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A brief moment in time	By : Fanatical Category: +M through R > Mulan (Disney) > Mulan (Disney) Views: 23245 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the cartoons of Disney Studios, nor any of the characters from them. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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She slowly opened her eyes. Her forehead was throbbing. Throbbing! She immediately sat up. Her body tense and alert. The last thing she remembered was two men who had tried to savage her. Then someone had attacked and killed them. Someone enormous with Golden eyes. Golden eyes? No Chinese had Golden eyes? She put it out of her mind for the moment. The smell of medicinal herbs commanded her attention and she cast her eyes downwards. She had remembered that she had run into a branch that had been growing waist level, hidden beneath some thick patches of brush. A bandage had been wrapped around her middle. The soreness was gone. But her stomach rumbled for attention.
She shifted and felt soft fur around her. The smell of garlic wafted up to her. She found a small plate, with roasted pheasant on it, warming on some stones circling a blazing campfire. Was it for her? She looked around but saw no one else. But she did see an empty plate opposite her. She ravenously devoured the cooked bird. She licked her fingers dry of grease and garlic. Still hungry but manageable, she slid the covers off her.

A thousand questions occupied her head as she cast her eyes slowly about. She found herself in a circular embankment, ringed with trees. A full creek rushed by her. She traced the path of the embankment, round and off to the left. Her eyes fell upon a horse. Short, with muscular legs and a thicker coat than traditional horses. A coldness gripped her and she narrowed her eyes as recognition formed in her mind. Hun! A Hun had saved her? She had heard about them from her father. He had been a General in the wars. She had been wandering about the house when she was very young, and accidently overheard a conversation he was having with some of his former comrades in the Family room, who had come by to pay their respects to him. They were still career soldiers but he had retired.
“Those filthy savages, burned a village!” “Yeah. Murdered everyone. The women and children too.” “But some did escape. Some women I think. They said there had been a lot of looting. Rape. The usual stuff.” She did not understand fully that night, but she couldn’t understand how these men could be so calm about stealing and burning peoples’ homes. “I have never understood why the Emperor didn’t have those villages relocated somewhere else. They were always vulnerable closest to the walls.” Came her father’s calm voice. “His majesty did. He sent them to the Tung Shao Pass.” “Now, it is a thriving village. The people are praising the Emperor for his astute decision. The traders and caravans now have a place to rest before reaching the Gate, and the villagers can trade with them. It is a very profitable move.” Another soldier said.

“But I can’t help wondering if we are not putting them in harm’s way. If it is a major route to the City. Will not the Huns use it themselves?” The room was silent for a moment. “Its too far for them. The Huns attack the villages because they’re closest to the wall. And they generally come through the desert pass. The mountain passes are often heavy with snow. Too deep for even their horses to traverse. And food is scarce in the mountains. Not very many would survive the journey.”

“Still, with planning and training. They could scale it. The wall is not very high and the defense of that section of is rather light.” Her father gently persisted. “Ha!” A soldier scoffed. “They’re Huns! They fight in small bands. Usually from the same tribes. They don’t have the organizational knowledge or understanding of strategy to orchestrate such an attack. Even if they had the inclination.” “Ming is right. I’ve met a few of them, when they weren’t trying to kill me.” The room erupted into laughter. “They’re not long term planners. They’re nomadic. Always on the move. And if they’re not out destroying the villages they’re raiding each other. They’re always fighting.”

The others “Here here.” Their approval in unison. The room was silent. My father liked to go on about something if he thought it was something he felt his men had to understand. “Your right Ming. They are barbarians. But I can’t help wondering if we have grown to complacent. You know, all it takes is for one Smart Hun with the initiative and ambition to take that wall.” “They’d still have to know it was there. And he would have to send a few men through that Mountain pass to find out. That means sacrifice. None of them would sacrifice themselves for something they would think is useless. Its not in their character.” Someone defended. “Not to mention muscles.” Ming joked. “Yeah. They would have to be beaten into obedience.” The men chuckled as if sharing a private joke. She even heard her father’s voice.

