Drums of Fire

[The Gourmand]

What, exactly, was the Gourmand doing alone in the woods in the dead of night? Terrorizing the local wildlife, what else? Now that his pod was fixed, there was nothing to stop him from going where ever he wished.

The monster was aware of the pounding sound, but he only followed it at a relatively leisurely pace. Regardless, he stalked with the skill of any apex predator. When his vehicle was in low gear, it was practically silent -- a decent payoff for a lack of speed. It was difficult to tell exactly what he was feeling behind those blood red eyes, but if he wanted to attack the Chinese soldiers, he would have done it by now, right? It was possible he was only curious.

The enormous merman hovered deep in the shadows of the black pine tree trunks, continuing at a steady pace even when the infantrymen stopped at the opening of a clearing. The only thing that could have possibly given him away was the occasional distant flash of crimson his eyes gave as he passed through the tangles of bare branches. The Gourmand kept upwind as he began to circle around, noticing that a pitiful number of Dawnseekers had appeared to confront the potential threat. As he was moving around to place himself in the trees behind his own people, he listened intently.

Apparently this wasn’t a threat after all. The Gourmand’s expression finally changed: a wide, almost mischievous, grin stretching across his face.

From directly behind his allies, the Gourmand steadily approached, his massive form becoming more and more clear the further out of the dark he came. He didn’t stop until his pod hovered only a few feet behind Mulan. His smile remained ever present, and the clearer he became in the night, the more easy it was to distinguish a tiny thread of dark fluid dripping from one corner of his mouth. The beast loomed, but didn’t quite leer as he purred;

“Hello Mulan.”

He let his greeting hang in the air a bit before tilting his head upward an inch.

“Friend of yours?”

[John Silver]

Silver lands on the snow packed ground with a light thump, switching his chopper function back to his normal mechanical hand, fingers clench and unclench, he pauses behind the woman allowing her to go first. A moment passes and Silver turns his attention to the new voice that probably belonged to Shang. Golden eye whirls as Silver scanned the tree line easily picking out the shape of the hidden soldiers from their body heat alone.

“There’s a lot of em hiding in the tree line” Silver said before turning to look at the mer-creature, eye now glinting with an orangish tint. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t trust Gourmand.

[Mulan]

  "Oof!" Was all Mulan could say as she was dropped unceremoniously into the snow.

  She'd had little time to react to the larger woman's impatience, though she supposed she couldn't fault her. With all the apprehension and second-guessing it was really a poor show on all accounts. Mulan stumbled, but the larger woman was careful to keep her feet planted squarely in the snow before releasing her.  As she turned to shoot Zamora a half-hearted glare, she was instead greeted by the approaching figure of the Gourmand, causing her expression to shift of one of surprise. With his addition to the pair of aliens, this certainly made for an entertaining way to greet her old comrade.

“Friend of yours?”

  Mulan nodded. "A fellow soldier, and a friend of mine." There had been the slightest hesitation on the word 'friend'. Mulan knew she still admired Shang greatly - it was one of the reasons she had bolted into the night without a moment's pause for thought - but there would be time to quell the butterflies in her stomach later. Right now, there was the matter of all these uneasy soldiers out in the middle of the woods, and the last thing anyone needed right now was an unnecessary fight.

“There’s a lot of em hiding in the tree line..."

  "If they're with Shang, they're our allies." Of this, Mulan was already certain. She saw Shang approach into the clearing, and remove his helmet, asking her to do the same. The cautious little voice in the back of her mind warned once more at the possibility of a trap, and for this she took a deep breath of air to calm her nerves. Mulan stepped out into the clearing herself, walking forward until she was just out of arm's reach of her former commanding officer. In spite of the formality, however, Mulan couldn't help but give a warm grin.

  "It's good to see you again, Captain," she began, but took note of the particular armor he was wearing, marking his new rank. "Or, should I say, General?  Congratulations."  Her gaze drifted down to the scroll he carried, and her brows furrowed in both curiosity and concern.

"You said I have a message from the Emperor?"

[Li Shang]

The large creature in front of Shang left the man in awe. The three arms, the pale white eyes, and the massive size all belay a monster of terrible proportions. Shang, however, felt little fear, as it dropped Mulan and seemed to chatter annoyedly, much like how Mulan's grandmother had done in his presence. He'd laugh a little if the beast didn't sulk off into the woods where his men hid. Shang's first reflex was to call out the large creature away from his men. It was only as he prepared to open his mouth that he realized what was left behind.

She seemed frazzled, what with the newly arrived large pod, floating in the air. Shang did not know of the odd and magical aspects of the world where they lived, but this certainly perked an interest. The... being inside seemed non-hostile, although it's crimson eyes seemed to glow when they glanced at Shang. He was in the presence of a fellow, far more brutal warrior; the air around them betrayed that fact.

Mulan, on the other hand, seemed to stand steady in the winds that blew in these early hours. Her approach was cautious, even measured, but her smile seemed to answer the questions in Shang's heart. This had to be her. No doubt about it.

