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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.