“Hey Fa Zhou. You plan on coming out of retirement?” “It was hard enough dealing with the Huns. But it would be worse trying to handle an irate wife.” “Yeah. That takes careful planning and strategy.” Someone added. Once again, drunken mirth spilled out into the hallway.

She pulled herself from her deep thoughts. A Hun had rescued her. But why? And where was he? He left his horse here so obviously he would be coming She wanted to leave, but she realized it probably wouldn't be wise. It was dark out now and she didn’t know where she was. She also had to thank someone who saved her life. Not to mention she was very curious about this so called, Barbarian. Her impression of the Huns from her father, history and others were that they preyed on the weak.

She knelt by the water’s edge and rubbed the grease from her hands and splashed her face with cool water. She cupped some in her palms and drank. That felt refreshing! She heard an unusual sound coming from her left. It sounded like water rustling. Maybe he was down there? It was faint but she didn’t want to stay here alone any more. She started off, following the path of the stream.

The ground was carpeted in grass. It was soft and damp. Eventually, she came to a section where the grass had thinned exposing packed dirt. Silver beams of the moonlight revealed a series of step like formations that had been etched into the ground. Steps that had been lined in stone. Smoothed and worn with the passing of time. Carefully she descended.
When she reached the bottom, she found herself standing in an empty channel. The gouged earth continued around a bend in the road that held an Oak tree tilting over the tall marsh reeds. The lush foliage of its leaves drooped down into the water. Here, the stream had ended and dropped off into a small lake. Further down the left, the reeds ended and the grass began along the water’s edge. The place seemed alive with the croaking and chirping of insects. The shadow of something winged flew across the surface of the lake before disappearing into the thickets. The moonlight reflecting off the glassy surface of the lake.

But another voice, different from the natural sounds, filtered through. It was a human voice. It was deep, rich and it resonated pleasantly through her. The language was not Chinese. She had never heard it before. But it must be in the Hun tongue. The words were light, gentle and melodic. He was singing! She heard the water rustling around, so he must be in it. They bathe?! She started to turn away. She would not intrude on his privacy. She would wait for him to finish. The words drifted to her ears again. She felt something warm travel up her spine. The unusual sensation made her body shudder. Before she could stop herself she found herself grabbing the exposed roots and pulling herself up the embankment.
Slowly, she began to inch along the curve of the bent oak. Carefully and as quietly as she could muster, she lifted the first leafy branch where the trunk began to slope. She flattened herself against the bark and slide underneath. She gripped the trunk tightly for support as she continued down the tree. She grimaced slightly. The bark was cold and damp closest to the water. And her stomach found a few patches of wet moss. The singing reached through the leaves and she swivelled on her stomach to the right. She found stable footing on a branch behind her and pulled apart a few leaves.

The silhouette was enormous. The curves outlining wide shoulders that were more round than square. And arms thick with muscles. She followed her eyes downwards to a tapered waist, that was more rounded along the sides. The rest of him was hidden beneath the water. But she couldn’t make out whether he was very tall or the water very shallow. From what her father had mentioned of them when she got the courage to ask him, after overhearing the stories with his old comrades, they weren’t very tall and rather stocky. She watched as his hands moved under his armpits. She noticed his hands were somewhat narrow. She picked up the faint aroma of herbs and mineral oil. Soap? He turned slightly to the left. Her eyes widened in awe. She could make out the shadow of a deep chest, as it pushed outwards from his neck, rounded than tapered as it met his middle.

The sounds of the night faded as she stared at him. Only his voice remained. She never thought someone so large could have a voice like that. It registered in the mid range but it was pure. No harsh or raspy tones that denoted his size. And the language was not the guttural words of a barbarian but eloquent sounding. The words flowed to her as if carried on a cool summer breeze. Its light touch felt like being caressed with a feather.

She watched as his hand slipped beneath the water. His broad arm moving from side to side. His large head tilted back. Did he lose something down there? His hand was down there an awfully long time. She peered close with wide eyes of curiosity. She heard his loud sigh of contentment as his hand rose to the surface. He must of found it. Suddenly, he bent over and she gasped quietly as the shadows outlined the rounded cheeks of his rump. There was very little splashing as he disappeared beneath the surface.