"It's good to see you again, Captain... Or should I say, General? Congratulations."

Shang struggled with his next few words. Remember, just be professional. "Ah...I, um, appreciate the warm compliment. It is... really refreshing to see you again, if I may be so bold." Shang rubbed his neck sheepishly, before continuing, "You're a hard woman to find, Mulan; I meant to have some men send you word of my promotion, but you seemed to always be on the move. Then we heard word of what happened in Africa, and well... I needed to come myself." A smile seemed to creep up on his face, and his emotions began to betray him. Gods of Heaven, what a blessing to find Mulan here. 

"You said I had a message from the Emperor?"

Shang nodded solemnly, the smile slowly fading from his face. "Yes, and he asked me to retrieve and bring you this as well." Opening a small pouch on his horse, he pulled a necklace, one familiar to the former Hero of China; the Seal of the Emperor, her gift from the Son of Heaven as proof she saved him from the Huns. "'So that the world may know what you have done for China', right? Or was that for Shan Yu's sword? Uh. Either way, this is the message."

Pulling out the scroll from his side, Shang handed it to Mulan. "The Emperor request it'd be for your eyes only, or for your commanding officer in the case of your death. If it means, well, anything, I'm glad you're alive to read it yourself."

[Zamora]

As the General and the Soldier speak, the strange creature disappears into the midnight foliage. Large silhouette becomes muddled in the dark, allowing the massive beast to fade out of sight, hunting something amongst the trees.

For a while, things seem silent. Maybe the creature has simply returned to the barnhouse, maybe to sleep...

There’s a noise here, as something startles a soldier in the dark. Another sound, one like a dog seeking food, as the soldier starts laughing. After a short moment, there’s an appeased noise, and the chuckling soldier is nudged our into the clearing. This is repeated a few more times before it becomes evident just what the beast is doing.

She’s hunting Shang’s men, but not in a dangerous sort of way. Each one is sought out, apparently scented (which must tickle, by the sounds of it), and then pressed into the clearing to separate him from the hiding soldiers. Though when she finds a particular sort, something interesting happens.

Through the trees, it seems one of the soldiers is subjected to quite the earful. She chastises him in a way similar to a mother chastising a disobedient child, before there’s a short, loud ‘thok!’ noise.

The distinct sound of a drum being punctured.

The now ‘disarmed’ soldier is nudged into the night air like the rest, and the creature returns to her hunt, grumbling slightly as she goes.

It seems she’s not a fan of percussion.

[The Gourmand]

The Gourmand looked at Silver from the corner of his eye. He was already aware of the other soldiers, having been stalking them for a while. However, he felt it was only respectful to at least acknowledge the information given, even if it was redundant to him. Once more, his gaze firmly returned to the sight in front of him.

It was hard not to notice the prolonged look the Gourmand gave General Shang. The Gourmand’s silent scrutiny was rarely anything but a tense process. His eyes betrayed a beast that was one part warlord, one part apex predator, and all parts intimidating person in general. But at the end of the stare-down, the Gourmand seemed… satisfied?

“Well! You know what they say, the more the merrier!” the Gourmand straightened his back and took on a jarringly jovial tone.

Voice lingered with a quiet, though still dark, chuckle. He relaxed into his backrest and clasped his hands on top of his stomach. It was undoubtedly a demeanor of welcoming; there was no threat here. There was a strange hint of relief in the merman’s softer posture.

“I dare say, it’s about time we had some proper soldiers.”

He looked toward the treeline, watching the goings on with the rest of Shang’s men with just the slightest hint of disapproval. Suddenly though, his pleased display faltered. He gave an involuntary cough. Reaching a hand under his chin, he cleared his throat.

[Mulan]

  Ah, the more things change, the more they stayed the same. Shang's vocal stumbling was something Mulan couldn't help but find endearing, even in the midst of such troubled times. She reached out to accept the scroll, but halted as more soldiers stumbled into the clearing. There was a passing feeling of concern that was calmed just as quickly as it had arrived, as the telltale sounds of Zamora's investigation became apparent, interrupted only occasionally by the untimely demise of a drum. Mulan rolled her eyes with an amused smile, and accepted the scroll from Shang.

“I dare say, it’s about time we had some proper soldiers.”

  Mulan cast only a mildly disapproving glance in the Gourmand's direction, much in the way a mother might glance at a mischievous child. Half-hearted, but not harsh, as if she were saying 'play nice' with her eyes. While she might not have openly admitted it, a part of her had to agree with him. The Dawnseekers were in dangerously bad shape, and Shang's arrival was nothing short of a godsend. Mulan stepped to the side, not only so that she may read the Emperor's letter more privately, but to allow Shang to get better acquainted with her new comrades. She unfurled the scroll and gingerly pulled it open.

