Smoke rolls low across the healer's hut. The broken lantern spits sparks into the rushes, and the doorframe glows orange as shadowy shapes press at the entrance outside. Kaelo staggers by the wall, clutching his wounded hand, while The Healer backs toward the rear shelf, coughing hard.
The Healer
The door is the trap now. Move, Young Dave., move!
Kaelo
If my kin reach the map first, they will scour this place clean. Get out, now!
A gust shoves smoke through the room. The fire crawls across the floor rushes toward the door, and the camp outside answers with shouting and alarm as the circus begins to wake in earnest. The hut is no longer shelter, only a narrowing throat of flame.
Young Dave.
Young Dave. rushes for the opening.
He reaches the threshold and finds the way split, one path into the blazing camp, another into the dark side lane between wagons. The kin are close now, their forms flickering beyond the smoke, while the ground at his feet hisses with heat.
The Healer
Take the gap by the wagons. Go before they see you clearly!
Behind him, Kaelo braces against the wall and the firelight paints the room in red. Ahead, the circus grounds writhe with smoke, panic, and moving shapes. Young Dave. stands at the split second where escape is still his to choose.
“Escape”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled +1)