Mulansatinfrontofafire,tryingtowarmherhands.Thefirewassmall.Shehadnothadthestrengthorenergytosearchthesurroundingwoodsformorethanahandfuloftwigs.Butasshetriedtowarmup,shewishedshehadspentalittlemoretimegatheringfirewood.
Groaning,shepulledoffherfather’sboots.Theragsshehadstuffedintheshoestohelpthemfitbettercameouttingedred.Blisters,somenewandsomeold,linedherfeet,whichwerebloodyandraw.Shegrimacedatthesightandthenstretchedthemtowardthefire.Reachingdown,shegrabbedhersmallfoodbagandlookedinside.Therewasonlyonelonelyappleremaining.Sighing,sheofferedituptoBlackWind,whodevouredit.
“MaybeifIbegforgiveness,myfamilywilakemeback??.??.??.”shesaidwhenthesoundofBlackWind’schompinghadgrownquiet.Thehorsedidn’trespond.Lookingacrossthefire,Mulan’seyesgrewwide.
Thebirdwasback.
Thesameugly,strangebirdthatshehadnowseenthreeseparatetimessatonanearbylog,watchingher.Mulan’sstomachrumbled.“Isthathideousbirdtoouglytoeat?”sheaskedBlackWind.
Inanswer,thebirdletoutaloudsquawk.
Mulan’sstomachrumbledagain.Shereachedforhersword.Uglydidn’tnecessarilymeannottasty.Shewaspushingherselftoherfeetwhensheheardfootstepsbehindher.Startled,sheturned,givingthebirdachancetohoptosafety.
“Greetings!”
Thesoundofaman’svoicebouncedoffthetrees.Wrappingherfingersaroundthehiofhersword,Mulanturned,theweaponraisedinfrontofher.Twomonks,withlongbeardsandraggedcloaks,werelookingatherfromacrossthefire.Theyappearedtobemucholderthanher,theirfacesweatheredwithage.One’sskinandhairweredarker,whiletheotherhadalighterspplexion.Behindthemwasapathetic-lookingdonkey.