February 17th: KO - 100 words - A character gets knocked out by the enemy and wakes to one of their comrades looking at them like this. (insert photo of derpy cat here)

Chiaotzu? Are you there?

Soft whispers, prodding at his mind. Chiaotzu groaned and covered his ears, curling up tight. Sleepin', he thought, or sent, or said. He wasn't exactly sure.

Tien's telepathy poked a little harder, almost as though he was trying to shake Chiaotzu awake, and when he spoke again there was a smile in his voice. No, not sleeping, you said you were going to help train me.

With a resigned sigh, Chiaotzu rolled onto his back and opened his eyes. It was raining outside, persistent drumming on the cave roof, pattering in the puddles beneath the cracks in the ceiling, water trickling down in thin streams and pooling in the depths. He didn't have to project his powers very far. As soon as he was properly awake he could sense Tien all around him, his energy buoyant and energetic, darting here, there and everywhere. I thought that was tomorrow, wasn't it tomorrow?

Yeah, but Master Shen went out. He said something came up and he had to chase it down. Tien giggled. So, I can talk to you now, isn't that great?

A wide smile, pleased and wistful and a little sad all mixed together, spread over Chiaotzu's face. Tien sounded so happy, so carefree. There was a certain arrogance in his demeanour—nothing out of the ordinary for a child, Chiaotzu supposed—but it had softened dramatically in the months since they had reconnected. It definitely is, Tien, he said.

I've been practicing, Tien said. I can lift my bed almost all the way to the roof now, and I made a shield during sparring yesterday that stopped Master Shen in his tracks! And, and, and then today I made a barrier that stayed for a whole minute! Can you fly?

The question caught Chiaotzu off guard; he had been enjoying listening to how much Tien's telekinesis had improved. Uh, yes. Yes, I can. Then, urgently, It takes a lot of practice, Tien, you can't just…

Can you teach me? Please? Tien's voice was so plaintive, Chiaotzu could almost picture the three puppy dog eyes and trembling lower lip. The image didn't settle the pang of anxiety that cramped in his gut.

I can't, I'm sorry. Not from here. He could sense the disappointment, and hurried to add, It's not safe. What if you fell? I wouldn't be there to catch you.

I guess, Tien said, and his pout was so pronounced it was imprinted on his telepathy. Why couldn't you catch me from there?

Chiaotzu laughed. I'm too far! I'm good, Tien, but not that good.

He heard Tien snicker, and then he was gone. His voice was gone, his presence was gone. Like a knife had cut cleanly across their connection. Chiaotzu shot upright, eyes wide in the darkness, terror like ice water rising to fill the empty spaces inside him.

Tien? Tien! Panic made his power surge, his telepathy stretching back towards the Crane School in frantic sweeps. Tien was gone. He was just…gone.

He wasn't careful. He was too afraid to be careful. And so, when his telepathy was snared, caught in a wickedly tight grip, spiked and vicious, he didn't react rationally. He twisted, writhed, and desperately tried to get free. Vaguely aware of his body convulsing, his mind was drawn away, closer to the Crane School, a thin silver thread connecting the two. He was suddenly aware of how fragile that link was, how easy it would be to sever that connection and leave him stranded in the emptiness around him.

Ah. Chiaotzu. A soft murmur, a voice he'd last heard in his worst nightmares. His blood ran cold, his heart skipped a beat. I knew it.

Ripping pain. Tearing and searing. Burning him from the inside out. A shrill scream, echoing in his skull. His own? Tien's? He didn't know. As it all went dark, he could hear the raspy caw of Shen's laugh.

Hot breath, the smell of grass, the rasp of a wet tongue on his cheek. He blinked his eyes open. Groaned as light speared into his brain. Ino huffed and licked his cheek again, a concerned growl rumbling deep in his chest. Shaking, the memory of what had happened overwhelming him, Chiaotzu started to cry helplessly. Warmth enveloped him as Ino curled around him.

"I lost him," Chiaotzu wailed, pressing his wet face to Ino's fur. "Again, I lost him again. How could I do that? Why couldn't I just stay away?" Ino nuzzled against his arm, pressing him closer, forming a protective shield around him. "I… I'll never see him again…"