Forgetting that she was spying on him, she quickly shifted to the center. The leaves rustling with her movements. She pulled herself forward and moved slightly through the leafage. He rose to the surface. The moon had changed its position and the light shining down on the surface seemed closer. Creases in his skin marking moving muscle as a powerful arm lifted up and behind as he rotated onto his backside. A powerful downward stroke of his arms sent him drifting into the unusually concentrated silver light of the moon.

Her eyes were wide as saucers as he floated underneath. The focused light of the moon, so close to the Earth this season, showing more clearly than the shadows did. His deep chest was raised above the water by several inches. Her eyes trailed down an unusually long torso to his flat stomach. His body had a youthful vigor too it but the slight folds of skin along the sides of his waist indicated an older man. Broad thighs pushed through the surface. More squat than tapered but lined with taut muscle.

She found her cheeks reddening and heat traveling through her body as the moonlight exposed a small mound of flesh whenever his thighs kicked through the water. She wasn’t quite sure how to define what she saw, but her thoughts of what it might be, sent all kinds of confusing feelings through her. Such as why she wasn’t feeling any fear or turning away from him. She was leaning casually on her arms now, her body resting comfortably on the branch as she gazed at him in fascination. He folded his arms under his neck, and floated leisurely on the surface. His legs gently propelling him through the water.

The branches rustled violently. She started. She hadn’t moved? She heard the splash as he must of dove back under. The vibrations of movement from something walking on the branch rippled through her. He would know someone was watching him now. The spell broken, she began to swivel back so she could crawl out of the tree. Her heart raced as her feet came into contact with something furry. She heard a frenzied chitter. She gave a short yelp as she felt sharp teeth clamp on her ankle. She lost her footing then tumbled with a splash into the water.

It was cold and deeper than she imagined. Frantically, she paddled upwards towards the surface. A shadow blocked the light coming through the waters and she panicked. Something tugged hard on her shirt and she felt herself being hauled out of the water. She was too dazed to do anything as she was carried and dropped like a sack of potatoes onto the edge. Coughing and shivering, she figured maybe now was a good time as any to return to the fire.

“Will you hand me my towel?” Came a husky voice in Chinese. The sound made her body quiver. She looked up at the man standing waist high at the water’s edge. The face that looked down at her was very smooth and deeply tanned. A trim moustache lined either side of a heavy jaw. The chin set in firm determination. Thick brows tracing a deep brow. He was bare of any hair at the top, save for a thick mane of black which fell past his wide shoulders. She found herself unable to look at him directly as heat spread across her cheeks. He was so handsome in a roguish kind of way.

There was something odd about his eyes. They appeared to be glowing. It was as if she had shined a light at a cat in the dark. But she did not feel the same as if a cat were looking at her. Narrowed to twin pinpoints of fire, his eyes had locked with hers and she was unable to tear herself away from them. She felt the many layers of herself peeling away as he pierced her with his gaze. She perceived herself being analyzed and decided upon in one glance. Then, he broke contact. His expression mildly mischievous.

“I suppose I’ll have to get it myself then.” He mused wading towards the edge. She snapped alert and quickly tossed him the cloth. He caught it with one hand and began toweling off. Unawares, she did not turn away. Nor did she get up to go back to the campsite. She just watched him. His large hands moving the cloth across his great chest, around his broad back, down his middle and...Strange feelings began to fill her. The space between her legs was growing damp. It was an unusual sensation and she unconsciously closed her legs. He suddenly stopped. “Maybe you should go back to the campsite. Its warm there. And you look like you’re about to turn blue. I just save your life. I don’t want to do it again.” She still hadn’t moved. Her mouth was hanging open but she hadn’t noticed it. “Can you catch flies that way?” “Huh? What?” “Well, she can speak.” He said gently teasing her.
“I would like for you to get back to fire. Someone has to keep an eye on my horse.” “Of course.” She replied clumsily rising to her feet. Swiftly, she sped up the slope. The large man shook his head as he finished drying himself off.

