I’mdead,

Mulanthought.

ThatiswhyIfeelsoterrible.I’vediedandI’mbeingeternallypunishedbecauseIdisobeyedmyfamily.

Mulanopenedhereyesandimmediatelyshutthemagain.Shewasn’tdead,butshealmostwishedshewere,becausethenmaybeshewouldn’tfeelsoawful.Herheadwaspoundingandhercheeksfeltasthoughtheywereonfire.Shetriedtomoveanarmtocoverherfacefromtherelentlesssunabove,butherarmsfelttooheavytolift.

Shestoppedmovingandsimplylayforamoment,yellingatherselfandthemonksformakingherfeelthisway.SheshouldneverhavelistenedtoSkatch’s“advice.”Asmartwarriorwouldnotdrinkwine.Especiallyifthiswashowtheyfeltafter.

Somethingpeckedhernose.“Ouch!”Mulanshouted,hereyessnappingopen.Tohersurprise—andannoyance—theuglybirdwasstaringdownather.Mulanfrownedwhensherealizedthebirdwasscowlingather,asthoughjudginghercurrentstate.

Sittingupquickly,Mulaninstantlyregrettedherchoice.Themovementmadeherheadpoundevenharder.Sheletoutamoan.Then,whenshecouldstomachit,shelookedaround,eagertotellSkatchandRamtishjustwhatshethoughtabouttheiradvice.

Herstomachheaved.

Thefirewasout.Themonksweregone—andsowasBlackWind!

Inaflash,Mulanwasonherfeet.Theclearingwassilent.Whistlingloudly,shewaited.Therewasnoansweringwhickerorsoundofhoofbeats.Shewhistledagain.Stillnothing.Mulan’sheartdroppedashergreatestfearwasrealized.BlackWindwasgone.

Inhisplacewasthemonks’raggedy,tireddonkey.

Mulanbitbackascream.Shehadnohorseandnofood.Stompingherfootinfrustration,sheyelpedassherealizedthathershoesweregone,too!Andshehadn’tevenreachedthearmyyet.

Takingadeepbreath,Mulansteadiedherracingheart.Shehadcomethisfar.Shewasn’tgoingtoturnbacknow.Sheowedittoherfamily—andherself.Gatheringherfewremainingpossessions,shebrushedherfingersoverthewritingonthesmoothmetalofherfather’ssword.LOYAL.BRAVE.TRUE.Thewordshadgottenherfatherthroughhisownbattleandwerenowapartofherstory,forbetterorworse.

Strappingtheswordtoherback,shegrabbedthereinsofthedonkeyandleditoutoftheclearing.Thedonkey’sstepswereslowandplodding,andeveryfewfeetthestubbornanimaltriedtostoptograbapieceofgrass.Mulantuggedimpatientlyatthereins.

Couldanythingelsegowrong?

shewondered.

Asifinanswer,sheheardaloudsquawk.Lookingup,shesawtheuglybirdonceagainstandinginherway.Thecreature’swingswerespread,itsheadtiltedtothesideasitstaredbackather.

Thatisit!

Mulanfumedsilently.

Firstthemonks,nowthisbirdagain.Enoughisenough!

“You!”sheshouted.“Leavemealone!”

Thebirddidn’tmove—atfirst.Then,asMulanwatched,itshiftedonitsfeet.Bringingitswingsbehindit,thebirdstretchedoutitsneckasifinmid-flight.Mulangaspedasshebegantorecognizetheelongatedneck,openwings,andpowerfulstance.Coulditbe?

“Thephoenixstatue?”Mulanventured,seeingthecreatureforwhatitwas:thebirdfromherfamily’sshrinebroughttolife.

ThePhoenixdroppedherwingsandnodded,asiftosay,

Finally!

“What?”Mulansaid,tryingtomakesenseofthesituation.Herfatherhadtoldherthebirdwasmeanttowatchoverher.Butshehadthoughthemeantmetaphorically.“You’reheretoprotectme?”Sheeyedthebird,whogaveabarelyperceptiblenod.Mulanwantedtolaugh.Andcry.Thishadtobeajoke.Acrueljoke.Howcouldabirdwithbarelyenoughfeatherstoprotectitsownbodyhelpher?“Couldn’tIjusthavemyhorseback?”sheasked.

Inresponse,thePhoenixletoutaveryun-birdlikehiss.ShehoppedovertowardMulan,thenmovedpastherandjumpedonthebackofthedonkey.Settlingin,shemadeherselfcomfortable,ignoringthedaggersMulanwasshootingatherwithhereyes.

“Youcangetascomfortableasyoulike,”Mulansaid.“ButI’mnotgoinghome.”

ThePhoenixdidn’tmove.Butthejudgmentinhereyeslessened.

“I’mgoingtofightformycountry,”Mulansaid,unsurewhyshefelttheneedtodefendherselftothePhoenix.Thebird’sexpressiondidnotchange.“Idon’tneedyou,”Mulanadded.

Thistime,thePhoenixshrugged,herthoughtsasclearasifshehadsaidthemaloud.

Timewilltell,

herlooksaid.

Timewilltell

.Then,withonelastsquawk,thePhoenixshiftedagainonthedonkey’sbacksothatshewasfacinghistail.Sittingdown,shesettledin,clearlyreadytoenjoytheride.

Mulansighed.ItlookedlikethePhoenixwastaggingalong,whetherMulanneededherornot.Grabbingthereins,Mulantuggedthedonkeyforward.Shewasgoingtomakequitethespectaclewalkingintothearmy’sencampmentwithadonkeyandaphoenixthatlookedlikeapluckedchicken.

Butthatwasaproblemshewouldfacewhenshecametoit.First,shejustneededtogettotheencampment.

WhileMulan’sjourneyhadfeltlikeitwouldneverend,itfinallydid.