch before him, the gateway to his worst nightmares. He had run until his legs had given out on him and he'd had to rest. The rest of the journey had been on trembling legs with cautious steps. The stinging abrasion up one forearm was hidden by his surcoat, the thick green cloth irritating his bleeding skin. Now, steeling himself, he pushed the door open. It swung easily and silently on well oiled hinges.

Shen was standing in the narrow entrance hall. His hands were folded in front of him and his cruel eyes were once again exposed. A sneer was pulling at his lips, twisting his features, and that cold thrill of fear traced Chiaotzu's spine again.

"Where have you been, Chiaotzu? I expected you back hours ago."

"I...I'm sorry, Master, I had to come back alone. Tao was..." A flash of memory. Bright red blood soaking into pink cloth. The acid taste of bile in the back of his throat. The tears and regret as he'd run. "Tao was held up..."

"I see." Shen tilted his head, a curious movement. "Pray tell, Chiaotzu, what was it that held my dear brother up? Was he, perchance, detained in some way?"

"Y-yes, Master." Chiaotzu fought the flush that tried to rise in his cheeks. Kept his mouth flat and his eyes blank. "He didn't tell me what he had to do. He said it was none of my concern."

That was good. Tao had said that often and about many things, sneering and looking down his crooked nose at the young telepath. That would make it seem more genuine.

"Do you have any idea where he's gone?"

"No, Master." Chiaotzu's eyes cut to the door behind Shen. That door led to the dormitories. To his room. To Tien. If he could get past this hurdle he would be able to get Tien and a few meagre belongings. He'd be able to get out. Get them both out. "With your permission, Master, I'm very tired from the journey. It's a long way to go without Tao's methods of travel. Could I perhaps go to bed? Please?"

"You don't want to talk to me?" Shen pouted, a grotesque parody of a hurt child. "I thought we were having a conversation."

"It is always good talking to you, Master," Chiaotzu said awkwardly. "But I am tired and need rest. We can debrief more in the morning?"

The door to the dormitories swung open. Chiaotzu's stomach dropped down to his toes.

"Chaozu!" Tien burst through the door. His eyes were sparkling with joy and his small hands were outstretched. "Chaozu home!"

Shen caught the boy's arm as Tien tried to duck around him. It was a gentle grip, his long fingers only just denting the smooth skin of Tien's arm, but the triclops halted instantly and looked up at Shen with absolutely no fear in his three, dark eyes.

"M-Master, I'm so sorry. I'll take him to bed. He's just...excited to see me..."

Shen didn't look at Tien. His eyes remained fixed on Chiaotzu, cold and calm.

"Chiaotzu, I couldn't help but notice that you did not refer to my brother by his proper title."

Terror surged afresh. Caught in Chiaotzu's throat. Made it impossible for him to form words. Everything he wanted to say sat in a lump in his chest, heavy and hot and painful.

"Master, please...I..."

"You know where my brother is. You know exactly where he is. You'd better tell me where Tao is, Chiaotzu."

"I don't know, he was... We were near the ocean and there was a town nearby... Maybe he went to find a tailor? Maybe he wanted to get his outfit fixed? It was...quite a messy assassination, Master." In this, at least, he was telling the truth. He shielded his mind as best he could, but was worried that the fear would leak through anyway. It was so hard when his emotions were so high.

Shen's eyes narrowed. His gaze burned into Chiaotzu's skin. He was so angry. He was beyond furious. It was terrifying.

"Get out," Shen said. Growled. "How dare you try to lie to me? Your master? Your insolence will not be treated lightly, Chiaotzu. Now get out of my sight."

"Master..." Chiaotzu held out one hand, pleading. Again. "Please let go of Tien. Please."

"Chaozu?"

Tien's voice was small, hushed. His eyes when they met Chiaotzu's were wide and frightened. So small. So innocent. And Shen's hand was digging in deeper.

"Tienshinhan has promise. He could be a great fighter. But if you don't leave right now I will kill him. Your little brother." A cold shock, like being dunked in ice water.

"Chaozu…?" Tien reached out his other hand. Not desperate, not yet. His eyes were confused and the sight of him like this broke Chiaotzu's heart. But the telepath did not allow this emotion to show on his face. If he did then Tien would start to cry, and then they'd both be in real trouble.

"I'm sorry, Master," Chiaotzu said, but his eyes were fixed on his brother. Their minds met in the space between them and Tien's curled desperately around him. "I'm so sorry."

He turned. The door loomed again. He pushed through and pulled his mind away from Tien's. At that separation the boy started to cry.

"Chaozu, stay! Chaozu, stay!"

Chiaotzu managed to keep his tears at bay, managed to restrain the sobs that built in his chest. Shen was proud and cruel. If Chiaotzu showed the slightest hint of his pain then Tien would pay. As it was the toddler would be punished. He would learn quickly that such displays were not the way of the Crane. Hopefully he would learn before the punishments became too severe.

That thought, the possibility that this was the last time he would ever see his brother, overwhelmed him. As the door swung silently shut behind him, he allowed the grief to rise. He ran into the forest, wailing and sobbing. Stumbling over tree roots and scraping past rough trunks, desperately trying to get away from that terrible thought. Turning away from the mountains he started to head down into the valley, towards the river.

Anger started to build. A vicious biting rage at his own weakness and indecision. Blindly, he raised one hand and fired a Dodonpa into the air. It was the only thing he'd needed to do. If he had killed that man then everything would be fine.

But that wasn't true. If he had done as his master had commanded then he would still be under their control. And Tien… he would still be with his brother…

It was all too much. His legs buckled, sending him sprawling on the hard ground. His eyes stared ahead, wide and unseeing. The bright flash of his Dodon ray had shot between the trees and exploded flame in the distance. The dry pines caught and soon the air was full of acrid smoke and gently floating embers.

Chiaotzu didn't care. His mind shorted out and instead he just lay motionless, waiting patiently for the flames to reach him.

A flash of purple. A curious huffing breath on his cheek. The sight of huge yellow fangs taking up his field of vision, before the creature gently gripped his collar, lifted him, and carried him to the river. Icy water soaking his clothes, a stark contrast to the hot dry air blowing hard against his face, surprising a shuddering gasp from him. The same monster who had tried so hard to attack Tien that short time ago now carried Chiaotzu to safety as he sobbed and the forest lining the bank glowed with angry red flames.