18
had ended.
In the silence that followed, Mulan brought Black Wind to a halt. Beneath her, the horse’s sides heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. He had saved her—and Honghui. Reaching down, she gave hinbsp; a grateful pat on the neck. Then she slid down to the ground.
With effort, she naged to get Honghui’s unconscious body off the horse. Laying hinbsp; down gently, she looked at hinbsp; for a long nt, watching as his chest rose and fell. He was alive. At least she had saved hi
Hearing shouts fronbsp; the other n who were ing free fronbsp; their shock, Mulan gave Honghui one last lingering look. She wanted to stay to ke sure he was really going to be okay, but she needed to ke sure that was the end of the Rouran attacks. Turning, she disappeared into the fog.
Honghui’s whole body hurt. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was lying near the rest of the Ierial Ar. His head pounded, and when he went to stand, his legs nearly gave out fronbsp; under hi The last thing he reered was getting Cricket to safety. Then there had been a curtain of white. The next thing he knew, he was waking up on the ground.
But at least he had woken up. He had the oddest feeling, alst a ry tugging at hi that soone had helped hi though he knew that was iossible. Only the craziest of people would have run into the avalanche. Shaking off the thought, he de his way over to Coander Tung. As he approached, he heard Cricket calling out.
“Has anyone seen Hua Jun?” Cricket asked, his eyes scanning the area.
Hearing Cricket’s worried question, Honghui saw Coander Tung take notice as well. His battle-weary eyes searched the n. Spotting Honghui instead, he called hinbsp; over. “Have you seen Hua Jun?” Coander Tung asked.
Honghui shook his head, a pit growing in his stoch. Had Hua Jun been swallowed by the snow? Or lost to an invader’s arrow before the avalanche had even begun?
One of the soldiers gave a shout. Turning, Honghui spotted a figure silhouetted in the distance. The fog de it hard to ke out the details, but as the figure ca closer, Honghui inhaled sharply. It was the won warrior he had seen in battle. There was no doubt about it. Her long hair flowed out behind her as she rode across the valley atop her giant horse.
“Black Wind?”
Hearing Cricket, Honghui turned, startled, to find the young soldier now right next to hi He was staring at the warrior as well.
Black Wind?
Honghui repeated silently. What was Cricket talking about? Black Wind was Hu
In the silence that followed, Mulan brought Black Wind to a halt. Beneath her, the horse’s sides heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. He had saved her—and Honghui. Reaching down, she gave hinbsp; a grateful pat on the neck. Then she slid down to the ground.
With effort, she naged to get Honghui’s unconscious body off the horse. Laying hinbsp; down gently, she looked at hinbsp; for a long nt, watching as his chest rose and fell. He was alive. At least she had saved hi
Hearing shouts fronbsp; the other n who were ing free fronbsp; their shock, Mulan gave Honghui one last lingering look. She wanted to stay to ke sure he was really going to be okay, but she needed to ke sure that was the end of the Rouran attacks. Turning, she disappeared into the fog.
Honghui’s whole body hurt. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was lying near the rest of the Ierial Ar. His head pounded, and when he went to stand, his legs nearly gave out fronbsp; under hi The last thing he reered was getting Cricket to safety. Then there had been a curtain of white. The next thing he knew, he was waking up on the ground.
But at least he had woken up. He had the oddest feeling, alst a ry tugging at hi that soone had helped hi though he knew that was iossible. Only the craziest of people would have run into the avalanche. Shaking off the thought, he de his way over to Coander Tung. As he approached, he heard Cricket calling out.
“Has anyone seen Hua Jun?” Cricket asked, his eyes scanning the area.
Hearing Cricket’s worried question, Honghui saw Coander Tung take notice as well. His battle-weary eyes searched the n. Spotting Honghui instead, he called hinbsp; over. “Have you seen Hua Jun?” Coander Tung asked.
Honghui shook his head, a pit growing in his stoch. Had Hua Jun been swallowed by the snow? Or lost to an invader’s arrow before the avalanche had even begun?
One of the soldiers gave a shout. Turning, Honghui spotted a figure silhouetted in the distance. The fog de it hard to ke out the details, but as the figure ca closer, Honghui inhaled sharply. It was the won warrior he had seen in battle. There was no doubt about it. Her long hair flowed out behind her as she rode across the valley atop her giant horse.
“Black Wind?”
Hearing Cricket, Honghui turned, startled, to find the young soldier now right next to hi He was staring at the warrior as well.
Black Wind?
Honghui repeated silently. What was Cricket talking about? Black Wind was Hu