Chapter 5: War
Arriving in front of the garrison entrance, Commander Tung lifted a hand. Mulan, Buffy and the others came to a halt as they waited for the soldiers to open the heavy gates. As the wooden doors opened, the inside of the garrison came into view. It was like any other garrison under the Emperor's rule. Filled with vendors selling their goods and a few smaller buildings, it was busy, but not bustling. In one corner, Mulan spotted a tavern. Then her eyes grew wide as she nudged Buffy who followed her gaze.
"Black Wind!" Mulan shouted looking at hers and Buffy's horses. "Magu!"
As the other soldiers looked around for what had caused her outburst, Mulan, followed by Buffy, raced across the garrison toward the tavern. Their horses stood tied up in front. Hearing Mulan's voice, the horses let out a happy nicker and pulled back against the reins, trying to free themselves. Mulan threw her arms around her horse, breathing in his familiar and comforting scent.
"I think we both know who is inside," Buffy said as her eyes narrowed.
"Yes," Mulan answered.
Giving both horses a pat and promising they would be back, Mulan and Buffy stormed inside the tavern. They spotted Skatch and Ramtish immediately. They were sitting at a table, staring down at a map. Their robes and beards seemed dirtier than when they had last seen them. Mulan and Buffy approached. Ramtish spotted them.
Buffy held up a hand and Mulan stopped as she approached them her expression one of fury.
Ramtish shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Remember those conscripts, those kids…" he said to Skatch.
The other man nodded. "Hua Jun and Mei Chi," he said.
"Remember you taught them to stand their ground, own the place?" he said. Skatch mumbled a yes but kept staring at the map. Ramtish went on. "Tip of the blade and all that?"
"So?" Skatch said, sounding annoyed to be distracted.
"He took it to heart," Ramtish finished.
Skatch looked up—right into the glaring eyes of the Slayer. "Mei Chi!" he said, jumping to his feet, a nervous smile on his face.
Buffy didn't return the smile. Honghui, Yao, Po, Ling, and Cricket entered and stopped next to Mulan. Buffy leapt into the air and in a roundhouse, kicked Skatch. Hard with full Slayer strength. He fell back, landing on the floor with a thud. His fake beard, knocked loose by the impact, hung from his chin. Turning, Buffy set her sights on Ramtish. The man instantly held up his hands.
"Not the face—" he started to say.
Buffy didn't let him finish. She leapt again and, this time, spun in the air before kicking Ramtish in the chest. His own fake beard went flying, landing in the middle of a table of very confused onlookers.
As the pair of thieves stared at Buffy with a mixture of awe and fear, Buffy followed by Mulan turned and walked out of the tavern. Behind them they could hear the other soldiers picking up Skatch and Ramtish. By the time they had found Commander Tung, the two fake monks had been put in stock collars, their heads hanging uncomfortably between the wooden planks.
"Tell us what happened, Hua Jun…Hua Chi," Commander Tung said as the sun set over the garrison courtyard. Beside him stood the garrison commander. Sergeant Qiang and the other soldiers were a few paces away, watching with curiosity.
Mulan stepped forward. "Chi and I met these two bandits on the road," she explained, shooting them a look. "They offered us food and drink, and…" She paused; her voice unsure. "And…" she stammered.
"We offered them some generosity," Buffy said taking up the explanation. "Offering a place by our fire. In return, they betrayed our trust. Stole our horses and our boots."
"It is true," Skatch said. "We are not monks. We are, in fact, bandits. An odd career choice, perhaps, but it's a time-honored profession. We bandits are an integral element of the Silk Road. Eliminate us, and the delicate fabric of the entire enterprise unravels."
Ramtish nodded. "Might I add, Commander, that we could also have taken the laddies swords, but I—personally—felt that would be wrong."
Buffy and Mulan resisted the urge to laugh out loud. They very much doubted that was the case.
Noticing that the commander and the others were losing patience, Skatch went on, pleading his case. "Accordingly, if Hua Jun and Mei Chi…"
"Hua Chi," Buffy corrected.
"Hua Chi find it in their hearts to forgive us"—Skatch paused and turned to Commander Tung—"and the wise commander sees his way clear to pardoning us, we can proceed with removing these restraints…."
The commander had heard enough. He raised a hand, silencing Skatch. Looking at Sergeant Qiang, he called him over. "Sergeant, what is the penalty for stealing a soldier's horse during wartime?" he asked.
"Death," Sergeant Qiang replied.
