milothatchspeaking:

Milo nodded at her introduction, then listened intently to her, eyebrows lifting in puzzlement as she mentioned Juexizhen wasn’t on a map. He wasn’t sure why it wouldn’t be, but he figured that if this girl was from this town, she’d know better than anyone. Milo raised his hand, opening his mouth to ask if she would be willing to tell him the general area, before she continued, and Milo closed his mouth and frowned in concentration.

“Well…” he began slowly, before pointing over his shoulder, “I-I know I came into the city from…that direction, but…” Milo shook his head, reaching up to rub the back of his neck, “I—gosh—I’ve probably been wandering around for a couple hours…I know I started out walking…north, I think, but then…I went through this forest, and I must’ve gotten turned around there. There was a river, I know, at some point, and I was trying to follow that in order to find a town. But…I don’t remember every single turn I made since leaving this morning.”

Milo shrugged helplessly, “I-I’m so sorry to bother you with this. I know the village we were at yesterday, but…I don’t know where it is in relation to here, and…To tell you the truth, I’m…I’m not sure if my group’s still there…or if they moved on already.” Milo hadn’t thought of the possibility before, but now, his stomach sank at the thought. They were running out of time to complete the expedition, and the others might not be able to afford time enough to wait around for a lost linguist. But…Wasn’t he worth something to them? But then, Milo remembered how annoyed the rest of the crew had seemed with him—maybe he wasn’t worth as much as he’d originally thought.

Milo crossed his arms as if trying to make himself smaller, looking at the ground. They wouldn’t just…leave him, right? “They might not be looking for me,” he said at last, looking up at Mulan, “I…think the rest of my group just moved on without me. So…if that did happen, well…I’m not sure where exactly I can go.”

It would have seemed too rude to Mulan to interrupt Milo - especially when he was only answering all of the many questions she’d asked him - but as soon as the man mentioned another village her face cleared and she shifted her weight as if about to run a race.  Besides, maybe soon he would mention more, helpful information about his fellow travelers.  When he’d finished speaking, that hope wasn’t necessarily satisfied: there was forest all around Juexizhen, and the river ran right past the village.  And yet.  Maybe that was all she needed.  Maybe Milo had already given her the answer to solve his problem.

Because, if he hadn’t, Mulan wasn’t sure what to do with him.  Her mama would already be upset that the young woman had slipped away; to appear with a strange man - and a lǎowài - and ask for the Huas to offer him their hospitality…she winced inwardly.  It wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation.  No, she would avoid it at all costs, as much as she would have liked to help him.  That is, she was helping him!  If she could.

“I don’t know what to do if your friends have gone,” she reminded him bluntly, “but maybe they haven’t.  The best I - we - can do is return you to where you last made camp.  You said you knew what village it was at.”  There was an almost pleading edge to her voice, because with no name they would ride the entire province before finding it.  "What is it called?“