Save Me

Beau was afraid.

She was afraid of what would happen now.

She was afraid of not earning her keep anymore.

Now Beau was afraid of being left behind.

Now Beau was afraid of Mulan leaving.

She was trying everything to be of help.

Beau was walking as fast as she could to keep up with them on the horses.

She was trying to make camp every night so Beau could help.

Still there was only so much Beau could do.

Beau couldn't hunt.

Beau couldn't check the perimeter.

Beau couldn't even defend herself.

She watched Mulan and Philip intensively as they hunted and trained.

Beau needed to stay.

She needed to and would do anything to.

She'd do anything.

Mulan had seen the changes in Beau.

She wasn't wondering where they were going.

She wasn't even riding with Mulan anymore.

Beau was becoming silent, introverted and removing herself from the duo.

Mulan didn't think it was dangerous until she saw the damage it caused.

Beau was in the lean to and took off one shoe.

Mulan chose that moment to enter.

What she saw wasn't the horrors of the battlefield but the horror of seeing a friend hurt.

Beau's foot was stained red with blood from sores and leaked with popped blisters.

Mulan didn't gasp but hurried to her knees and took off the other boot.

Her right foot was in the same battered shape.

"Why would you do this? " Mulan asked concerned looking at Beau.

"Why wouldn't you tell m-us?" She hastily corrected.

Beau didn't notice the slip up.

"I need to keep up or I will be left behind."

"Don't you know I wouldn't leave you? I'm here to help you not hurt you, " Mulan answered eyebrows furrowed.

"Why? " Beau asked confused.

"What am I to you? A charge? A friend? What?" Beau ranted.

Mulan scowled and her brow furrowed further.

"This is not acceptable. You are my friend and I need to protect you. I need to save you."

There was a moment of silence.

"Why? Why do I need to be saved? " Beau questioned further.

"Because I care about you, " Mulan said lookilooking Beau straight in her eyes.

Then what Mulan did next shocked Beau.

She gently washed the open wounds with water from her waterskin and wrapped them with spare fabric.

"You shouldn't walk for a couple days. You'll ride with me and I will carry you."

Mulan was more talking to herself than Beau.

"I care so don't act like this again."

Mulan hastily left and went onto her watch.

Beau smiled despite the pain of her feet.

Mulan cared about her.