Fledgling Cranes

by Satu-D-2

Chiaotzu has been living under the thumb of the evil Crane Hermit, Master Shen, for as long as he can remember. The only bright part of his life is spending time with the little triclops who shares his room. But Shen has eyes on the boy and the vast potential he holds. Based on the Pint-Sized Prompts by the wonderful u/Atojiso. February Love and War

16. Better

February 16th: Better - 200 words - Together we can defeat the enemy! Some of us can do that better than others, though.

AN. after a 3 year hiatus, I've finally finished this story. If anyone reads this far: thank you so much, it's so much appreciated.

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Chiaotzu swung his brand-new crowbar in lazy circles, enjoying the burn in his muscles and the pull on his shoulders. It was hard to build strength when he was limited by his size, but the crowbar was actually a pretty decent counterweight. Aimless movements, working up a rhythm, made good warming up exercises.

On the opposite end of the cave, InoShikaCho was nosing the ground, huffing breaths blowing clouds of dust around. That was going to make a mess if Chiaotzu didn't settle him down soon.

"Ino, what's wrong?"

At the sound of Chiaotzu's voice, Ino lifted his broad head and growled low in his throat, clearly irritated. Seeing that Chiaotzu was watching, he wedged his tusks beneath one of the large stones in this end of the cave and heaved, rolling it a metre or so away. He turned in circles on the spot, then looked up at the ceiling. When Chiaotzu followed his gaze, he saw the series of fine cracks in the stone, sunlight filtering through. It had warmed the ground, he realised, and Ino wanted to snooze in the sun.

"Ah, I see the problem."

Ino huffed, trying to push the stone again. It rolled another metre, then reached one of the many uneven little steps in the ground and rolled back towards them. Towards Ino, who braced his hooves and lowered his head. Without even thinking, Chiaotzu lifted one hand and caught the rock in a telekinetic web.

"Let me get that for you," he said, with a giggle, then lifted the rock up and away from Ino's preferred sleeping spot. Ino pressed his nose against Chiaotzu's hand, warm breath and thick bristles, then collapsed on the spot. Fine dust billowed up in a cloud, twirling motes in the beams of sunlight, before settling in Ino's purple fur. He huffed, content, and started to snooze.

Chiaotzu shook his head, unable to prevent the little smile that pulled at his lips, and carried the rock outside. He swung it around his head, enjoying the strength of his telepathy, and hurled it over the steps of the desert. Cupped a hand around his ear. Grinned when he heard it clatter into a pile of similar sized rocks.

Lifting into the air, to see where it had landed, he crossed his arms. "Score," he murmured to himself, and glanced down at the cave. "You get the next one, Ino."