The soldier marched slowly across the Great Wall, eyes scanning the surrounding forests. He couldn't see much by the moon's dull light, but then again, there wasn't much to see at all. China's northern border stretched far from any towns or villages, effectively isolating the soldiers that kept watch there. There were only mountains covered in thick mist for miles.
Something smashed into the back of his head. His helmet flew off and clanged on the floor. A screech rang in his ears. He looked up to see the silhouette of a bird flying against the full moon. It folded its broad wings and perched on a flag that stood on the roof of one of the posts. Intelligent, yellow eyes stared into his.
He rubbed the back of his head. Thankfully, he wasn't bleeding. Still, the hawk's stare made him feel uneasy. At last, it let out another screech. Then, as if on cue, a single grappling hook flew up from the darkness and snagged onto the edge of the wall.
Someone was trying to climb over.
Another hook, then ten, then fifty hooks shot up into the air. An echo of icy, metallic clashes sounded down the mountain as they snagged onto the the wall. The soldier's heart beat violently in his chest. He ran to the nearest post.
"We're under attack!" he yelled. "Light the signal!"
The door creaked open. Pale men emerged from the shadows - not imperial soldiers. One of them swiped at him with a sword. He ducked. He blindly shot fire and sprinted to the post. When his hands found a ladder that leaned on the wall, he climbed. He scrambled to the top, jumped, clung to the stones. The ladder crumbled under him.
Just as the soldier pulled himself over the edge, someone else leaped onto the roof. The small, lean figure rose to full height. Thin, amber eyes glared at him from the shadows.
For a moment, the soldier hesitated. Then he shot a blast of fire at the vat of oil that rested between them. It blazed up with a deafening roar. The brilliant gold and scarlet flames illuminated the night and cast light on the attacker. But instead of a man, it was a girl who stood across from him. A young girl - no older than fifteen.
The girl turned to see the other raging signal fires come to life along the Great Wall. In the distance, men yelled out orders in panic. She turned back to see the soldier glaring at her with defiance.
"Now all of China knows you're here," he said.
A cruel smile curled on the girl's pretty lips. "Thank you for delivering the message," she said. "I'm sure father will be pleased."