Darting into the shallow mouth of the hollowed out rock, Mulan crouched down out of sight of the approaching figures, her heart pounding in her chest. Shang was right behind her, suddenly alert. "I don't understand", he muttered, reaching for his sword. "I was certain we weren't followed".

As they waited in the darkness, Mulan reached up with shaking fingers to scrape her hair back into a man's top knot. It was one thing to be discovered, but to be discovered as a woman would be even worse. She closed her eyes and tried to think rationally. Maybe the strangers were villagers from the local area. Maybe they hadn't been followed at all. As she heard the clink of the metal weapons and the heavy footsteps, she knew she was wrong.

In the small confines of the cavern with Shang sat silently behind her, her breathing felt too loud, too obvious in the still cavern air. Her small frame felt too awkward, too clumsy to make a quick escape. As she sat there, she realised what was truly bothering her, and it wasn't entirely about the company they had just acquired. She wasn't sure any longer what frightened her the most, what lay ahead or what had happened a few seconds before . She slowly raised a finger to her lip, which trembled slightly, almost still able to feel his touch there.

The voices of the intruders, quieter at first, grew slowly clearer, echoing softly in the darkness. Mulan frowned, pulled away from her troubled thoughts. She couldn't make out the words but there was something very familiar about those voices. Shang began to say something but she held up her hand slowly motioning to him to listen. He frowned but stopped, turning his head to the sound. As they listened, Mulan could now make out three voices that she had definitely heard before.

Three male voices. A low grunting growl, a higher pitched drawl and a soft murmur. Suddenly she knew.

Mulan whipped round to Shang, feeling partial relief. "It's Ling, Yao and Chien Po", she hissed.

Shang raised his eyebrow in surprise, clearly shocked. "Are you sure? What are they doing here?"

She turned back to listen once more, then nodded affirmation. "Come on, let's go!" she whispered, getting up from her feet and starting to move out from their hiding place.

As quick as a flash Shang's hand was on her arm. "No!" He pulled her back down, shaking his head.

"Mulan, wait. Don't you remember what Chi Fu said at Wu Zhong? Half of the recruits at the camp are his spies. How do we know they aren't here to ambush us? That they didn't follow us here to finish the job the Huns didn't?"

Mulan sighed and leant back against the cold rock, considering his words. He was right of course. There was no way of truly knowing who they could trust. But she had got to know the three recruits reasonably well over the last few weeks. Their constant pranks, jibes and general dislike of the councillor was obvious. She had watched them like her, struggle with the arduous training and remembered their genuine awe at Shang's demonstration on that first day of training. She just couldn't picture it. Plus, she had seen Ling on that night when the Huns invaded. The fear and surprise in his eyes was palpable.

She sat up. "I think we can trust them". She peered out from behind the rock. She could make out the three men now, they were heading their way and would spot Khan and their belongings instantly.

"Besides". She shrugged. "They've found us anyway".

She was right. Within seconds she heard Ling shriek - "Look! There's someone else here!" She heard a dull thud and an aggrieved whimper, presumably where Yao had punched him.

"Shut up", growled Yao. "You'll get us all killed if you carry on- Hey! I know that horse! Ping!"

In spite of herself Mulan smiled to herself. Spies indeed. They were about as inconspicuous as a panda dressed up for the matchmaker. She looked up at Shang and shrugged. He just shook his head and strode out of the cave.

"Recruits!"

Mulan followed him out and sure enough, saw Yao, Chien Po and Ling scramble to make hasty salutes.

"Captain! You're alive!" Chien Po breathed.

Shang stood with his arms folded, appraising them critically. "Yes. Now you three had better tell me what you know, and quickly". He paused and added "And also how you found us".

Mulan looked at the three men. She noticed they were wearing their armour. But they looked as exhausted as she felt, their faces pale and drawn, and eyes tired. Ling had a few cuts to his forehead, Yao looked more furious than usual, and even the usually cheerful Chien Po had a grimness to his face. Interrogating them now wouldn't do any good.

"Hey, guys" she tried to make her voice lower, not masquerading as a man for the last day or so had thrown her off. "Captain", she turned tentatively to Shang. "We should sit, and maybe eat something." She gave him as pointed a look as she dared. "All of us. We've not eaten since yesterday and need to regain our strength." She looked encouragingly at Chien Po, who looked slightly happier at the prospect of food. "Then they can tell us what they know. Sir?"

Shang looked like he might argue, but then he nodded, his eyes narrowed. "Alright". Mulan noticed his hand was still on his sword, he didn't trust them yet. "Don't take too long". She watched with a knot turning and twisting in her stomach as he turned and walked away a few feet to look out the lake, turning occasionally to watch them with narrowed eyes. He seemed back to his usual self, giving no hint that he remembered standing in that exact spot only minutes before, his fingers caught in her hair, his breath warming her skin…

The trio sat heavily down on the rock, Yao's sword clattering, making her jump. She went to sit down next to her three comrades. Chien Po reached into his pack and passed something shrivelled looking and unappetising around the group. Ling turned to Mulan. "Thanks for that, Ping". He smiled sadly at her. "We cant believe you're alive! We thought that you had been killed, when you didn't come back-" he broke off, shaking his head.