In the stocks, Skatch's and Ramtish's now beardless faces grew pale.
"Hua Jun…Hua Chi," Commander Tung said, turning to her. "Did these miscreants steal your horses?"
"Yes," Buffy and Mulan said.
They were kept from saying more by the sudden shout of a soldier behind her. "Scouts at the gate!" A moment later, the large doors swung open and two men raced through. Their horses were lathered in sweat, their own faces ashen. Dismounting, they raced over to the commander.
"Böri Khan assembles not a half day's ride from here," the first scout reported. "They prepare for battle. We are greatly outnumbered."
Instantly, the soldiers began to murmur. Turning to the guards stationed at the top of the gate, the garrison commander shouted, "Fortify for a siege!" His voice was filled with fear, causing the men around him to grow nervous.
Beside him, Commander Tung remained calm. Once again, he lifted his hand. Instantly, the garrison grew quiet. "No!" he said to the garrison commander. "We will appear where we are unexpected. Let Khan charge our wall of spears on ground of our choosing. He who moves first controls the enemy." He paused and looked out over his soldiers, his gaze lingering longest on Buffy and Mulan. Then he turned back to Sergeant Qiang. "Prepare the men," he ordered.
The soldiers didn't hesitate. Instantly, they moved into action, readying for battle. But the sergeant hesitated. Buffy and Mulan saw him nod toward Skatch and Ramtish, who stood forgotten in the stocks. "Commander Tung—the bandits?" he asked.
The commander barely registered the question, distracted by the news.
Buffy looked at the thieves. She had always had a rule of not killing humans. And sadly, she was about to go into war where she would have to do just that. Why not save these two before then as a last final gesture before she was forced to take a human life? She stepped forward and addressed Commander Tung. "If I may, Commander…" she began. He nodded for her to go on. "Since we are greatly outnumbered, perhaps these able-bodied miscreants can be of help?"
Mulan looked at Buffy for a long moment in surprise and then she nodded.
Commander Tung too had a look of surprise and he too nodded. "Good thinking. If they perish on the battlefield, at least they'll have been of some service. Arm them." His order given; the commander moved off. Behind him, a pair of soldiers removed the stocks from Skatch and Ramtish. Both looked upset by their sudden freedom.
"Arm them?" Skatch said, repeating Commander Tung's words.
"As in, 'fight the Rourans'?" Ramtish added. He shook his head, trying desperately to get back in the stocks.
Beside him, Skatch did the same. "Might I suggest all options be considered before we embark on such a hasty decision?" he said to the soldiers.
"Surely there are other ways we can be of service," Ramtish added. "In fact, we could…" He struggled to think of something, anything else they could do to help. "Clean up the horse poop!"
"Yes!" Skatch said, jumping on the idea. "The overabundance of manure on the battlefield is an issue that's been pushed into the shadows for far too long—"
Buffy and Mulan couldn't take any more. "Enough!" they said. To their surprise, both men quieted.
"You protected us. Now we have protected you," Mulan said as she pulled out her sword. "Don't make us regret it." Turning, she and Buffy went to join the others.
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Buffy and Mulan stared out at the thick mist in front of them. The sun tried to cut through the gray, making it hard to see what was shadow and what was real. Astride their horses, Mulan and Buffy could make out a bit more than the soldiers on the ground could. But not much more.
They had been surprised when Commander Tung had ordered them to stop in the middle of the mist-filled valley. It seemed like that would put them at a disadvantage strategically. But apparently not. This way, the commander told them, the element of surprise would be on their side. They knew which direction the Rouran army was coming from, whereas the enemy had no idea what now lay in wait.
As the sun grew stronger, it burned off the mist. Slowly, the shadows disappeared and as the last of the wisps disappeared, it revealed a massive army across from the Imperial battalion. The invaders seemed to cover the entire horizon, banners of dozens of tribes whipping in the air.
In front of them all was Böri Khan. He sat astride his midnight-black stallion, his eyes cold and calculating, even from such a distance. As part of the cavalry, Buffy and Mulan would be in one of the last groups to charge.
Turning, Buffy and Mulan saw their friends standing among the infantry: Po, Yao, Ling and Honghui, who both Buffy and Mulan had apologized to. The usual confidence was gone from their faces, replaced with apprehension. Scanning further still, they saw Skatch and Ramtish. Without their fake beards or monk robes, they seemed smaller somehow. And fear was etched in every weather-worn line on their faces.
