There were plenty of outcomes Mulan had imagined for herself when setting off in her father's armour to Wu Zhong, most involving death and dishonour at the hands of the Huns or her commander. She could safely say though,as she looked from the moonlit outline of the camp to Shang, who was uncharacteristically speechless, that this was not one of them.

She briefly remembered her encounter with Chi Fu in her village all those weeks before, where he had chided and shamed her in front of her father and most of the villagers. She had not liked him then, but that was personal. In spite of her humiliation, she had thought that,however pompous and disdainful as he was, he was serving the Emperor and China in the best way he could. How wrong she had been! As that scene replayed in her head, she wondered with a sick feeling in her stomach, if he had been working to aid the Huns in that very moment. Choosing to draft in her father, an old and lame man and unfit for battle, would certainly have suited him well. She was sure that only able bodied men were required by law for service. Her father, honour bound though, would have gone regardless.

Shaking her head to clear these unwelcome thoughts, she tried to think of the situation at hand. They were alone outside the camp, unable to enter and the Huns were at this very moment were galloping to towards them. Even if they could regain entry to Wu Zhong, how many of the men inside were Chi Fu's spies? At that moment the faces of Chien Po, Ling and Yao floated in front of her. Men she dared to call friends. Were they dead? Alive? Or alive and against her? She didnt dare to contemplate the truth. All she knew was that Shang and her had to leave. Now.

She laid a tentative hand on the Captain's shoulder. "Shang, we have to go" she said urgently. Shang turned slowly to face her, a slight frown playing on his lips.

"Uh, I mean, Captain, we really shouldn't stay here", she gulped. In the events at hand she had forgotten their last conversation in his tent. Now was not the time for familiarity.

Shang shook his head dismissively. "But how..."

A low rumbling whinny stopped him in his tracks. Mulan turned to see Khan trotting briskly towards them from out of the darkness. She left out a small breath of relief. He must have bolted outside in the panic and confusion of the ambush. As she reached out to a hand to calm him, she mused ironically that it was fortunate that she had been packed up to return home. Khan was laden with the supplies for the journey home, as well as the few posessions she had. Spare clothes, blankets, a small amount of food and water. It wasn't much, but it was better than trying to outrun the Huns on foot with nothing to eat.

Seeing Khan, seemed to jolt Shang into his senses. "We dont have much time" he said quietly. Huns will be here before long, and no doubt Chi Fu will get word to them. They will be after us" he added, looking at Mulan intently. "They are good hunters, we will have to move fast". He glanced over Khan's load. "What supplies do you have?"

"Some food and water, blankets, tools to make a fire" Mulan looked anxiously at Shang. "It wont last long, it was only for the journey home".

Shang sighed, clearly recounting his lecture. "Well Fa Mulan, even if you wanted to, going home is not an option now. I can't risk you galloping out there with the enemy so close to us. I must reach my father before the Huns do, and warn him about what's happened tonight". He looked wryly at her and then to Khan. "And unfortunately I cannot do that on foot".

Despite herself, Mulan felt a knot of disappointment form in her chest. He wasn't worried for her safety. She was a liability out there on her own, and she had the means to get Shang to his father quickly. Quickly, she tossed away the thought as swiftly as it came to her. She couldn't afford to be feeling anything but the desire to stay alive, and to fight.

"I understand sir", she said softly. She looked at Shang, noting with concern that unlike her, he had left his tent without his armour. He had a thick robe pulled over his muscular chest, and his sword was knotted to his belt, but he was not prepared for a battle. The wound he had sustained in the camp earlier seemd to be no longer bleeding, but it would need attention before long.

Shang nodded. "You must be careful, Mulan" he said, more softly this time. "I know your secret, but no one else does. If we manage to reach my father, no one else can know. I wont be able to protect you from them, or the Huns for that matter, like this". He gestured to himself, and to his shoulder. So he had noticed his injury after all. Shang by nature, was so focused and discuiplined, that Mulan had often thought during her weeks of training, that he hadn't felt anything at all. Not since the events of his childhood.

Shang strode over to Khan. "We must reach them quickly, or all is lost". He looked at Mulan. "He will take two riders?".

Mulan nodded. She stroked Khan's nose and spoke softly to him. Khan was a strong horse, but wilful. Luckily he trusted Mulan enough. If she said Shang could be trusted, he would let him ride him.

Shang scaled Khan's broad back with ease, and held his hand out to Mulan, lifting her with ease to sit in front of him. He let no more of a flicker of discomfort pass across his face to betray his injury. He put a loose hand around her waist to steady them both.

Mulan was glad of the cover of darkness, it didn't betray the flush that rose in her cheeks at the closeness of their bodies in the saddle. Once again, she pushed the thought from her mind. Everything now depended on them fleeing Wu Zhong.

"Okay Khan, lets go" She commanded, leaning down to whisper into the stallion's ear. And they galloped off into the night.