Chaptrer 4 The First Night

'I'm going to call Spring, Lily, because she's as pretty as the white petals.' The group laughed at her.

'Ping, you sound like such a girl!' Yao laughed and the others joined. But Shang saved her.

'Well soldiers, I think I'm going to call Spring Blossom, because one day she's going to blossom into a beautiful young lady. The group looked up, shocked. But Spring spoke up.

'Thank you, that was very thoughtful.' She smiled at him, and he winked at her. Spring began to rub her eyes.

'I think its time for Lily to go to bed.' Mulan got up and started to head for her tent with Spring in her arms.

'Wait, Ping.' Mulan turned around to Shang. 'Blossom can take my tent. It has more of a covering and a better bedroll.' Shang looked a little embarrassed but his commanding power told the guys not to laugh.

'Thank you Captain. I will take her there then.' Mulan began to walk off to Shang's tent.

'Ooo Captain, do you have a soft spot for 'Blossom?'' The group laughed.

'Well soldiers, I do like that little girl. She's adorable, and I think we should all try to help with watching out for her. We can't turn back down the mountain, so we'll have to take her with us. Do I have to make it an order to keep an eye on Blossom?' He eyed the group, but Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po all agreed to watch over her.

Shnag turned to watch Mulan exit the tent. He was surprised that she wasn't going to stay with Spring. But he realized she probably wanted to talk about what they were going to do with her. She approached the group.

'It's creepy staying here, don't you think? It has death surrounding it.' Chien-Po stated. They all agreed, it was spooky. Mulan sat down next to Ling, who threw his arm around her.

'Hey Ping, you have a certain soft spot for a little girl, don't you? Aww, its ok, you don't have to be embarrassed, she is adorable.' Ling elbowed her and laughed as she turned red.

'Well, I have a younger sister, about Spring's age, so I know how to treat them. But you obviously don't know how to handle her. Saying jokes about women, she's only four.' She gave him a disapproving look. He backed off.

'Ok Ping, I was joking. It's ok. Do you miss your sister?' He asked, hoping to get back onto her good side. Mulan smiled.

'Yea, I do. We're really close. I can't wait to see her.' Mulan sighed. 'I'm heading to bed, its been a long, emotional day for everyone.' She waved goodnight.

The group just talked randomly about anything and everything. Yao had to take the first watch of the night, so he left. Shang wanted to go to bed, but he realized, that he'd have to share with one of his soldier. Oh, boy, what an interesting conversation that would be.

'Hello soldier, I'm sorry, but can I share your tent with you tonight?' Shang laughed as he thought about it. He had hoped Mulan would sleep with Spring, but Mulan went to her tent. He then thought of Mushu. He wondered where he was, because maybe he could convince Mushu to talk to Mulan about sleeping with Spring. Oh well.

Shang decided to take a walk. He walked passed his Troop. They had seen too much today. The number of bodies that littered the ground was branded into Shang's mind. But he remembered when Mulan held his hand. It was only for a little bit, but it gave him confidence to keep going. And then the Troop met Spring, the product of war, a little girl who has been torn from her family, but has found hope in laughter. He shook his head.

He heard screaming. He ran back to camp to find Mulan racing into his tent. He rushed in after her, only to find Spring crying and screaming. Mulan approached her and tried to calm her down, while Shang stayed a ways back, unsure of what to do. Spring finally stopped screaming but cried even harder. Shang looked behind him, Chien-Po, Yao, and Ling stood, pale and curious.

'Is Spring all right?' Chien-Po asked. He looked very worried. Shang just shook his head. Yao and Ling looked at each other, both looking sad. They all approached her silently. Mulan was holding the little girl tightly. Spring was crying so hard.

She was looking around franticly. She seemed at lost to where she was. Mulan was talking to her, in a low voice, but Spring just shook her head.

'I want my Baba.' Was all she said, and it broke the men's hearts. Shang approached the girl and opened his arms. Spring looked confused, but she ran into them. Shang picked her up and turned to the guys. They awkwardly placed a hand on Spring.

'Hey little tyke, it'll be ok. Uncle Yao will take care of you. And I got to think of a nickname for you too. What do you guys think?' Yao turned to Ling and Chien-Po. They shrugged.

The Trio was thinking aloud while Shang turned to Mulan. Mulan turns out, was fast asleep. She held Spring's little doll, Shang smirked. He'll have to tease her about that tomorrow. He rocked Spring to sleep, and the sounds of the men talking were enough to lull her to sleep. Shang slipped Spring down besides Mulan and ordered the men out.

H approached Mulan, trying to get her to wake up. She was the worst one to get out of bed in the mornings, and he didn't think it would ever change. He poked her.

'Mulan, Mulan, Ping.' At 'Ping' Mulan woke up. She seemed disoriented.

'Uhhh, why am I in your tent Captain?' She asked, he just laughed.

'Because you ran in here once Spring screamed. But she's fine now.' Mulan looked down at Spring. She looked peaceful but who knew when the next wave of attacks would come? Mulan nodded. Shang looked at her.

'Um, is it ok if I slept in your tent? Because, I mean, your here with Spring and I don't have a tent.' He looked kind of embarrassed. Mulan laughed.

'It's fine Shang. I don't care. I like being here with Spring.' Mulan turned over, but Shang had one more question.

'Do you really have a younger sister Mulan?' Mulan shook her head.

'No, but I always wanted a sister. I was thinking about my father when I was talking to the guys.' Shang nodded.

'Ok, goodnight.' They smiled at each other and her left. She rolled over, placing a protective hold on Spring. She inhaled, the blankets smelled like Shang, she smiled and went to sleep.

Shang went toward her tent. As he entered it, he was hit by Mushu.

'Why are you in Mulan's tent? Get out, Get out!' Mushu began to breathe fire, but he started choking. Shang told him the Mulan was in his tent with spring and that he was going to stay in her tent so he didn't have to sleep outside. Mushu finally agreed to let him stay in the tent, after he ran off to his tent to make sure that Mulan and Spring were safe.

Shang relaxed, and everything that happened that day hit him. His father was gone, there was a little girl that needed help, and he was falling in love with Mulan. He began to succumb to sleep, but his last thoughts were, with a smile on his face, 'these blankets smell like her.'