Mulan looked at Buffy, who had turned and was looking at her. For a moment, they held each other's gaze. The other sounds faded away, and all they could hear were the uneven gasps of their own breath and the pounding of their hearts.
"Buffy," Mulan whispered low enough not to be heard by anyone but the woman next to her. "I'm in love with you."
"And I am in love with you," Buffy replied as she smiled at Mulan.
Just then the sound of drums boomed through the valley causing the two women to turn back to the valley and the enemy beyond. It was time to focus.
The battle was here.
As the drumming grew louder and faster, the front line of Imperial soldiers kneeled. Behind them, the archers stepped forward, readying their bows. Cricket stood in the middle of them, his eyes clear, his shoulders steady.
Commander Tung raised his hand. The army seemed to take a collective breath. And then, the commander gave the signal. As the Imperial flag waved down, the archers let their arrows fly. They arched high over the valley—now a battlefield—toward the army beyond.
If Commander Tung thought this first wave of attack would intimidate Böri Khan, he was quickly proven wrong. The warrior didn't even wait for the arrows to land before he gave his own signal. In an instant, the sound of the drums was muted by the pounding hooves of hundreds of horses as Böri Khan led his army racing across the valley.
The archers kept the arrows flying. Some found their targets, knocking the invaders from their saddles, but they barely made a dent. The army was huge. It would take more than the archers to bring it down.
Waiting anxiously for Commander Tung's signal, Buffy and Mulan watched as Böri Khan shouted to a few of his men and then, with a dozen or so of the warriors, peeled off from the main body of the army. The momentum carried the rest of the army forward. Acting quickly, Commander Tung shouted orders to the cavalry—including Buffy and Mulan—sending them after the leader. While the rest of the infantry and archers took their chances with the oncoming horde, the cavalry exploded after Böri Khan.
Buffy and Mulan rode their horses across the valley. Ahead, they could see Böri Khan, and the warriors they now recognized as the fabled Shadow Warriors noticed they were being followed. With a shout, one of them spun around so that he was riding his horse backward. As the horse galloped on, unbothered, the Shadow Warrior notched two arrows, letting them fly in quick succession.
An Imperial soldier nearby shouted as he was hit and knocked from his horse. The other arrow zipped past, barely missing Buffy. She heard a thud as another rider fell.
Still, they raced on.
As the ground changed beneath them, growing rockier, Mulan and Buffy notched their own arrows. They barely took notice of the steamy, mountainous environment they had entered. They had eyes only for the enemy warriors. More enemy soldiers were spinning on their horses, firing arrows faster and faster. The Imperial soldiers began to fall with more and more frequency. Some were felled by arrows, others when their horses tripped on the rocky terrain. Buffy and Mulan rode on as one by one the other Imperial soldiers, deciding the leader was too far gone, turned and retreated to the battlefield.
Soon Buffy and Mulan were alone. Their horses' pace slowed. "Come on, Mulan," Buffy said as she spurred her horse forward. Mulan looked at Buffy for a moment then spurred her horse after Buffy. They spotted Böri Khan disappearing into the steam ahead.
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Mulan and Buffy slowed their horses to a trot. The steam was too dense to see through and they didn't want to risk the big horses stumbling on one of the thermal vents that dotted the landscape. For what seemed like hours, but was no more than a few minutes, horses and riders wandered, lost, inside the steam clouds.
When the clouds cleared the barren landscape was a riot of vibrant color. Red lava poured from vents, transforming into lines of black frozen rock as the air cooled. It was as though they had ridden into a whole other world.
"Where are we?" Mulan asked.
"No idea," Buffy answered as she looked around. Böri Khan was nowhere to be seen.
An ear-piercing shriek filled the air. Looking up, Buffy and Mulan only had a moment to register the hawk diving toward them before Buffy then Mulan were knocked from their horses. They toppled to the ground. Their helmets knocked loose by the impact, fell from their heads and tumbled across the ground. Their topknots, kept restrained for so long, came undone as their hell fell over their shoulders.
Scrambling to their feet, Mulan and Buffy reached for their helmets. But before they could get to it, the hawk landed in front of them. Then, as Buffy and Mulan watched, the hawk transformed into a beautiful woman. The woman appeared strong—and deadly.
"You're a witch…" Buffy said.
The woman nodded. She walked closer, looking Buffy and Mulan up and down, her eyes lingering on the armor and then moving to the hair that now fell over their shoulders. Something flashed across her eyes, a revelation. "You both have kept your secret. Well done. But now you two are in my way. You both must retreat. Go."
