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Mulanheardtheinvaders’shoutsastherumblinggrewlouder,andthentheshoutsturnedtoterrifiedscreamsasbehindherawallofwhiteappeared.Itbarreledtowardthem,unmindfulofwhicharmyitdestroyedinitspath.Thesnow,longstill,wasnowafreedbeast,eatinganythinginitsway.Feelingthewindfromtheavalanchebehindher,Mulanpickedupspeed.Butthesnowkeptsping.Shewhistledloudly,andBlackWindappeared.Heracedtoherside,andjustbeforethesnowengulfedher,sheleaptontothehorse’sback.

Together,theygallopedaheadoftheavalancheasitnippedatBlackWind’shooves.Behindher,theinvadingarmywasnotaslucky.Withouthorses,andweigheddownbyarmor,theydisappearedintothewallofwhite.

Mulandidn’tsparethemathought.Shejustkeptriding,worryandfeargrowinginherstomach.Whenshehadthoughtofherplan,shehadforgottenonevitalpart:thatshecouldn’tcontrohesnow.Shehadwantedtheavalanchetotakeouttheenemy,andithad,butshehadn’tthoughtthroughwhatwouldhappenafterthat.NowthesnowwasheadingstraighttowardtheImperialArmy.Anditwasn’tslowingdown.

UrgingBlackWindon,MulansawthefacesoftheImperialsoldiersgrowclearerasshemadeherwayfartherdownthemountainside.Shewatchedinhorrorastherunawaytrebuchettumbleddown,endoverend,beforelandingwithacrash—rightontopofCricket.HerscreamcaughtinherthroatasshewatchedHonghuiraceoverandpushthetrebuchetoffhisfriend.ShovingCrickettosafety,Honghuigottohisfeetonlytobehitwithawaveofsnowthatsuckedhimdown.

Mulandidn’thesitate.SlammingherlegsagainstBlackWind’ssidesandyankingonthereins,sheturnedtheprotestinghorseinthedirectionofthesnow.AshestruggledtomovetowardwhereHonghuihaddisappeared,BlackWindsnortedwiththeeffort.Hecouldbarelystayatopthesnow,andonhisback,Mulanstruggledtoremainatophim.

Suddenly,MulanspottedHonghui’sarmreachingupthroughthesnow.Extendingherarm,shemanagedtograsphishandinhersandthen,withthelastofherstrength,shepulledhimontoBlackWind’sback.Helaylimpinthesaddle,hiseyesclosedandhisbreathingshallow.TurningBlackWindoncemore,Mulangallopedahead.Asthelandleveledout,therushingsnowbegantoslow,thenstoppedaogether.

Theavalanchehadended.

Inthesilencethatfollowed,MulanbroughtBlackWindtoaha.Beneathher,thehorse’ssidesheavedashestruggledtocatchhisbreath.Hehadsavedher—andHonghui.Reachingdown,shegavehimagratefulpatontheneck.Thenshesliddowntotheground.