When he returned to the campsite. He was relieved to see that his horse was still there. Not that she would have left him. And if anyone had dared try to steal her. He would know. There was no one alive who could ride her. Except another Hun. And there weren’t any in this area. He was the only one. He found the girl huddling tight within the fur. She turned her eyes away from him. He could see the faint spots of crimson forming on her slender cheeks. He chuckled silently to himself. She must of embarrassed herself. She had been caught gaping at him like some awestruck virgin. Not once! But twice! He noticed she had placed more wood in the fire. He stole a glance at the plate he left her. It was empty. “I see you ate. I hope you liked it. I’m getting better at cooking pheasant.” He said casually. He dropped gracefully into a cross legged position.

“Shan Yu.” He replied gazing intensely at her. Her small curves pulling at the fabric of her traveling garments emphasized a small, near boyish frame. Her hair was very long and jet black. Her eyes were wide with curiosity and reflected a sharp intelligence. Her skin was tanned unlike the other Chinese he had seen who spent most of their time in covered wagons, or buried under layers of silk. She must spend a lot of time outdoors. Yet there was something about her that he felt drawn to.

Instinctively, his mind’s eye opened. Shan Yu glimpsed power radiating off her. It was faint, like the flame of a candle in the wind. The wind blew hard but it still flickered. The lines of fate around her were chaotic. How unusual to see it in women. Especially a regulated society as the Chinese. Whenever he glimpsed it in men, the lines of fate would show a career in the military, high rank if he was intelligent. Or chieftain, shaman or entrepreneur.

Occasionally, it would indicate teacher or something in the arts. He opened his inner eye deeper so he could probe further. Perhaps it was hidden to deep for a casual glance to find. Shan Yu was skilled in the mystic arts. He knew how to part the veil of darkness to see. She was roughly 16 summers. So she should definitely have something fated for her by now. The curtain of blackness would not part. He tried several times but it would not reveal anything. His head was starting to hurt with the effort. She began to fade from his vision.
He reflected quietly as he relaxed the pounding to his skull. She had the gift of choice? How unusual that a woman would receive it. It would be interesting to be around this woman just to see what she ended up with. He felt sorry for her though. He had seen the strength in her. Especially when she fought back against those dogs like a Wild Cat caught in a trap. But in her society, women were regulated to a life of domesticity. Unless she was poor then it was servitude. Judging from her clothing, she was from a well to do family. Maybe the spirits would be generous and bless her with a husband who appreciated a strong spirit. In his lands, a woman like this was considered a gift from the heavens.

She looked at him across the fire. He was looking strangely at her again. What did he see?” “I’m Mulan by the way. And I’m afraid I haven’t thanked you for helping me.” She replied courteously. Hun or not, this man had gone out of his way to rescue her. He also left her some food, bandaged her and kept her warm while he had gone to bathe. This was an unusual barbarian.

He nodded his head. “You were very lucky, Mulan. I was out foraging for herbs when I heard the men. I had seen them before. They had been given the villagers in the area trouble for awhile. No one had been able to catch them.”

Her eyes opened. “There are people living up here?” She asked curiously. He tilted his head back for a moment. Surprised that she would even care. “Yes. Mostly my people and some Chinese.” Her eyes blinked. “Chinese live with your kind?” He narrowed his eyes slightly at her. She said “your kind” as if they were a separate species. “My people are not what you think Mulan.” He said trying to hold the edge in his voice. She realized how that must have sounded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.” Of course you did. Your people think we are savages, barbarians!

“I wasn’t aware that anyone lived outside the Towns.” “As far as I know, we are the only ones.” “But who are these Chinese? Are they exiles? Are they hiding from the Emperor or something? And how did the Huns get pass the wall?” She began firing off question after question. Shan Yu narrowed his eyes. Suspicion began to cloud his mind. Could she be an agent? No, she was far too young. And too inexperienced. Still, the soldiers were always on the look out for strangers. Especially Huns. They weren’t suppose to be in China. This girl must be returned to her family. It was far too risky to have her here.

“Tomorrow, I will escort you back to the trail. I will go as far as is safe for me. And then you will return home. You must not come back this way Mulan. Not ever.” He said sharply. His golden eyes boring into hers. Her small lips pursed into in a pout. She seemed disappointed. Shan Yu was suddenly distracted by the gesture. He was nearly overcome, by a powerful urge to take this girl and seal his lips to her. It rose unbidden despite his discipline. So why don’t you? Came the impulse.