Buffy and Mulan looked at each other as they realized this woman could see past their disguise. Rage built inside of her at being called out by the witch. "I am Hua Jun," Mulan said. "And this is my brother Hua Chi. We are soldiers in the Emperor's Imperial Army."
Lifting their swords, they ran at the witch. But the woman fended them off. With a wave of her hand, she sent Buffy and Mulan flying to the ground. They immediately jumped back to their feet.
"I wish Willow was hear. You know witch against witch," Buffy said thinking of her old friend. "But since she's not." She and Mulan charged the witch who brushed them away.
"Your deceit weakens you both," the woman said as she wrapped her long fingers around Mulan's neck.
"Actually," Buffy retorted with a smirk. She could feel the Slayer within her itching for a fight. "I'm not weak at all. Where I'm from, I'm known as the Slayer." She motioned for Mulan to get back and then she lifted her sword. She tried to attack the witch.
The woman wrapped her hand around the blade and lowered it. "You both waste my time," the witch said, growing frustrated.
Buffy smirked as she drew back her sword, slicing the witch's palm.
As blood bloomed on her hand, the woman's eyes filled with anger. "Why do you not listen?" she shouted. She shrugged and then, pulling a dagger from her belt, threw it at Buffy.
Buffy smirked as she batted the blade away. "I told you I'm a Slayer. I have strength proportionate to a vampire, I have reflexes, agility and a nice healing factor to boot."
The woman stepped toward Buffy, blood dripping from the wound Buffy had inflicted, dotting the ground.
Mulan moved beside Buffy, her sword at the ready. "I am Hua Jun and this is my brother Hua Chi. We are soldiers in the Emperor's Imp—"
The woman had heard enough. "I warned you, Hua Jun and Hua Chi," she sneered. "You both will die pretending to be something you're not." In a flash of silver, she threw another dagger. It flew through the air, striking Mulan square in the chest.
Mulan was lifted off her feet and sent flying backward. As she came down hard, the layer of crust beneath her broke open. Mulan fell through the hole—and into the lake below.
"Mulan!" Buffy screamed as she ran to the hole. She could not see Mulan. Then she saw it, the Phoenix. The Phoenix dove into the water. A moment later, Mulan burst through the surface, opening her mouth and sucking in air. "Mulan?" she said as she looked at the witch's dagger protruding from the chest of the woman she loved. She ripped Mulan's armor back and saw, to her relief, the dagger had embedded not in Mulan's skin, but in the leather binding Mulan had wrapped around her breasts. "Thank god!"
"I have to agree with that sentiment," Mulan agreed as Buffy helped her to her feet. "We may never be allowed to, but I want to marry you."
"I accept," Buffy said as she spun Mulan around. They turned and saw that Phoenix and gave it a grateful nod. The bird nodded.
Lifting their swords from the ground, Mulan read the inscription, her eyes lingering on one word. "True…" she said aloud.
"I think it's time we be who we always were," Buffy said.
Mulan looked at Buffy and then smiled. "You are right."
They raced over and jumped onto their horses' backs. The horses whinnied as they urged them forward. Behind them, they heard flapping wings as the Phoenix took flight. Together, they raced across the valley in the direction of the battlefield. Their armor, loosened from the fight, fell to the ground piece by piece. The wind whipped their long hair around their faces.
"I am, Hua Mulan," Mulan said looking at Buffy. "And you are my wife, Hua Buffy."
Buffy nodded and smiled. As they reached the edge of the valley, they could hear the sounds of battle from below the ridge. Riding over, they pulled up their horses. Below, the Imperial Army was trying, in vain, to keep the invaders at bay. Soldiers stood back to back, their swords flashing in the sunlight as they struggled to fight the attackers. Arrows continued to fly through the air but they were being shot without intention as the archers simply tried to survive.
Above it all, Buffy and Mulan saw the witch, once again in her hawk form. She circled above the two armies, letting out menacing shrieks that encouraged the invaders and made the Imperial soldiers shake in fear.
Buffy and Mulan didn't hesitate. Spurring their horses, they raced down the hill and right into the fight. As they went, they lifted their swords and swung. On either side of them, enemies fell as metal met skin. Buffy and Mulan didn't even notice the stunned look of Commander Tung as they caught sight of the powerful female warriors doing what none of them had been able to—win.
