she wondered.
As if in answer, she heard a loud squawk. Looking up, she saw the ugly bird once again standing in her way. The creature’s wings were spread, its head tilted to the side as it stared back at her.
That is it!
Mulan fud silently.
First the nks, now this bird again. Enough is enough!
“You!” she shouted. “Leave alone!”
The bird didn’t ve—at first. Then, as Mulan watched, it shifted on its feet. Bringing its wings behind it, the bird stretched out its neck as if in d-flight. Mulan gasped as she began to recognize the elongated neck, open wings, and powerful stance. Could it be?
“The phoenix statue?” Mulan ventured, seeing the creature for what it was: the bird fronbsp; her faly’s shrine brought to life.
The Phoenix dropped her wings and nodded, as if to say,
Finally!
“What?” Mulan said, trying to ke sense of the situation. Her father had told her the bird was ant to watch over her. But she had thought he ant taphorically. “You’re here to protect ?” She eyed the bird, who gave a barely perceptible nod. Mulan wanted to laugh. And cry. This had to be a joke. A cruel joke. How could a bird with barely enough feathers to protect its own body help her? “Couldn’t I just have horse back?” she asked.
In response, the Phoenix let out a very un-birdlike hiss. She hopped over toward Mulan, then ved past her and jued on the back of the donkey. Settling in, she de herself fortable, ignoring the daggers Mulan was shooting at her with her eyes.
“You can get as fortable as you like,” Mulan said. “But I’nbsp; not going ho.”
The Phoenix didn’t ve. But the judgnt in her eyes lessened.
“I’nbsp; going to fight for country,” Mulan said, unsure why she felt the need to defend herself to the Phoenix. The bird’s expression did not change. “I don’t need you,” Mulan added.
This ti, the Phoenix shrugged, her thoughts as clear as if she had said thenbsp; aloud.
Ti will tell,
her look said.
Ti will tell
. Then, with one last squawk, the Phoenix shifted again on the donkey’s back so that she was facing his tail. Sitting down, she settled in, clearly ready to enjoy the ride.
Mulan sighed. It looked like the Phoenix was tagging along, whether Mulan needed her or not. Grabbing the reins, Mulan tugged the donkey forward. She was going to ke quite the spectacle walking into the ar’s encant with a donkey and a phoenix that looked like a plucked chicken.
But that was a problenbsp; she would f