18
ak, Mulan took off running. She tripped and slid down the hard-packed snow, the ground shaking re violently as the avalanche beca stronger.
Mulan heard the invaders’ shouts as the ruling grew louder, and then the shouts turned to terrified screa as behind her a wall of white appeared. It barreled toward the unndful of which ar it destroyed in its path. The snow, long still, was now a freed beast, eating anything in its way. Feeling the wind fronbsp; the avalanche behind her, Mulan picked up speed. But the snow kept ing. She whistled loudly, and Black Wind appeared. He raced to her side, and just before the snow engulfed her, she leapt onto the horse’s back.
Together, they galloped ahead of the avalanche as it nipped at Black Wind’s hooves. Behind her, the invading ar was not as lucky. Without horses, and weighed down by arr, they disappeared into the wall of white.
Mulan didn’t spare thenbsp; a thought. She just kept riding, worry and fear growing in her stoch. When she had thought of her plan, she had otten one vital part: that she couldn’t control the snow. She had wanted the avalanche to take out the ene, and it had, but she hadn’t thought through what would happen after that. Now the snow was heading straight toward the Ierial Ar. And it wasn’t slowing down.
Urging Black Wind on, Mulan saw the faces of the Ierial soldiers grow clearer as she de her way farther down the untainside. She watched in horror as the runaway trebuchet tuled down, end over end, before landing with a crash—right on top of Cricket. Her screanbsp; caught in her throat as she watched Honghui race over and push the trebuchet off his friend. Shoving Cricket to safety, Honghui got to his feet only to be hit with a wave of snow that sucked hinbsp; down.
Mulan didn’t hesitate. Slaing her legs against Black Wind’s sides and yanking on the reins, she turned the protesting horse in the direction of the snow. As he struggled to ve toward where Honghui had disappeared, Black Wind snorted with the effort. He could barely stay atop the snow, and on his back, Mulan struggled to rein atop hi
Suddenly, Mulan spotted Honghui’s arnbsp; reaching up through the snow. Extending her ar she naged to grasp his hand in hers and then, with the last of her strength, she pulled hinbsp; onto Black Wind’s back. He lay li in the saddle, his eyes closed and his breathing shallow. Turning Black Wind once re, Mulan galloped ahead. As the land leveled out, the rushing snow began to slow, then stopped altogether.
The avalanche
Mulan heard the invaders’ shouts as the ruling grew louder, and then the shouts turned to terrified screa as behind her a wall of white appeared. It barreled toward the unndful of which ar it destroyed in its path. The snow, long still, was now a freed beast, eating anything in its way. Feeling the wind fronbsp; the avalanche behind her, Mulan picked up speed. But the snow kept ing. She whistled loudly, and Black Wind appeared. He raced to her side, and just before the snow engulfed her, she leapt onto the horse’s back.
Together, they galloped ahead of the avalanche as it nipped at Black Wind’s hooves. Behind her, the invading ar was not as lucky. Without horses, and weighed down by arr, they disappeared into the wall of white.
Mulan didn’t spare thenbsp; a thought. She just kept riding, worry and fear growing in her stoch. When she had thought of her plan, she had otten one vital part: that she couldn’t control the snow. She had wanted the avalanche to take out the ene, and it had, but she hadn’t thought through what would happen after that. Now the snow was heading straight toward the Ierial Ar. And it wasn’t slowing down.
Urging Black Wind on, Mulan saw the faces of the Ierial soldiers grow clearer as she de her way farther down the untainside. She watched in horror as the runaway trebuchet tuled down, end over end, before landing with a crash—right on top of Cricket. Her screanbsp; caught in her throat as she watched Honghui race over and push the trebuchet off his friend. Shoving Cricket to safety, Honghui got to his feet only to be hit with a wave of snow that sucked hinbsp; down.
Mulan didn’t hesitate. Slaing her legs against Black Wind’s sides and yanking on the reins, she turned the protesting horse in the direction of the snow. As he struggled to ve toward where Honghui had disappeared, Black Wind snorted with the effort. He could barely stay atop the snow, and on his back, Mulan struggled to rein atop hi
Suddenly, Mulan spotted Honghui’s arnbsp; reaching up through the snow. Extending her ar she naged to grasp his hand in hers and then, with the last of her strength, she pulled hinbsp; onto Black Wind’s back. He lay li in the saddle, his eyes closed and his breathing shallow. Turning Black Wind once re, Mulan galloped ahead. As the land leveled out, the rushing snow began to slow, then stopped altogether.
The avalanche