most terrifying part—not being able to see. Not knowing whether to treasure this moment as her precious last. Whether the river would devour her next breath, whether she’d never see her friends again.
Then it was over. Her body slammed onto the other side of the Cauldron.
ShiShi grabbed her by his teeth, pulled her away from the edge. He pressed her against the back of a rock. “Hide before he sees you.”
“We need to get to the pillar,” Mulan said, shivering. Her hands still gripped the pole tight. She dropped it and allowed herself one breath to recover. “I can distract him.”
“No,” said Shang. “Huoguai will see you. He’s guarding the pillar. Any time we try to get close, he attacks. He’s too strong.”
“He has to have a weakness—”
“Move!” Shang shouted.
ShiShi shoved Mulan to the side. Seconds later, a boulder plunged from above, smashing the very spot she’d been.
“I’m afraid this is where it ends, little soldier.” The lion guardian gulped. “It was a valiant effort.”
“No.” Mulan wiped her face. Spray from the river slicked her palms, and an idea struck.
ShiShi peeked out of their hiding spot, looking distressed. “He’s coming.”
“The river,” she murmured.
“What did you say?” asked ShiShi, jumping as the ground hissed. “I cannot hear with all the world collapsing around us.”
“We’ve got to lure him into the river.”
The lion growled. “Are you insane, girl?”
“It makes sense,” Shang murmured. “We need to split up. You two head for the pillar. I’ll lure him to the river.”
“What if he throws you in?” Mulan protested. “You can’t fly.”
Shang’s expression softened. “Trust me.”
“Wait—” Mulan got up. “I’m coming with you.”
He nodded at Mulan, as if she were his equal instead of his recruit. “Together, then.”
As soon as he said it, there was a thunderous crash, and their hiding spot crumpled. High above, Huoguai laughed.
ShiShi growled and ran to catch up with Mulan and Shang. “Wait for me!”
Mulan shouted to catch Huoguai’s attention. “I’m here. Your soldiers didn’t kill me.”
“And I’m here!” Shang shouted from the opposite side of the ledge.
The captain leaned over the edge of the Cauldron, dangerously close to the river. As the black waters spilled down the volcano’s side, Huoguai batted his wings, diving to hurl Shang into the river.
“Now!” Mulan shouted. At her command, everyone launched their attack. ShiShi threw a boulder at Huoguai’s wing, and Mulan threw her sword at the other wing.
Huoguai flailed, thrashing against the river’s murky surface. He gathered himself and leapt into the sky, hanging low to recover.
Mulan ran toward Huoguai, pulled her sword from his wing, and slammed the hilt into his belly until he tumbled back toward the river. Huoguai hissed.
With a lurch, he snapped his tail over Mulan’s waist, taking her with him.
“Mulan!” Shang shouted.
Mulan didn’t waste time kicking and clawing at the demon. She had her sword in hand this time. She swung it at the demon’s wings and ankles, but Huoguai didn’t stop. His wings beat against the powerful wind, and at last she saw that they hung over the river; she could see the waterfall’s black waters gushing down and down, past the clouds into Diyu’s abyss. She stopped attacking him with her sword and gulped.
“Mulan!” Shang cried from the edge of the river. “Mulan, jump!”
Shang had found what was left of her vaulting stick. Holding it over his head, he stood precariously close to the river.
“Grab the pole!” ShiShi shrieked.
She started kicking the air, using her weight against Huoguai so the demon juddered back toward the Cauldron—and toward Shang.
But then Huoguai stopped fighting her. Instead, he tightened his tail over her waist and reached out with his claws to toss Shang into the river. Shang leapt out of the way, but Mulan panicked. Her getting onto the Cauldron wasn’t worth the risk of losing Shang. Knowing she needed to do something before Huoguai reached the captain, she stabbed her sword into the demon’s tail.
Huoguai shrieked. He lost control for one precious second, and Mulan uncurled his tail from her waist and reached for his wings, grabbing onto whatever she could as Huoguai veered out of control, flames spiraling out of his fingers and tail. He clawed at his wings, trying to pluck Mulan off as he regained control of his flight. His tail slashed and whipped, spurting waves of fire.
Inspired, Mulan grabbed the tip of his tail and thrust its flames at his wing. Smoke blustered into the air, and she could smell Huoguai’s wings charring. It might not hurt him, but it distracted him. Before