Mulanfehollow.Shemoved,butwithoutdirectionorpurpose.OverandoversheheardthewordexpulsionandsawthelookofdisgustanddisappointmentonCommanderTung’sface,thelookofbetrayalonHonghui’s.
Shehadnevermeanttohurtthem.Shehadjustwantedtodoherpart.Yetsomehow,allalong,shehadknownthisdaywouldspe.Onewayoranother.Butforonebrief,happymoment,asshehadcausedthatavalanchetowipeouttheenemy,shehadfestrong,proud.Shehadfelikeshecoulddoanything.
Butforwhat?Nowshewasexpelled.Shecouldn’tretreathome.Shecouldn’treturntothearmy.Shehadnowheretogo.Soshejustwalked.Sheleftthevalleybehind,headingupintothemountainswithBlackWindbyherside.Witheachstep,theairgrewcolder,butshedidn’tnotice.
Reachingtheedgeofacliff,Mulanstopped.Thewholeoftheworldseemedtostretchoutinfrontofher,thesinkingsunsettingthesnow-coveredgroundaflamewithredsandpinks.InfrontofhersatthePhoenix,itsownfeathersabrightspplementtothescene.Mulanstaredatthebeautifulsight,andherheartbrokestillfurther.
Sinkingtotheground,Mulanallowedherselftocry.Thesobswrackedherbodyasshewrappedherarmsaroundherself,seekingspfortshecouldnotfind.Ashercryingintensified,shestruggledtocatchherbreath,herchestheavingandtight.Shefebrokeninside,likeapartofherhadbeenshatteredandwouldneverbemadewholeagain.
“WhathaveIdone?”shesaid,lookingoveratthePhoenix.“Icanneverfacemyfamily??.??.??.Icannevergohome??.??.??.”Asshesaidthewordsoutloud,afreshwaveofgriefhitMulan.Sheloweredherhead.Shewasnolongerthestrongwarriorshehadbeshewasafragile,frightenedgirl.
Asshesatthere,sheheardthePhoenixspecloser.ThebirdwrappedoneofherwingsaroundMulan.ThespfortwastoomuchforMulantotake.Thebird’sunconditionallovefeundeserved—butMulanallowedherselftoeptit,leaningintothePhoenix.
Foralongmoment,birdandgirlwerestillasMulan’scryingsoftened.Justasshemanagedtogetherbreathingbackundercontrol,ashadowfelloverthem.Mulanlookedup,andhereyesnarrowedasshesawagroupofblackbirdsflyinginformation.Theyswoopedandliftedontheaircurrentsinabeautiful—butsinister—dance.
Therewassomethingfamiliaraboutthebirds.AsMulanfollowedtheirmovements,sherealizedwhy.Theywerethesameblackbirdsthathadattackedthearmyearlier.