A/N: Argh, sorry this update has taken so freaking long, and it's not even that big of a chappy. I'm afraid I've hit some writers' block with this story, in combination with a family emergency that put fanfic writing on the backburner. However I do plan on getting back on track with this story, so I'll do my best to make with the more frequent and regular updates this month. Admittedly, this story is becoming far more epic than I imagined, and I still have a bit of a ways to go!

Thank you all for your patience and I hope this installment can tide you over until I get more stuff rolling!!


Sun Quan approached the xiao Shi at blazing speed, his heart calming along with the roar of battle he had left behind. He dug his heels into his horse, afraid to look back and see Zhang Liao poised to cleave him right through his very soul. He rode with head low, but lifted it once he spotted the Xiao Shi bridge, as well as a suspicious group of people loitering before it. One of them, who wore a mask and had a satchel strapped to his back, pulled an arm back and heaved a ball-like object over the bridge.

Suddenly, an burst of noise, dust, and heat rang out, startling his steed. He resumed control of the animal, realizing that the suspicious group was bringing down his only way out. With determined vigor, he spurred his horse to full speed and shouted,

"You filthy mongrels! I'll strike down every last one of you!"

The bombadier had reached back for another charge, but spun around at his thunderous voice. Immobilized by the hate and anger in Sun Quan's eyes, he dropped the explosive, and was slain in one blow.

Sun Quan struck down a handful more bombers with equal efficiency, and chased down as many of their defenders as he could before they could run away. His hate for Wei satisfied only for lack of victims, he turned finally to face the damaged Xiao Shi bridge. The explosives had blasted a couple of holes in the planks, and the ones that were left were charred and unstable. "It's too dangerous to cross," Sun Quan said, his heart aching over the careless sacrifices he had caused. He thought of Ling Tong who had so bravely faced such a frightening creature as Zhang Liao, and he could not bear to think if he were to lose someone so loyal as punishment for his hubris. He then thought of Lu Meng and Gan Ning, two other possible casualties now that he could not bring them reinforcements.

"What am I doing? How can I just run away?" he said to himself. His shoulders drooped as if he were upholding the weight of his shame across them.

"No," he then said, gripping tight his horse's reins. "There is still time. I will come back for them. I must not abandon my men!" His eyes came to life as he reassessed the bridge. "Father, Brother, grant me courage, and protect my honor." He drew his sword and paused to meditate briefly.

"Alright, Gray Bird," Sun Quan then said to his horse. "Time to spread your wings."

He gave a sharp kick and his horse sprang forward. Sun Quan leaned over close into his steed's braided, white mane, trusting in the rumbling power of his horse's gait. He closed his eyes, believing the rest now was up to fate and fortune. He held his breath when the animal's hooves clopped against the wood of the bridge and catapulted across ruins of the walkway. It was a near-instantaneous stunt, but the adrenaline burning under Sun Quan's chin preserved the moment in eyesight when his horse's hooves hit the remaining planks on the other side. Some planks crumbled from the trauma, but by then the Wu commander had cleared the bridge and was speeding through the meadows toward Wan Castle.

"Thank you Father, Brother. It is not yet over," Sun Quan said quietly, looking back to the bridge.

Gan Ning sighed when he noticed that blood had soaked part of his pantleg, and that some had trailed behind them from the forest.

"You're gonna owe me, big time," Gan Ning muttered. "You'll be doin' my laundry forever after this."

He had found a good length of sunbleached driftwood along the bank of the river, and with material from Ling Tong's other pant leg, tied the unconscious Ling Tong as snugly as he could on top of it. Gan Ning cursed at himself, never before seeing his hands tremble with any task, but with Ling Tong's life in his hands, and the Wei troops bearing down on them, it was the first time since his childhood that fear threatened to get better of him.

Thinking Ling Tong was as secure as he could manage, he pressed on the driftwood with his fingers, hoping that it would not be too rotten. He then removed the daggers from his belt and wedged them into the wood so they would not weigh him down. Without further preparation, he threw everything he had into lifting his makeshift stretcher/raft, and waded into the river. As the water reached his waist he set the log down and pushed it through the murky river.

Gan Ning's feet had just cleared the bottom, and was kicking furiously when a voice boomed behind him.

"There he is!"

Gan Ning spun his head around as far as he could twist his neck and saw a horseman leading his mount to the banks. Further behind him, his comrades emerged from the forest, spewing hatred and bitter curses.

"We must avenge lord Yue Jin!" the lead horseman said, forcing his horse into the river.

The enraged shouting over his shoulders made his spine quake, and he desperately searched his surroundings for a beacon, or at least some way he might prolong the pursuit so he could figure a way out. His mind worked furiously for a solution, but his body burned with fatigue. Really, all he was doing was waiting for a miracle. The otherwise inevitability collided with his optimism, producing a denial that allowed him hope for Heaven to magically smite his foes and instantly deliver them into the safety of the Wu army.

While silently praying, Gan Ning peered over his comrade's form and his eyes fell upon the Xiao Shi. The bridge was coming into view downriver, but its shape and color disturbed him, as well as a thin plume of smoke circling like black vulture over its sloped overhang. Even from his perspective, the bridge looked damaged, and quite heavily at that. Gan Ning thought it bode ill for his struggle and prayers. He whipped his head around, seeing the horsemen brandish their short swords as they came within spitting distance as far as Gan Ning could tell.

One of his pursuer's let loose a sinister laugh, reminding Gan Ning of how utterly pitiful his effort must look. Gan Ning growled. If he was going to die, then he would not give his enemy the satisfaction of seeing him afraid of death. All that mattered was Ling Tong's honor to protect, and for that he moved to rip a dagger out of the floating wood.

"Let's not make this all for nothing," Gan Ning said to Ling Tong's form. "Heaven ought to at least save your stupid ass."

With that remark he pushed the raft as far away as he could, watching the current catch and carry on his wounded comrade. "Sorry," he muttered.

With a single dagger in hand, he turned around to the horsemen bearing down on him and shouted, "All right, scumbags, let's see how far you can get with Gan Ning in his element!"

As the first sword struck down upon him, Gan Ning never believed he would die while praying only for another.