"Yao grunted". You got away, you're luckier than most." He screwed his face up in anger and threw a small rock at the wall in frustration. "The rest are either dead or working for him".

He didn't need to say who "him" was. Chien Po shook his bald head mournfully.

Mulan thought of the chaos of the camp the night before. "How did he secure the camp? Could no one stop him?" she added weakly. Ling shook his head. "They locked the gates and then suddenly other recruits pulled swords on the rest of us". He shredded some dried beef between his fingers distractedly. "Apparently from the start they were here to watch and learn strategies, to pass information to Chi Fu to take back to the Huns". He laughed mirthlessly. "They had us all fooled. As much of a meathead Jin was, I didn't think he had no honour". Mulan remembered the brawny boastful man from Tiger Leaping Gorge who had cleared the jump easily. She shivered.

"Okay gentlemen. It's time to talk." Shang had returned and knelt beside them. "Let's start with how you got here". He looked at each one of them in turn suspiciously. Even Yao couldn't meet his gaze, and looked down, muttering. "Last I heard Chi Fu had secured the camp, with dozens of Huns arriving at dawn". His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. "Or could it be that they are right outside, waiting for us?"

Mulan sensed Yao bristling beside her. "We escaped" he growled. "As soon as we heard the fighting, Ling went to warn you, then we went back to our tents for our armour".

Mulan saw a brief flicker of recollection in Shang;s eyes. It sounded like they were telling the truth.

"By the time we came back, Ping and you were gone and we heard Chi Fu giving orders to those traitors. There was a Hun still alive too, but wounded. We assumed you were both dead".

So the Hun that Shang had knocked out with his staff was still alive. Snake Eyes. Mulan pictured his cruel face leering down at her, his sallow skin gleaming hauntingly in the moonlight. Those slitted eyes narrowed in hate and malice. She felt a ripple of anger. If only she could have killed him too, perhaps things would be different. He may have even have been the one that wounded Shang, he had certainly tried hard enough to kill him. She glanced at Shang, who's eyes were closed in quiet rage. He looked composed enough, but Mulan could just see the paleness of his skin, almost as sickly as the Hun, with a slight sheen of sweat. She bit her lip. She knew what it meant, his shoulder wound was taking its toll. It would certainly kill him if they didn't reach his father's camp, and a medic with the proper herbs and potions.

Shang opened his eyes. "Then what" he commanded.

Ling interjected. "We didn't stop to see any more. We knew we were dead if we stayed. Chien Po knew another way out of the camp, round the back, where the supplies were kept. We took a couple of horses, and just rode away". He shrugged helplessly. "We wanted to find help but we didn't know if we were seen, so we didn't dare stop all night". He looked glumly at the ground. "They will have noticed the missing horses by now though. They were yours and Chi Fu's", he nodded at Shang guiltily.

Shang laughed bitterly. "Well, that's one small victory against the pompous traitor". He looked at Ling who flinched. "Ordinarily that would have cost you your hand for stealing your Captain's horse, but I think here I can make an exception". He got to his feet, concealing the effort and pain it took.

"If they noticed they were gone then they will likely have sent someone after you. Probably not until dawn when the Huns arrived so we may have a few hours advantage". He looked around. "Chien Po, bring the horses inside as I can see you have clearly been clever enough to leave them to be found by anyone". The three soldiers squirmed in discomfort.

Shang softened his voice a fraction. "Gentlemen, now is the time you will most need your wits about you. You do not have the luxury of an army of comrades to protect you now. It is just us, and until we can reach the main army to join ranks there will be a pack of Huns on our tail. You better hope that those weeks of training paid off, because mark my words you will need them". As he strode back over to the small hollowed out cave he looked back at them. "Rest for a few hours. Then we make for the Tung Shao Pass, and to my father's army. I have not questioned you hard as it is more important that we reach them and to safety. But you had better be prepared to tell them all you know".

Ling, Chien Po and Yao all exchanged uncomfortable looks. "I guess we better do as he says", Chien Po said softly. "It wont be an easy ride to the Pass". He made his way back towards the cavern entrance for the horses.

Remembering Khan, Mulan went to bring him away from the water's edge and to rest. She whispered comforting words to him, not that it would help, when she didn't even believe them herself. She was glad they had found the three recruits- her friends- but the weight of her deception weighed all the more heavily on her for it. She would have to be more careful now to conceal her identity. And now that Shang-

She turned, leading Khan away and stopped when she saw him stood there, watching her, with a strange expression on his face. His eyes met hers, before briefly resting on her lip. It was like an electric shock, and gasping, Mulan instinctively raised her hand to cover her mouth and the warmth she felt there, her face flushing. Gods, what a fool she was.

She saw a shadow of something pass over his face, was it embarrassment, or shame - and he stepped back warily. Clearly what had passed between them had been an effect of the opium and nothing more, only a regret. He looked away from her and said shortly, "Get some rest, Ping. We'll leave in a few hours".

Then he turned away and didn't look back.