A single grain of rice can tip the scale. One man may be the difference between victory and defeat.

Mulan's eyes flew open as she heard the thud of a body next to her.

Shocked, she looked over to see the Xiongnu leader lying face down in the dirt, a red patch seeping through the clothes on his back.

Next to him, a figure wiped a sword clean on his clothes.

The figure turned around the face her. She gasped as those dark eyes glanced over at her.

The figure approached her and she subconsciously inched back. 

"Are you injured?" the man asked.

"N-no," she replied, her eyes landing on the wound on his thigh.

The man followed her gaze and frowned as he noted his injury.

He reached for her hand and pulled her up.

"Good. We need to help the injured soldiers."

Mulan nodded, her dry lips. She winced as she saw the blood splattered all over her clothing, on her body and on her face.

The man climbed up onto the roof of a small building.

"I have killed the Xiongnu leader! Surrender now or be killed," he yelled.

A deadly silence. And then -

The soldiers cheered, their war cries ferocious, and chased the Xiongnu tribes away.

The man jumped down from the building and landed near Mulan.

"You did well," he said, before walking off.

Mulan wondered off a distance that night, into a forest clearing.

Sighing, she leaned back against a tree trunk.

I killed so many men today. And I didn't even hesitate.

She heard the crunch of sticks breaking beneath a pair of shoes, and she relaxed when she saw that it was only Luhan.

"Hey," he spoke, quietly.

She acknowledge his presence with a nod, for she was too tired to speak.

"I was wondering where you were."

It was silent, other than the soft whisper of wind.

"Are you alright?" he asked, concerned.