She hadn’t been touched by any other man. He had smelled it when she collapsed into his arms. And it had been a long time since he had lain with a woman. Especially someone so young, so naive....Shan Yu forced himself back to the moment. Shan Yu liked his women experienced. Unlike most men. He was not partial to virgins. “I would really like to hear more, Shan Yu. Its an interesting story.” She gently pressed. Finally, something else to hear besides her father’s tired tales of combat. And her mother’s rules on how a young woman should behave. Rules that had been passed down from her mother and so on. Not to mention, stories about him as well. He was an interesting man.

“Forgive me Mulan. But I am extremely tired. Rescuing you, was not the only labor I performed yesterday. I am going to turn in.” He said firmly. He reached for his furs and slung them around his massive frame. “You should be warm enough Mulan. Sleep well.” He said laying on his backside. He closed his eyes.

Mulan sat quietly by the fire for awhile gazing at Shan Yu. She watched in fascination as his deep chest rose through the thick layers of furs. In and Out. Slowly and deep. A look of peace on his face. He had placed his hands behind his neck. He seemed comfortable wrapped in his furs. Mulan found herself tracing the contours of arm muscle, that curved rather than cannon ball shape, pulling through the folds of his woolen tunic. He was so enormous, one would have thought he was a bear if they had found him, bundled up in his furs.

Kneeling quietly, she crawled over to him. She leaned over. His broad face was smooth. His moustache trim and neat. His facial hair softened his rough features. He was rather handsome in a roguish sort of way. She felt her heart quickening in the night. She was feeling queezy in her stomach. The last time she experienced a sensation like that, she had bad food. But this did not invoke nausea. She reached out towards his face. She felt like a silly baby, wanting to pull her Uncle’s Moustache. “Mulan? You do not sleep?” Came the husky voice. He didn’t even open his eyes. Startled, she snatched her hand back and shifted backwards on her knees.

“How did you know it was me?” He smiled. Still, his eyes were closed. “It’s a trait we Huns possess. Living in the wild has taught our people many useful things. I have very keen hearing. I can hear your heart beat from here. Are you alright? Is something making you nervous?” “N...No. Of course not.” She began her face slightly reddening. His eyes still closed. He smiled ferally. Mulan quickly returned to her side. Embarrassed that he had known she was literally hovering over him. She yanked the covers over her. “Savage.” She muttered angrily beneath the layers. A deep chuckle resonated throughout the forest.

Morning came and Mulan was greeted with the chirping of birds and the smell of roasted meat. It was an enticing aroma. She could feel her stomach rumble in anticipation. A plate filled with meat, greeted her as she opened her eyes. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She reached for her plate. She noticed Shan Yu tying items to the saddle. “I was hoping you would get up early. While you were sleeping. I decided to do some scouting around. There are several villagers on the trail, looking for you. It seems I will have to find another way to bring you to them without revealing this place.”

“They wouldn’t do anything Shan Yu. Especially after I tell them what happened. They’ll understand.” Shan Yu smiled sadly at her. For a brief moment, she saw deep pain behind his golden eyes. “I cannot afford the risk Mulan. You are Chinese. I am not. You are too young to understand. But trust me when I tell you, I cannot be seen.” Mulan fumed in irritation. I am sixteen summers old. I am a woman! But she finished her meal in silence.

“Why do the Huns hate the Chinese?” She finally asked after finishing her breakfast. Shan Yu stopped packing. He did not turn around. He was silent for a moment. “What makes you think the Huns hate your people?” “They are always burning villages. Sometimes, I hear the talk in the town, from survivors of a massacre. They talk of the terrible things the Huns did to them.” Shan Yu did not know how to answer that. His own village was burned when he was a child, which forced his clan to leave his native lands altogether. At the time, he remembered his own clan had raided some villages on their journey beyond the wall. But it was only for food and other necessities. The Chieftain, his father, forbade rape and needless slaughter, unless a male got in the way. But such wholesale destruction mystified him. His father never saw a point in it. And the burning of villages was something relatively new. “Life is hard beyond the Great Wall where my true people live. Food is difficult to come by. It’s worse in the winter. The land is not suitable for growing crops. When things are desperate, they will often steal to live.”

