2（1 / 2）

MulansatbehindXiu,absent-mindedlybrushinghersister’slongblackhair.Infrontofher,theyoungergirlwasquiet,lostinherthoughts.Mulandidn’tmindthesilence.Herownbrainwasloudandbusyenough.Allshecouldseewasherfather’slookofdisappointment.Ithauntedherlikeanightmareshecouldn’twakefrom,makingherfeelshakyandufortable.Thelastthingshewouldeverwanttodowashurtherfather.Butshehadn’thadachoice.Oratleast,thatwaswhatshekepttellingherself.Therewasnowayherfathercouldhavegivenchase,notwithhisweakleg.Whileherfathermayhavebeenaherointhewar,hisinjurykepthimfromworkingashardashewouldliketointhevillage.Mulanhadsimplywantedtohelp.

Andsomehow,sheseemedtohavedonejusttheopposite.

“Mulan?”

Xiu’squietvoiceinterruptedMulan’sdarkthoughts.Herhandstopped,thebrushhoveringoverXiu’shairasshewaitedtohearwhathersisterwantedtosay.

“Whathappenedwhenyoufellofftheroof?”Xiuasked.

Mulandidn’tneedtoquestionwhatXiumeant.Shehadfesomething??.??.??.odd??.??.??.asshefelhroughtheair.Likesomehowhermindhadseenastepaheadandherbodyhadknownthemovesitneededtomakebeforeshewasevenawareherself.Butshewasn’tabouttoadmitherthoughtsoutloud—especiallytoheryoungersister.“Iwaschasingthatnaughtychicken,”shesaidinsteadassheresumedspbingXiu’shair.

Beneaththespb,Xiushookherhead.“No,”shepressed.“Whenyouslipped.Foramomentitwaslikeyouwereabird??.??.??.”Theyoungergirl’svoicetrailedoff.

Mulanfrowned,surprisedbyhersister’sastuteobservation.Xiuwasright.Shehadfelikeabird.Asshehadswoopedandswungaroundthatbeam,shehadn’tfescared.Shehadfealive.Morealivethanshehadeverfebefore.Shehadbeenlikeabirdsoaringthroughthesky,playingonthewind.Notaclumsychickenbutagracefulbirdofprey.

Buthowwasthatevenpossible?Shehadn’tdaredthinkaboutituntihisverymoment,butsheknewthatshehadnarrowlyescapedgettinghurt—orworse.Somehow,whateverthatfeelinginsideherwas,ithadmanagedtosaveher.Whichsoundedstrange.Whichmeanttherewasnowayshewasgoingtosayitaloudtohersister,becauseXiuwoulddefinitelythinkitwasstrange.Soinstead,Mulanchangedthesubject.