For those leaders who knew Mulan:

   As Emperor of the Middle Kingdom and as rightful ruler to Fa Mulan in life, I request that in the event of her death her body or remains be given to this officer, General Li Shang, so that she may be buried at rest with her ancestors in the land of her birth. With a heavy heart, I issue humble apologies for the intrusion, but our precious Hero deserves to have her final resting place in China.

Fa Mulan,

   May I express my gratitude that you are alive and well to read this letter. General Shang has been anxious since your departure, and I feared that the sober request above may have broken the poor man. First a father, then a true companion; truly it would have been a life of sorrow. But enough talk of sadness, however relevant it may be. While a day of sorrow is longer than a month of joy, there is much joy to be had, for you are safe and sound.

   Mulan, we have heard of the collapse of the main home of your army, your people, in Africa, and how shortly afterwards, it was claimed by the Blackblood Legion. I fear there may not be much time before China is the target of their fatal march. Therefore, I have decided to act, and send not only 100 of the finest men China could offer, but the one man who would lay down his life for yours. Now, their orders were clear; either to assist in the rebuilding and refortifying of your allies, or if there seemed to be no hope, to bring you safely home to China, that you may warn our people of the threat and dangers you encountered. I ask you, Fa Mulan, Hero of China, to not only follow the mind's intuition, but the heart which led you to save my life and my people.
   In time we will meet again, and I smile at knowing that you will make the choice best for you and your allies, and that which is best for China.



All my Respect,

  The Emperor

  Mulan did her best to keep her expression even.  'Sober request' indeed.  It was hard to not think of how close she had come to death already in this war.  On some nights she still saw the cold and inky sea, churning infinitely below her feet.  Furthermore, it seemed word spread fast, and Mulan found herself worrying at her lip.  The Legion had been quick to claim the Pridelands once it had been abandoned, it seemed.  Unfortunate, but unsurprising.  The Freedom Fighters, in their original incarnation, had represented a direct opposition to the Blackbloods.  It wasn't the land that mattered, it was the message.  But in the missive Mulan saw no indication that, at least to those present, the Legion knew of the reformation efforts here across the sea.  There was a small victory in that.  But the greater victory, she felt, was in the Emperor's wisdom, and his decision to act.  As she looked up at their newly acquired reinforcements, Mulan could feel, at the very least, some of the weight lift from her shoulders.

[Li Shang]

As Mulan stepped away from Shang to read the Emperor's message, the general took time to stop by one of the more dazed soldiers, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You alright there, Zhong?" The young man nodded, still slightly dazed, and stood up slowly. "The thing...It took all of our drums and smashed them! What should we do, General?"

Shang shook his head, a slight smile coming to his face. Of course Mulan's allies hated the drums! Why wouldn't they? After all, they were almost enemies a few minutes ago, why would they be comfortable with the sounds of banging drums? "It's fine, Zhong. We can always make more. Gather the others and stay here until we can move to their camp. We'll be able to sleep when we arrive." Zhong nodded empathically and began rounding up the others, forming rank. Shang turned to the floating blue-skinned creature who had addressed them as a proper army. 

"I appreciate that, coming from a man with a warrior's spirit such as yourself." Shang approached, cautiously but resolutely. His steps, like the countless before, left crunched snow in his wake. "General Li Shang, of the Army of the Middle Kingdom. It is an honor to make your acquaintance." Shang bowed in respect, not to a higher authority, but to a fellow warrior. As the general approached, he noticed another man, a metal frame covering half his face. Shang instinctively took a step back, hand falling towards his sword, but caught himself and regained composure. 

"...Forgive me, sir. I've never seen a man forge a metal face. Or a metal arm, while we're speaking of it. General Shang, at your service." Another short bow. Shang turned back to the Gourmand. "I take it you run military operations with the Freedom Fighters? Your demeanor betrays your experience. How are your men? What is the state of your encampments? How can my men and I assist you? What is our plan of retaliation against the Blackbloods?"

[Zamora]

There’s a distant call from the alien, now having worked her way to the other side of the clearing. She seems to have herded a number of the soldiers out already, apparently determined to sniff out each of them. Though, when they start to emerge on their own, her attention is shifted to Shang and his questions.

Zamora seems to chatter as she approaches, a strange noise of hollow wood following her. From the looks of it, she’s gone and looped some of the broken drums on her tail, almost like trophies. It seems that, through her language barrier, she’s trying to answer his queries. Injured or dead soldiers, meager or under-construction living spaces, hardly any plan at the moment...

Despite their noisy approach, she seems grateful for his offer to help. These people could certainly use extra hands.

[John Silver]

“At ease lad, I may be sight but ol’ cyborg won’t harm ye or yer men” the ursid gives a smirk, eye glinting as the man goes for his sword.

"...Forgive me, sir. I've never seen a man forge a metal face. Or a metal arm, while we're speaking of it. General Shang, at your service."

“Tis Alright, I’m a cyborg, plenty of those lots where I’m from” he chuckled, “Sir John Silver, of the Terran Empire, under her majesty’s the queen service” Silver introduces himself holding out his metal hand for the man to shake.