As they raced on, their horses' nostrils flared and their hooves pounded against the ground. Together, they looked like something magical. Reaching the heart of the battle, Buffy and Mulan pushed themselves to their feet so that they were standing tall on their horses' backs. Then, with a cry, they leapt off and flew through the air, landing on the ground, their swords raised in front of them.
Instantly, the invaders rushed the two women. Buffy took point and Mulan followed suit, using the training Buffy had given her. Around them, the men they had come to know as friends fought valiantly. Honghui's sword dispatched two invaders at once while Yao screamed and shouted, swinging his sword wildly but effectively. Even Skatch and Ramtish were giving it all they had, kicking and scratching and throwing rocks to protect themselves.
Inch by inch, the Imperial Army seemed to gain a foothold. Whether it was the appearance of the mysterious female warriors or just luck, it didn't matter. Inches were all they needed. With renewed energy, the soldiers continued to fight. Spotting the last large group of invaders, their arms heavy with sword and shield, Mulan and Buffy rushed toward them.
In a group, they turned to face the approaching warriors. But Buffy and Mulan didn't slow. They kept running, and just as it seemed they were going to collide headfirst with the remaining soldiers, they jumped into the air. Their feet light and their minds focused, they raced atop the invaders, using their helmets and their raised shields to propel themselves forward. In a flash, they had crossed over all of them and leapt to the ground.
Furious, the invaders turned and started chasing after Buffy and Mulan.
Buffy and Mulan glanced at each other and smiled. That was what they had wanted. Sprinting toward the other edge of the valley, they ran onto a large rock formation. On the other side was a wall of steam. A gust of wind blew back the steam for a moment, revealing a large crack in the ground. They leapt. Behind them, the steam moved back over the ground, concealing the crack from view.
Behind them, the invaders' angry cries grew louder as they saw their prey disappear. With bloodlust in their eyes, they followed, running up and jumping off the rock. But their cries of anger turned to fear as they fell, one by one, into the deep crack just beyond the rock. The crack, formed from the pressure of the lava, billowed steam upward as it pulled the invaders down. In seconds, the invading warriors had been lost to the earth.
On the other side, Buffy and Mulan stood with swords still raised. They were ready for the next onslaught. Across the crack, the rest of the Imperial Army arrived, their eyes wide as they realized what they had done.
Hearing the pounding footsteps of dozens of men, Mulan and Buffy turned to see another group of invaders rushing at them from the opposite direction. They lifted their swords. But before the invaders reached them, they came to a skidding halt. Dozens of pairs of eyes landed on them and then peered into the steamy crag beyond. They saw them take in the Imperial Army standing behind them, swords high.
And then they turned and ran.
In the space that followed, the only sound Mulan and Buffy could hear was their own pounding hearts. They had done it; they had driven off the invaders.
But their victory was short-lived. The Imperial soldiers had not even given a shout of joy before the shriek of a hawk pierced the air. Looking up, Buffy and Mulan saw the witch circling faster and faster as they watched the invaders run like cowards. They knew the witch was the real enemy. Reaching behind their backs, Buffy and Mulan grabbed their bows and notched an arrow. Taking aim, they let the arrows fly.
The arrows soared through the air. As they watched, the hawk turned. For the briefest of moments, it seemed like the arrows would do their jobs. But just before the arrows hit her, the hawk transformed, splitting into hundreds of smaller birds.
They filled the air, blocking the sun as they hovered. Then, in one fell swoop, they moved in for the attack. Loud shrieks filled the air as the birds dove at the Imperial Army. The men ducked, trying to fight off the creatures.
But the birds kept coming.
"Tortoise formation!" Commander Tung cried, his voice cutting through the shrieks of the birds and the men's screams.
As the soldiers gathered together, lifting their shields above their heads so they resembled the shell of a tortoise, Buffy and Mulan scanned the horizon.
"Buffy," Mulan said as she spotted movement on the ridge of the snow-covered mountain that dominated one end of the valley.
Buffy followed Mulan's gaze to see dozens of archers readying their bows. Then she saw a large trebuchet being moved into position. The wooden catapult would take out dozens of Imperial soldiers in a single shot. The sling could hold a huge rock or dozens of smaller ones. It was a powerful—and deadly—weapon.
The birds had been a diversion. The Imperial Army hadn't won. Not yet. There was a second wave being prepared—and it was about to attack. Trapped in the valley below, Commander Tung and his army wouldn't stand a chance.
