[So there's conflict in this one? Well, more than usual.]
Ping's eyes snapped open. He found himself ensnared in Shang's warm, thick arms, his face almost pressed against his captain's bare chest. For all the comfort and warmth that surrounded him, Ping felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle and heart rate speed up for some unknown reason.
He wiggled out of Shang's grasp (blushing the entire time) and sat up, listening. Above the low rumble of Shang's snoring he heard the usual string of soft chatter outside the tent, along with the insects and birds of the night singing their nocturnal melodies. Still, this strange sensation in his gut continued and he gingerly got out of the cot.
After pulling on his shoes and readjusting his bun, Ping peeked out of the tent to make sure the coast was clear before exiting. The night air chilled him through his tunic and smelled sharp against his nose. Ping realized it had rained as he walked softly through damp grass and wondered how he hadn't noticed. Usually the rain woke him up through the deepest slumbers.
Then he recalled exactly what might have been hogging his attention during the rain and forced an image of Shang's flushed, pleasure-wrecked face out of his mind, attempting to brush the shivers off his arms.
Ping spotted Yao and Ling sitting by the fire at the northern entry of their camp, arms crossed and hands grasping their swords. Chien-Po stood a ways off, munching on something. Ping made his way over to them and greeted them heartily.
"Hiya, Ping! Where have you been?" Ling inquired good-naturally, looping his arm around Ping's shoulders. "I turn around for one second and you sneak away!"
"Oh, well, I was—um," Ping fumbled for an excuse.
"Hey," Yao saved him from answering as he delivered a friendly punch to Ping's arm. "That was impressive, taking on the Jin Zai captain like that."
"Yeah!" Ling agreed, sitting back down by the fire. "Did you see the look on that guy's face? I thought his eyes were gonna pop out!"
Ping chuckled along with them until his neck prickled again. He perked up and looked around, studying the horizon outlined in the pale glow of early dawn. The rest of the troops were just starting to stir for the day. Still, a sense of foreboding washed over him.
"You three were the night sentries, right?" He asked.
"Sure were," Yao grunted, scratching at his back. "My ass is as stiff and cold as Ling's sister."
"Hey," Ling warned with a grin.
"You didn't see anything…suspicious?"
Ling and Yao shared a look. "No," they answered.
Ping was about to inquire further when he heard it. Hoof beats, echoing off the mountain faces surrounding them. He ran over to Chien-Po, who was no longer eating the pear he had somehow acquired and squinting at the eastern woods a few leagues away.
"Chien-Po, you hear that?"
The bald man nodded, usual cheer gone. Ping felt like ice was running down his back as the beats grew louder, finally gaining attention of Ling and Yao. The two hopped up and ran to the watch tower, climbing up the wooden ladder to the deck.
It took only a few seconds for Yao to yell down, "Huns! We're under attack!"
Ping felt his gut drop and heart leap up into his throat, his pulse thrumming against his ears. It seemed to keep in time with the frantic tempo Ling started on the drum to warn the camp. His feet felt rooted to the spot as men emerged from their tents.
"How many?" Chien-Po asked.
"Looks about thirty, forty at best! All on horseback!"
Chien-Po took off towards the Jin Zai tent. "Alert Captain Shang!" He called over his shoulder.
Right. Shang, Shang's tent, he'll know what to do.
He took off, catching himself from slipping on the slick grass as he dodged armored men rushing to the eastern side of camp. He threw open the tent flap to find Shang cursing as he pulled on his armor and boots.
His eyes snapped up to Ping. "Ping, what is the nature of the alarm?"
"Sir, a company of Huns approaching from the east! Sentry says a number of thirty to forty!"
Shang cursed again and belted his sword. "Get your armor on, soldier. Tell all you meet to gather at the entry."
Ping nodded, "Yes sir!"
"And Ping."
Ping paused and turned back to look at his captain. The sun had just peeked over the crest of the far off mountains, filling the tent with light. Shang's armor gleamed, eyes turning to amber pools in the glow.
"Please, be careful."
For all the terror and anxiety running through his veins, a warm burn bloomed in his chest that momentarily made him feel lighter. He gave Shang a smile and bowed, running off for his tent.
The warmth quickly subsided as he passed a group of confused soldiers from his brigade. "Huns! Coming from the east! Gather at the entry and prepare to engage!" He briefly relayed the order and sprinted on, informing every man he saw with a muddled face.
He finally reached his tent and commenced donning his own armor, trying to steady his shaking fingers. He felt a weight drop down onto his back and found Mushu perched on his shoulders.
"Mushu, there's—"
"Huns. I know. I spotted them while I was snacking on a bird in its nest." The small dragon skittered over to grab his helmet and brought it over to him. "I will ride into battle with you. It helps to have an extra pair of eyes."
Ping didn't respond as he slid on his helmet and ran out of his tent, Mushu clawing into his shirt to coil around his neck loosely.
"JUMP BACK," Mushu practically yelled into his ear.
Ping saw a flurry of movement in his peripheral and leapt back, narrowly missing being run over by a dark pelted horse. His breath caught as an arrow whizzed by his face, missing his nose by a millimeter.
The archer cursed and rounded a tent to double back.
How could he get so far in the camp? Ping wondered as he took cover behind an overturned table. This is the south point. That means—oh, no.
The archer was riding back at him, horse snorting and arrow nocked. Behind him three more men rode in over the crest of the hill bordering Rin Village.
