13
SPLASH!
Hearing the sound, Honghui spun around. He peered into the water, trying to see beneath the surface. But the Phoenix’s plunge had stirred the lake bottonbsp; and turned the water rky. “What was that?” Honghui asked, nervously scanning the water’s surface. “There’s sothing down there!” Then his eyes grew wide and he let out a shout as the Phoenix nibbled at his legs. Not waiting to see what was biting hi Honghui turned and began to swinbsp; frantically to the shore. When he reached dry land, he grabbed his clothes and raced away, not even daring a glance back.
Watching hinbsp; go, Mulan breathed a sigh of relief. That had been close. She shuddered to think what would have happened if not for the Phoenix. As if on cue, the bird surfaced in front of her.
Preening herself, the Phoenix shot Mulan a satisfied srk, as if to say,
There are worse ways a bird could spend its ti
. Mulan laughed. “Thank you,” she said, her tone genuine. The bird lifted into the air and, with one last conspiratorial wink, flew off, following Honghui back toward the ca.
Mulan sighed. The Phoenix had helped her out of that ja But what was she going to do when she saw Honghui in the rning? He would be hurt, and his resentnt would turn to anger. She had only just begun to find her place in the ca. And then she had gone and done that ridiculous thing with the spear??.??.??. and now this? She just couldn’t get out of her own way. She sighed again. She really had ssed things up—and now she was going to have to pay the price.
It felt as though Mulan had only just closed her eyes when she heard the shout to wake up. Biting back a groan, she pulled herself up. Around her, the other soldiers were throwing on their clothes and arr, lacing up boots and grabbing their various equipnt. Spotting Honghui, Mulan ducked her head, trying to avoid eye contact.
But the space was sll, and it was iossible for thenbsp; to avoid each other pletely. Heading for the row of boots, Mulan leaned down and alst gasped when her shoulder identally brushed Honghui’s. She jued back and was about to retreat to her sleeping platfornbsp; when Sergeant Qiang’s voice bood through the barracks.
“Hua Jun!” he shouted. Mulan snapped to attention and looked over. “Report to Coander Tung.”
Mulan walked out of the tent, but not before catching Honghui’s eye. She wasn’t sure, but she alst thought she saw a flicker of passion cross his face. But as quickly as it appeared, the flicker faded, replaced with coldne
Hearing the sound, Honghui spun around. He peered into the water, trying to see beneath the surface. But the Phoenix’s plunge had stirred the lake bottonbsp; and turned the water rky. “What was that?” Honghui asked, nervously scanning the water’s surface. “There’s sothing down there!” Then his eyes grew wide and he let out a shout as the Phoenix nibbled at his legs. Not waiting to see what was biting hi Honghui turned and began to swinbsp; frantically to the shore. When he reached dry land, he grabbed his clothes and raced away, not even daring a glance back.
Watching hinbsp; go, Mulan breathed a sigh of relief. That had been close. She shuddered to think what would have happened if not for the Phoenix. As if on cue, the bird surfaced in front of her.
Preening herself, the Phoenix shot Mulan a satisfied srk, as if to say,
There are worse ways a bird could spend its ti
. Mulan laughed. “Thank you,” she said, her tone genuine. The bird lifted into the air and, with one last conspiratorial wink, flew off, following Honghui back toward the ca.
Mulan sighed. The Phoenix had helped her out of that ja But what was she going to do when she saw Honghui in the rning? He would be hurt, and his resentnt would turn to anger. She had only just begun to find her place in the ca. And then she had gone and done that ridiculous thing with the spear??.??.??. and now this? She just couldn’t get out of her own way. She sighed again. She really had ssed things up—and now she was going to have to pay the price.
It felt as though Mulan had only just closed her eyes when she heard the shout to wake up. Biting back a groan, she pulled herself up. Around her, the other soldiers were throwing on their clothes and arr, lacing up boots and grabbing their various equipnt. Spotting Honghui, Mulan ducked her head, trying to avoid eye contact.
But the space was sll, and it was iossible for thenbsp; to avoid each other pletely. Heading for the row of boots, Mulan leaned down and alst gasped when her shoulder identally brushed Honghui’s. She jued back and was about to retreat to her sleeping platfornbsp; when Sergeant Qiang’s voice bood through the barracks.
“Hua Jun!” he shouted. Mulan snapped to attention and looked over. “Report to Coander Tung.”
Mulan walked out of the tent, but not before catching Honghui’s eye. She wasn’t sure, but she alst thought she saw a flicker of passion cross his face. But as quickly as it appeared, the flicker faded, replaced with coldne