and ShiShi.
Knives bounced and clanged against the mountain, one landing dangerously close to Mulan’s leg.
“Still want to keep climbing?” ShiShi yelled at her.
“Incoming!” Shang shouted. “Duck!”
Mulan and the guardian flattened as much as they could against the mountain, barely dodging the flying knives.
The drumbeats grew louder, closer. More of the demons were on the mountain now, and they scrambled up with knives in their mouths and swords and spears on their backs. At the speed they were climbing, the demons would catch up to them within minutes.
ShiShi shot Mulan a glare.
“We stay together,” she repeated. “No one gets left behind.”
“Stubborn Ping.” ShiShi harrumphed. “There is a reason I am the great guardian of the Li family. And that is to protect you all.” He turned to Shang. “Li Shang, I am sorry I failed your father. I will not do the same to you.”
Without any warning, the lion leapt down the mountain, ripping through the fog and landing in front of the demons as the blades that had been tied to him fell away.
“ShiShi, wait!” Mulan shouted. “No!”
The drumbeats stopped.
There was nothing Mulan could do. ShiShi’s fate was eclipsed by the fog below.
She hung her head, holding in a sob.
She’d barely gotten to know the lion. Much as he teased her for being small and for being unworthy of the great task of saving Shang, she knew ShiShi had a mighty heart. Even in those few hours, she’d come to admire his loyalty to Shang, and his bravery. She’d already gotten used to his companionship, had started to think of him as a friend. And now…
Shang tried to touch her shoulder, but he settled for resting his hand above hers.
She wanted to tell him that they needed to go down, needed to help ShiShi. But she knew what Shang would say. If we do, his sacrifice would be for nothing. We would not honor him.
And he’d be right.
Mulan glanced up. The half-moon loomed over them, shining bright against the crimson sky.
Her mission was to get Shang out of Diyu. She wasn’t about to fail that now. There was no choice but to keep going.
Honorable ShiShi, she thought, swallowing hard, I know I promised that you would continue to be Shang’s guardian. I wish you could have made it out with us, but I won’t let your sacrifice be in vain. I will get Shang out of here.
She turned to the captain. “Keep climbing.”
Sometimes Mulan swore she could hear King Yama’s laugh emanating from above, taunting her and Shang over ShiShi’s loss.
Then she’d realize it was just the pounding of her heart.
She’d lost track of how many times she looked down, sliding her eyes down the slope of the mountain to where they’d started out. Every time, she hoped ShiShi might burst out of the fog with a hearty roar. But he didn’t.
Only King Yama’s warning thudded in her ears.
Should you die here, you stay here.
She grimaced. That warning had been meant for her, not ShiShi. The only thing she could do now was make sure they got Shang out of here.
Shang turned, his bare hands pressed against the tips of the knives, so he could face her. Unlike ShiShi, who probably would have filled the silence by rambling about the glories of his past, the captain had been quiet. He had never been a man of many words, and she caught him opening and closing his mouth, as if he were debating what to say.
“You all right?” Shang asked, finally breaking the silence. His voice was gentle, and it took Mulan a moment to realize he was trying to comfort her over ShiShi’s loss.
Mulan parted her lips. Was she all right? ShiShi was gone, the moon was half-dark, and she still hadn’t told Shang about her agreement with Yama. She needed to, but somehow the Mountain of Knives didn’t feel like the place to have the discussion. Not so soon after ShiShi’s loss. She’d tell him once they reached the top.
“I will be,” was all she said.
Shang’s thick brows knit with concern.
Her chest tightened. Funny he should worry about me when he’s the one who’s dying.
“It was a brave thing he did,” said Shang slowly. “I can see why my father entrusted him to you.”
“He was supposed to be your guardian once we got out.”
“I know.” Shang swallowed. “When my father was alive, he used to warn me that I relied too much on myself and not on others. I thought that was what it meant to be strong—I never