"I have an idea, Buffy," Mulan said. Using the distraction of the tortoise formation, Buffy and Mulan snuck out from under the cover of shields. They whistled loudly and a moment later, their horses raced up. Jumping onto their backs, they turned them toward the ridge. As they galloped away from the other soldiers, Mulan and Buffy each reached down and grabbed an Imperial helmet. Then another, and another, and still more. Satisfied, they continued toward the ridge.
Within moments they were hidden in a high crevice looking down at the ridge where the invaders prepared their attack. As they watched, one of the men shouted orders, sending some soldiers toward the edge of the ridge with bows and arrows while others loaded a large, heavy boulder onto the trebuchet. Groaning with effort, the men moved it into position so that it was aimed at the valley—and the Imperial soldiers—below.
Buffy and Mulan set up the helmets they had taken from the battlefield and lined them up in a row. Both of their horses were safely hidden. Lifting their bows, they turned and took aim at the invaders.
Their first arrows flew through the air. There was a surprised cry as two invaders fell to the ground. Then another. And another. It didn't take long for the soldiers to notice what was happening. One turned, and Buffy and Mulan saw him scan the ridge where they were hiding. Spotting the Imperial helmets, he let out an angry cry. Shouting new orders, he had his men turn their attention from the valley. The trebuchet was moved until it, too, was pointed toward the mountain where Buffy and Mulan stood, hidden from view.
At the leader's signal, the invaders fired arrows at the row of Imperial helmets, unaware that they were nothing but empty shells, dummies to trick the enemy. When it appeared that the Imperial soldiers were unharmed, the invaders grew angrier. Their attention turned to the trebuchet. Buffy looked at Mulan hoping the younger woman's plan worked.
A moment later, the group of invaders lit the fuel-covered boulder that sat in its perch on the trebuchet. Instantly, the boulder ignited, bursting into flame. The invaders released the trebuchet.
The flaming boulder flew. For Mulan's plan to work, the boulder needed to fly strong and true.
Closer and closer the boulder flew until, with a loud boom, it slammed into the snowy mountainside behind them. The noise of the impact echoed down the mountain and over the valley floor below. The Imperial Army seemed to pause as the sound reached them.
Buffy cocked her ear and listened. She smiled at the sound she heard. She then placed her hand on the ground and felt the smallest of vibrations, the plan had worked.
Buffy and Mulan took off running. They slid down the hard-packed snow, the ground shaking more violent as the avalanche became stronger. They heard the invaders' shouts as the rumbling grew louder, and then the shouts turned to terrified screams as behind them a wall of white appeared.
It barreled toward them, unmindful of which army it destroyed in its path.
Feeling the wind from the avalanche behind them, Buffy and Mulan picked up speed. But the snow kept coming. They whistled loudly, and their horses appeared. And just before the snow engulfed them, they leapt onto the animals' backs.
Together, they galloped ahead of the avalanche as it nipped at the horses' hooves. Behind them, the invading army was not as lucky. Without horses, and weighed down by armor, they disappeared into the wall of white.
Urging their horses on, Mulan and Buffy saw the faces of the Imperial soldiers grow clearer as they made their way farther down the mountainside. They watched in horror as the runaway trebuchet tumbled down, end over end, before landing with a crash—right on top of Cricket. They watched as Honghui raced over and pushed the trebuchet off his friend. Shoving Cricket to safety, Honghui got to his feet only to be hit with a wave of snow that sucked him down.
Buffy didn't hesitate. Slamming her legs against her horse's sides and yanking on the reins, she turned the protesting horse in the direction of the snow. As he struggled to move toward where Honghui had disappeared, the horse snorted with the effort.
Suddenly, Buffy spotted Honghui's arm reaching up through the snow. Buffy leaned over in the saddle and extended her arm. She grasped his and with Slayer strength she swung him into the saddle behind her. He lay limp in the saddle, his eyes closed and his breathing shallow. Turning her horse once more, she galloped ahead. As the land leveled out, the rushing snow began to slow, then stopped altogether.
The avalanche had ended.
In the silence that followed, Mulan and Buffy brought their horses to a halt. Then they slid down to the ground.
With help from Mulan, Buffy got Honghui's unconscious body off her horse. Laying him down gently, she looked at him for a long moment, watching as his chest rose and fell. He was alive.
"We should make sure the invaders attacks are at an end," Mulan said looking at Buffy who nodded in agreement. Turning, they disappeared into the fog.