“So why destroy the Village?” Mulan pressed. “I don’t know Mulan.” He said softly. “It generally isn’t the Hun way.” Shan Yu finished the last of his packing. “Come, lets get you home.” He leaped gracefully onto the animal’s broad back. He extended a hand to her and gently straddled her in front of him. Pleasant sensations traveled up her spine as he leaned over her to get the reins. His thick arms brushing against her shoulders. His deep chest lightly touching the back of her head. He gave a soft command and the animal trotted off.

“So the people taught you Chinese then?” She asked eager for conversation. Shan Yu was silent as they strolled down the carved out pathway along the river. Well, it couldn’t hurt to tell her some of the history! “The people who came to live with us, taught us many things. We had been blessed with good fortune with their arrival.” “They came to you? You were already here?”
“My people left the valley after our homes had been burned. My father had chosen to lead his people to better lands. The spirits had told his Shaman that there were good lands beyond the great wall and that the spirits would guide them to it.” “How did you get through the Great Wall? Did the guards just let you in?” “I don’t know. I was very young when we left home.” Shan Yu lied. He knew. There were several sections along the wall where it was shortest to climb. And the guard post were light. Not to mention the many cave systems found deeper in the mountains that opened out onto the other side of the wall. There were many ways. His father had taught them all to him.

“It was a difficult crossing. But it got worse when we tried to live there. “ He said trying to quickly change the subject. “We didn’t know how to use the lands. And we weren’t one of the people that had skilled tradesman in their clans.” “So how did you manage?” Mulan asked. “We did some hunting. There wasn’t much at the time. But the Shaman recognized some plants that were the same in our lands. So we didn’t starve. But when an unknown ailment struck us. We really were in trouble. The Shaman tried everything but it wasn’t enough. He finally called upon the spirits and they told him that they would be blessed again. It wasn’t easy. Many of my people didn’t make it to spring thaw. That included our Shaman and my father. ” Shan Yu added. For a brief moment, Mulan heard sadness in his voice.

“Is that when they showed up?” “Yes. When the snows melted. A caravan of Chinese approached. We were so starved and half-dying, that we nearly attacked them.” “What stopped you?” “The wife of the Shaman convinced us, that it was in our best interest not to raid them. I didn’t think we had anything to trade. But she managed to convince the Elderly woman of the caravan to stay with us and that we weren’t going to hurt them.” “Where they poor, destitute?” “I can’t remember anything about them. I was very young.” He lied.

There was much he recalled that day. They were dressed in fine silks. Their wagons were plain but sturdy looking. The horses were stout beasts, well fed and trained. As Shan Yu grew into manhood, he finally understood that they had been banished from the Emperor’s court. They were actually one family. Apparently, the Patriarch of the family was a high nobleman who had angered the Emperor by disagreeing with his policies on the tribes beyond the wall. Shan Yu had learned many other things from them. How to read and write Chinese. Philosophy, Healing, military strategy. They were a well spring of knowledge which he could never get enough of. And with it, his own people’s lives improved tremendously.

Mulan sighed contentedly to herself . She loved to hear him talk. His rich voice resonated pleasantly down at her neck, sending pleasant shivers through her. The heat from his body was warm and soothing. His deep chest pressing gently at the back of her head. The steady beat of his pulse in her ears. The seating on the horse was very compact. His broad form dwarfing hers. Shan Yu’s movements shifted his hips forward in time with the horse’s gait. At one point, the horse had jolted them so hard, after striking a large pebble, that the movement became sharp. Mulan straightened up as she felt something tender but thick, pressing against the backbone. It was not an unpleasant sensation but it made her mildly uncomfortable. She quickly shifted forward as best she could.

Shan Yu immediately pushed his hips backwards. Silly girl! Still, he could not help but enjoy the ride. He liked the way her silky black hair, gently tickled his chest. A gentle breeze carried the scent of a girl blossoming into a woman into his nose. He flared his nostrils to inhale the heady aroma. At one point, the rubbing of his thick arms against her shoulders, served to loosen her tunic, exposing a bit of cream colored flesh. So different from the tanned skin of the women of his tribe. It took all of his efforts not to wrap an arm around her waist, lean down and brush his lips lightly against her throat. Think of something else!

