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I’m dead,</p>

Mulan thought.</p>

That is why I feel so terrible. I’ve died and I’m being eternally punished because I disobeyed my family.</p>

Mulan opened her eyes and immediately shut them again. She wasn’t dead, but she almost wished she were, because then maybe she wouldn’t feel so awful. Her head was pounding and her cheeks felt as though they were on fire. She tried to move an arm to cover her face from the relentless sun above, but her arms felt too heavy to lift.</p>

She stopped moving and simply lay for a moment, yelling at herself and the monks for making her feel this way. She should never have listened to Skatch’s “advice.” A smart warrior would not drink wine. Especially if this was how they felt after.</p>

Something pecked her nose. “Ouch!” Mulan shouted, her eyes snapping open. To her surprise—and annoyance—the ugly bird was staring down at her. Mulan frowned when she realized the bird was scowling at her, as though judging her current state.</p>

Sitting up quickly, Mulan instantly regretted her choice. The movement made her head pound even harder. She let out a moan. Then, when she could stomach it, she looked around, eager to tell Skatch and Ramtish just what she thought about their advice.</p>

Her stomach heaved.</p>

The fire was out. The monks were gone—and so was Black Wind!</p>

In a flash, Mulan was on her feet. The clearing was silent. Whistling loudly, she waited. There was no answering whicker or sound of hoof beats. She whistled again. Still nothing. Mulan’s heart dropped as her greatest fear was realized. Black Wind was gone.</p>

In his place was the monks’ raggedy, tired donkey.</p>

Mulan bit back a scream. She had no horse and no food. Stomping her foot in frustration, she yelped as she realized that her shoes were gone, too! And she hadn’t even reached the army yet.</p>

Taking a deep breath, Mulan steadied her racing heart. She had come this far. She wasn’t going to turn back now. She owed it to her family—and herself. Gathering her few remaining possessions, she brushed her fingers over the writing on the smooth metal of her father’s sword. LOYAL. BRAVE. TRUE. The words had gotten her father through his own battle and were now a part of her story, for better or worse.</p>

Strapping the sword to her back, she grabbed the reins of the donkey and led it out of the clearing. The donkey’s steps were slow and plodding, and every few feet the stubborn animal tried to stop to grab a piece of grass. Mulan tugged impatiently at the reins.</p>

Could anything else go wrong?</p>

she wondered.</p>

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.</p>

That is it!</p>

Mulan fumed silently.</p>

First the monks, now this bird again. Enough is enough!</p>

“You!” she shouted. “Leave me alone!”</p>

The bird didn’t move—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 mid-flight. Mulan gasped as she began to recognize the elongated neck, open wings, and powerful stance. Could it be?</p>

“The phoenix statue?” Mulan ventured, seeing the creature for what it was: the bird from her family’s shrine brought to life.</p>

The Phoenix dropped her wings and nodded, as if to say,</p>

Finally!</p>

“What?” Mulan said, trying to make sense of the situation. Her father had told her the bird was meant to watch over her. But she had thought he meant metaphorically. “You’re here to protect me?” 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 my horse back?” she asked.</p>

In response, the Phoenix let out a very un-birdlike hiss. She hopped over toward Mulan, then moved past her and jumped on the back of the donkey. Settling in, she made herself comfortable, ignoring the daggers Mulan was shooting at her with her eyes.</p>

“You can get as comfortable as you like,” Mulan said. “But I’m not going home.”</p>

The Phoenix didn’t move. But the judgment in her eyes lessened.</p>

“I’m going to fight for my 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.</p>

This time, the Phoenix shrugged, her thoughts as clear as if she had said them aloud.</p>

Time will tell,</p>

her look said.</p>

Time will tell</p>

. 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.</p>

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 make quite the spectacle walking into the army’s encampment with a donkey and a phoenix that looked like a plucked chicken.</p>

But that was a problem she would face when she came to it. First, she just needed to get to the encampment.</p>

While Mulan’s journey had felt like it would never end, it finally did.</p>

As they arrived at the edge of a huge field, her eyes grew wide as she took in the sights and sounds of the huge army encampment. Banners flew above large tents surrounded by smaller ones. The smell of cooking food wafted through the air, making Mulan’s stomach rumble once again. The sounds of horses’ hooves blended with clanging metal as soldiers practiced fighting. Large gates had been set up on the outskirts of the camp. In front of them was a line of hundreds of men, all clutching conscription papers. Every few minutes, a dozen or so would be ushered through the gates and disappear inside the teeming encampment. Mulan watched, trying to make sense of the bustling scene in front of her. It was like nothing she had seen before. Her eyes lingered on the future soldiers, each waiting their turn. Some were young, their faces eager, others old, their faces wise and drawn. But they were all men.</p>

Taking a deep breath, Mulan pulled the donkey forward. The Phoenix, who had fallen asleep shortly into the ride, woke with a start. Seeing the encampment, she let out a squawk and jumped off the donkey, hopping over to some bushes for cover. For the briefest of moments, Mulan thought about following her. But then she remembered the words on the sword.</p>