Setting Out Alone ~ by SaralynArati

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Thanks a million, LadySky!! I keep doing these cliff hangers, not even necessarily intentionally; they just sort of work out that way and I go with it...

6 years ago

LadySky

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Ahhh!!! What's gonna happen next?!? Must read on!!!

6 years ago

SaralynArati

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Many thanks, Lexia!! All of your feedback and comments really mean the world to me!

6 years ago

DysMalLexia

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Tragic and beautifully crafted, I love how natural tactical thinking feels with Mulan and how she's has a duty to her heritage and the sword, but aware that everyone is vital in coming battle. Thrilling stuff!

6 years ago

SaralynArati

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Thank you both so very much, Yellow and Mytha!! Rest assured, the letter doesn't end there, but that was a natural point to stop writing on this doll and go on to the next. I'm having way too much fun with this story! <3

6 years ago

Mytherva

2

This story keeps getting better and better and I can't wait to read more!

6 years ago

Yellowauthor

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WHOA!! I love how you went about the reintegration process! It fits both parts of Shang's character so perfectly; the gentle peacefulness of the tiger's integration, since it is essentially a physical manifestation of his love, but the slow & painful reabsorption of the love tiger by Shang--given that he's still at odds with these feelings. I love how you described it, too: "a tiger's worth of emotion"; a very powerful, wild, & untamed image. And Mulan's letter!! Oh, the angst!

6 years ago

SaralynArati

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That was as far as Shang read before cursing himself for not paying attention, no matter what state he was in, and running for the camp to set things in motion to move out. He could finish the letter during the recruits' preparations. Remarkably, it didn't take that long to cover the distance, as the Captain had been invigorated by his reintegration and subsequent nap. Before dawn the camp was abuzz with activity and Li Shang had returned to Mulan's note. "I fear we'll all be needed soon..."

6 years ago

SaralynArati

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"I'm not running away; I'm leaving for the front. I'll be needed there, also for a variety of reasons. Staying in your tent for the past several days, I've noticed that messages from the main army have stopped arriving. Even if they were in a prolonged battle, some word should have reached us. I worry that, at the least, advance parties of Huns have struck behind our lines and are preventing communications from getting through. Please, use that as your motive to follow me with our troops."

6 years ago

SaralynArati

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"My name is Mulan," she told him quietly. "Rest now. I'll explain later." And although it wasn't a command, Li Shang didn't have the energy to disagree; reclining carefully like a brittle old man, he slept. When he awoke, there was a cape drawn over him, and a scroll tucked at his side. "Captain," it said, "I'm sorry I can't stay to answer your questions in person, but that's simply impossible for... a variety of reasons. I'm wanted for treason and now your abduction, if nothing else."

6 years ago

SaralynArati

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(cont) Unfortunately, this process wasn't as peaceful for the man as it had been for Shi-Yang. While he'd sliced his arm with a spear without flinching, Captain Li grimaced and shivered as the orange cloud permeated his skin. Keeping a tiger's worth of emotion bottled up couldn't have been easy; accepting it back again was apparently even less so. Finally it was done. Shang sat with his head in his hands, shaking, but whole. Eyes brimming, he looked up at Mulan. "Who are you?" he asked.

6 years ago