“So what makes you so curious?” He asked. Even the women of his tribe didn’t ask so many questions. Mulan shrugged her petite shoulders. “I use to drive my tutors crazy. They couldn’t keep up with me.” Shan Yu arched a brow. Her father educated her? “My father had to look hard for new tutors. None of them would stay longer than a week?” “Why was that?” “Oh, mainly, because they couldn’t deal with a female being so intelligent. And several others had thought it was a waste of my father’s money. He eventually found a woman.” Shan Yu’s eyes raised in surprise. “A woman?” He repeated. “Strange isn’t it. She wasn’t even Chinese.” “Was she a Mongol?” Shan Yu asked eagerly. “No. All I knew of her was that she came from a land far to the West. A place of endless sand and towering monuments.” Fascinating!

“She was the best tutor I ever had. She was never bothered by my questions. She seemed pleased to have someone to challenge her. But then, last summer she left. She said there was nothing more to teach me. Something about her task being completed. And that there was someone else who needed her.” Shan Yu was very attentive. He wished Mulan had remembered more about this mysterious tutor. “I think she said, she saw great darkness coming. That the winds of change were sweeping across the landscape. She said I would be a part of it.” “Is that all?” “She wouldn’t say much more. But she did say that I would feel it was coming. I would be restless before it came. I would feel a strong urge to find my identity. And that when the moment came, I would know. It would be so strong an impulse that I would not even consider the future or the consequences. She says, that is when you know you’ve touched your destiny. But I would do it out of an act of love.”

Her teacher reminded him of the Chinese Sage of his tribe. She told Shan Yu the same thing. And Shan Yu had been feeling restless as of late. “I never saw her again. I don’t even know what came of her. I remember going through the town asking if anybody saw her. But they all shook their heads. Nobody can remember seeing her.” Shan Yu was struck with a thought. His sage, was not Chinese and nor was she Mongol. She was very foreign. But no one knew where she was from.

Shan Yu was about to say more but they had reached the end of her journey. He felt a tinge of disappointment. But he brushed it off. He had a duty to his clan. Gently, he removed her from the saddle. She looked up at the giant on his horse. His gentle eyes looking down at her. His broad hands resting on his hips. He raised a thick arm and gestured. “Follow that path. It will take you back to the main road and to your village.” He replied. His tone was not as authoritative as it should have been. “I...I don’t know how I can ever thank you Shan Yu.” She began. Oh...I can! The wolf in him replied. Enough!

“You can never tell anyone that you ran into me. That you know nothing of our village or that there are Chinese living there. And nor can you show them where the trail is. I will consider it a debt paid.” There was silence between them as neither made any effort to leave. “Very well. Off you go.” He said taking the initiative and shooing her onward. Slowly, Mulan turned to go.

He watched her silently with interest. When she disappeared within the trees, he wheeled his horse around and galloped off.

Fa Li dropped her bucket of roots as Mulan stepped through the family gate. She screamed Mulan’s name several times as she nearly tripped over her skirts rushing to greet her daughter. “Where have you been Mulan?” Her mother scolded. “I took a wrong turn. I’m alright mother.” Mulan complained trying to get to her room. “Let me make you something to eat. You look famished.” “Mom. I’ve alr...” She began, but then she remembered her promise to Shan Yu. “I’m starved.”

She was greeted by her father as she approached the door. “Mulan. I was so worried about you.” He said with genuine concern in his voice. He threw his arms around his daughter. “We had the entire Village looking for you.” He was surprised that her body was warm. She had on a light weight woolen tunic, but in the cold of night. It would not be enough to keep the body warm. She was slightly disheveled, but there was nothing on her face to indicate that she had been harassed or that wherever she slept had been uncomfortable or cold. She appeared relax and well rested.

Mulan rested that night. Her parents had asked many questions, such as “Did you meet anyone along the way? Were you attacked? Where did you sleep? And so forth. She hated lying to her parents, but she had made a promise to Shan Yu. And his main concern was that his village would remain undetected.
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A brief moment in time