BythetimeMulanfoundapairofbootsthatfitandtrainingclothesthatwereonlytwosizestoobig,itwasgrowingdark.Walkingoutoftheclothingtent,shesearchedforherassignedbarracks.Eachtentlookedthesame,andforawhile,shewanderedthroughtheencampment,happyforthedarknessandthesolitude.Afterweeksofbeingalone,sherealizedshehadgrownusedtothesolitarysoundsofthethoughtsinherheadandBlackWind’shooveshittingtheground.

Asshemovedamongthetents,shewrinkledhernoseattheoddscentsthatfilledtheair.Therewasadistinctmixtureofsweat,unwashedclothes,andundercookedmeat.Eventhoughshewashungry,thesmelldidlittletoenticehertofillherbelly,insteadmakingherqueasy.Fireshadbeenlitinfrontofthebiggertents,andsoldiersstoodaroundthem,warmingtheirhands,theirboomingvoicesallthelouderinthestillnessofthenight.

Mulansighed.Shewanteddesperately,inthatmoment,tobebackinherfamily’shouse,sittingwithhersister.Shewouldn’tevenhaveprotestedifhermothertriedtoplaywithherunrulyhair,twistingitandloopingitasshemumbledtoherself.Yourhairislikeyou,Mulan,impossibletocontrol,shewouldsay.Buthervoicewouldbesoft,andMulanwouldfeelhermother’sgentlefingersbrushoverhershoulders,silentlyadding,

Iloveyou.

Shakingherhead,Mulanpushedawaythethoughtsofhome.Theywoulddohernogood.Themonkshadtoldhershehadtoactlikeaman.Andmendidn’tgetweepyandsentimental.Spottingherassignedtent,Mulanslippedinside.

Immediately,shewishedshehadn’t.

Infrontofher,meninvariousstagesofundressjokedandlaughedwithoneanother.Mulan’sfaceflushedandshefeltherthroatbecomedry.Twooftheconscriptsweretradingplayfulpuncheswhiletheyarguedoverwhoshouldgetthebettersleepingplatform.Anotherconscriptwassearchingthroughhisclothing,tossingthingsoverhisshoulderwithoutcare.Therewasaconscriptsharpeninghisswordandanotherpickinghisteethwiththetipofadagger.

Keepinghereyesdown,Mulanmadeherwaythroughthetent.Otherthanthesoldiers,thetentitselfwaspracticallyempty.Theonlyfurniturewastheeightsleepingplatformsthatranthelengthofthetent.Besidemostofthemwerepilesofclothingandequipment,throwndownbywhateversoldierhadclaimedthatplatform.Spottingoneofthelastemptyplatforms,Mulanstartedtowardit.Butjustasshewasabouttoreachit,aconscriptmovedinfrontofher,hisbareskinbrushingMulan’sfingertips.

Mulanstoppedinhertracks.

Amomentlater,someonebumpedintoher.

Turning,Mulanbitbackagroan.ItwasCricket.AndwithhimwasLongwei.Theyreturnedhergaze,eyebrowsraised.Butbeforeanyofthemcouldspeak,thelargerconscriptthathadbeenbullyingthemearlierappeared.He,likealmosteveryoneelse,wasnearlynaked.Ashespottedtheyoungerconscripts,ahugesmilespreadoverhisface.Foramoment,italmostlookedasthoughheweregenuinelyhappytoseeCricketandLongwei,liketheywerelong-lostfriends.Butthenhegrabbedthembothinaheadlockandpulledthemintothegrowingruckuscausedbytherowdyconscripts.

Desperatetogetasfarfromthechaosasshecould,Mulanonceagaintriedtogettotheemptysleepingplatform.Butitseemedfatewasnotonherside,forjustasshereachedit,hereyesmovedupandlockedonHonghui.Thehandsomeconscriptwasstandingnexttohisfriend,amanMulanrecalledanotherconscriptcallingPo.

“Lookwho’shere,”Posaid,nudgingHonghui.

Foramoment,MulanhadaflashofhopethatmaybeHonghuiwouldhaveforgottenabouttheirearlierinteractionandbereadytomoveon.

Butthentheconscriptlookedoverather.Hisexpressiondarkened.

Ornot,

Mulanthought.SheknewthatifSkatchandRamtishhadbeenthere,theywould’vetoldherthatatruemandidnotapologize.ButthelastthingMulanneededwasanenemy.Thelessattentionshehadonher,thebetter.Withthatinmind,sheopenedhermouthtoapologize,butbeforeshecould,aloudvoiceboomedthroughthetent.Instantly,theconscriptsstoppedtheirroughhousingasalleyesturnedtowardthefrontentrance.SergeantQiang,theircommandingofficer,stoodwithhisfaceinshadow.

“Itoldyoutolineupforshowers!”hesaid,histoneangry.

“Showers?”Mulanrepeated,panicfloodingthroughher.

SergeantQiangnodded.“Showers!Youlotstink!”

Astheotherconscriptsfiledout,readytofollowordersandeagertowashthestinkoffthemselves,Mulanstoodandfiddledwithherarmor.Shecouldn’ttakeashower.Hersecretwouldbeoutandshewouldbeinserioustrouble.Butshewouldalsobeintroubleifsherefusedanorder.Shenervouslyplayedwithhernewshirt,pickingataloosehem.Shehadnochoice.Shewasjustgoingtohavetorunaway.Takeherthingsandhightailitbackhomeandsuffertheconsequences.Therewasnothingelseshecoulddo??.??.??.

“AndIneedavolunteerfornightguardduty—”

Mulandidn’thesitate.Herhandshotupintheair.“Me!”shesaid.Hervoicewasloudandshesoundedwaytooeagerforthemundanetask.Loweringherhandsheadded,thistimemorecalmly,“Imean,Ivolunteer,sir.”Asshemadeherwayovertothesergeant,shesawHonghuiandPosharealook.