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

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

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’sfaceflushedandshefeherthroatbedry.Twooftheconscriptsweretradingplayfulpuncheswhiletheyarguedoverwhoshouldgetthebettersleepingplatform.Anotherconscriptwassearchingthroughhisclothing,tossingthingsoverhisshoulderwithoutcare.Therewasaconscriptsharpeninghisswordandanotherpickinghisteethwiththetipofadagger.

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