There's two companies! I have to warn the captain and the Jin Zai!
He darted out from behind the table and rolled over to crouch on higher ground behind a nearby tent. The horsemen lost sight of him for a second and he took the opportunity to climb up the tree next to the tent, finding a fork and tensing his muscles in preparation.
"Ping, what in the heavens are you doing?!" Mushu hissed into his ear.
Ping ignored him and forced himself to breathe.
From his perch he watched two men circle back and disappear back from where they came, most likely to fetch the rest of their forces. The first archer spurred his horse forward, a bloodthirsty grin on his face.
Ping counted down in his head as the rider neared the tree and steeled himself. He drew his sword and lunged from his spot, exploding out of the leaves with his blade held steady in front of him at point.
The archer didn't have time to fight back as the tip of Ping's sword met his mark and sunk into his chest, both of them tumbling off the horse. Ping tucked his head and rolled up onto his feet, bouncing back to the body to retrieve his sword and mount his horse.
The stallion bucked at first, but after a steady hand Ping was able to lead him. He charged forward and spurred the horse to a gallop, spotting the mass of Jin Zai captains as they overlooked the battle raging on the plain at the bottom of the hill.
He rode over to Shang and Fuu standing next to each other, Fuu engaged in some heated argument with another Jin Zai captain. Ping remained atop the horse as he spoke. "Sirs! Another group of Huns approaching from the south!"
Shang turned to Fuu. "This isn't just an attack, Captain Fuujin. They mean to wipe us out! Cease bickering and come together or we're all doomed!"
Whatever Fuu was about to reply with was cut off when a stream of Huns emerged from the southern side of the camp.
The Jin Zai forces brandished their weapons and charged, emitting war cries. The two pools of men met in a clash of steel and arrows. Ping drew out his sword and prepared to follow them.
"Wait, Ping," Shang ordered. Fuu raised his helmet to speak clearly.
"We need you to follow Shang down into the main battle and tell troops to—"
With a yell a few Huns broke loose behind them and raced towards the captains. The Hun's face was contorted in a scowl as he charged.
Ping took off with his sword raised, blood roaring in his ears. He ducked, an arrow bouncing off his helmet and carried on. He registered a few soldiers flanking hm on foot, running just behind him.
At the last second before he and the first man met he veered his horse to the right, switching his sword to his left hand and hacking at the enemy horse's legs. He fell and he was replaced by another that Ping managed to slash in the chest. Ping thanked the ancestors for the Huns' lack of armor.
Ping circled around and managed to take down three more men until he felt a searing pain in his arm. He looked down to find an arrow lodged into his triceps.
"Arrows, three o' clock," Mushu growled.
Ping reared the horse back and made to gallop out of range when his horse gave an unearthly whinny and fell, blood-colored fletching sticking out of its neck and chest like grotesque flowers. Ping rolled into a crouch and hissed as his arm cried out against each movement. He felt warm blood trickling down his arm and reached around to feel the hard wooden shafted imbedded into his flesh.
He kept his eyes up, watching for any men attacking him as he wrapped his fingers around it and pulled. He couldn't stifle his yelp of pain as it tugged at his muscle and skin.
"No time to cry," Mushu hissed. "You've got company to your right. Might want to take cover with your buddies over there."
Ping hurried over to a group of his comrades fighting alongside the Jin Zai and took his place by two men he knew were named Jiang and Hui, taking turns slashing out only to take cover in the safety of their group.
Everywhere Ping looked there were thrashing limbs and blood stained blades gleaming in the early light as they hacked at flesh and bone. On the ground were bodies littered with arrows from both sides, and drowning out the fear in Ping's head was the yelling and groaning of men.
And then a shout was heard above the rest and in came Shang like a storm. He rode on his white and beige stallion with his cape flapping in the wind, shined helmet covering most of his face and cresting up from his forehead. In his hand he wielded his halberd like the reaper's scythe, cutting down those who opposed him like bamboo stalks.
The staff's long reach stopped anyone from getting too close while the small ring of soldiers around him raised their shiny shields to stop arrows from striking his horse. For an instant that lasted both a heartbeat and an eternity Shang lifted his head and their eyes locked just yards away on the battlefield.
Then Jiang let out a death scream and fell to the ground, grabbing at his side as an axe blade bit into his stomach. Ping whipped around and was just able to block another swing with his sword, the impact sending jarring twitches up his arms. His injured arm threatened to give and he bit his lip hard enough to taste his own coppery blood before pushing away.
"Behind you!" Mushu snarled.
Hui hacked at the attacker's arm and down he went until a stray arrow struck Hui in the eye. Ping fell back as an imposing man with his bow drawn back and targeted at his face loomed over him, grisly mouth curved in a condescending scowl.
Ping regained his footing and struck out with his sword, only for a boot to slam against his head like boulder. His vision flashed bright white and he fell to the ground, barely able to hear what the Huns were saying and wondering why no one was backing him up.
"…Fa family…you sure he's...killed Ganbaatar…grab him…"
He felt hands grab him without any mercy and throw him over a saddle. He tried to struggle and received another blow to the head that left his vision blurry and skull throbbing. He felt bile rise up and was unable to stop it from leaving his mouth.
He heard a muttered curse and panicked yelling before everything grew dark.
[Shit's getting real.]
[so I've got a tumblr: fuck-its-marvel]