Dongwa was banished. We will learn why the Magistrate reacted the way he did, and what Dongwa plans to do if the problem is never solved.

Baba Miao didn't have to look long as he found Dongwa sitting on the alley wall. He jumped up on the wall to sit by him.

"I just want you to know that I do not believe for a second that you did it, son" said Baba. "We will get to the bottom of it."

Dongwa looked up at Baba, as if he was relieved to hear him say that.

"I wasn't sure what you would say" said Dongwa. "I have been thinking about this for about an hour now. There are going to be so many rumors now."

Baba looked at Dongwa again. He could tell that he was hurt. He could also tell that Dongwa was very confused.

"Son we are going to do everything we can to help you. Sagwa is probably already thinking of a plan as we speak" said Baba.

"I want to know why the Magistrate felt it appropriate to banish me" said Dongwa. "I feel betrayed."

"I don't know what goes through his head, but he probably had a good reason. He may be the Foolish Magistrate, but he always comes around eventually" reassured Baba.

Baba and Dongwa said their goodbyes as Baba went back to the palace. Dongwa had to find somewhere to sleep for the night. He found some potential places and eventually found one that suited his fancy the best. A box with an old pillow in it, that had an old cabinet door hanging over it, for covering in case it rained. Dongwa curled up and went to sleep.

Baba made it to the palace and was about to jump up to his bed when he was stopped by Sagwa.

"Baba!" said Sagwa, who had started to go to sleep but wanted to talk to Baba. "Did you find him? Is he ok."

"He is alright for the most part. I just worry though, he has never been on his own before. This is a lot for him to handle" said Baba. "Go back to sleep now."

It didn't take long for Sagwa to go back to sleep. Baba had already made it to his bed. He could tell that Mama Miao was still taking it hard. She was fast asleep, finally, but she still looked uneasy even in sleep. Baba, yes even Baba, let out a couple of tears as he thought about the whole family and how who ever did this was messing it all up.

Meanwhile, the Magistrate and Tai Tai were talking in their bedroom. Tai Tai even cared about Dongwa being out there all alone, and she never really cared for the cats.

"Dear, why did you make such a rash decision like that for?" asked Tai Tai.

"Because, if word got out that my own cat stole from me and I let him stay, people would think I have gone soft" said The Magistrate.

"Trust me dear, no one thinks you are tough" said Tai Tai.

The Magistrate had a look of anger in his face for a minute, but then realized she was right about that.

"That may be true, but my word is my word and I will stick to it. I cannot let anyone get away with thievery. Not even a cat" said the Magistrate.

The Magistrate hoped that he was wrong and that it wasn't Dongwa who did it. But as of right then and their, it wasn't looking good for Dongwa. Only one knew who it really was at the moment, and it was the rat, and he sure as heck wasn't about to "RAT" himself out.

Dongwa woke up early the next morning, almost surprised, but quickly reminded himself where he was and why. He knew that it could be a long time before he even saw the inside of the palace again, if he ever did. Despite the circumstances though, his Tai Chi would not be affected as he started his daily routine. Just then, Han Han appeared on the alley wall.

"Dongwa, what are you doing here this early?" asked Han Han. She obviously hadn't heard about what happened. "I am happy to see you."

Dongwa quit Tai Chi to talk to Han Han, who was now his girlfriend. "Oh, hi. I am now taking residence in the alley. It's a complicated thing" said Dongwa.

Han Han then realized his collar was gone. "So what you gave up life in the palace to live in the alley?"

"No, not really, I have been banished from the palace, because I was accused of doing something bad" said Dongwa.

Han Han couldn't believe it. She could only imagine how confused he must have felt. She did not know what else to say.

"Don't worry Han Han. I will be spending a lot more time in the alley that's all. I can still see my family every day if I want to. I just can't go in there" said Dongwa, trying to fake that he was ok with it all. But Han Han could tell that he was faking it.

"That's it Dongwa, you're coming with me! We are going to go have some fun with the other guys" she said. But he really wasn't opposed to it. He was actually looking forward to it.

Sagwa was hoping to find some clues. She immediately jumped into Dongwa's bed after everyone had left the room. She was going to get to the bottom of this once and for all. However, there were not very many clues to find.

"This is getting me nowhere! I'll never figure it out at this rate!" said Sagwa.

Just then, Fufu flew into the room, crashing into the desk. Fufu then turned around to talk to Sagwa.

"What's up my friend?" said Fufu. "What's been going on around here lately?"

"Hi Fufu" returned Sagwa. "There has been a lot of bad things happening, things that are messing with my family."

"Like what?" said Fufu.

"Like Dongwa getting accused of stealing and getting banished for it" said Sagwa.

Fufu's eyes got wide in his glasses. "Banished? Stealing?" said Fufu, surprised. "That is bad"

"Will you help me prove Dongwa's innocent?" pleaded Sagwa.

"You don't have to beg, I'd be happy to help" insisted Fufu.

The two friends searched for any clue that they could find. Nothing came up that they could use though. Sagwa was getting discouraged. She began to doubt ability to help.

Dongwa and Han Han made their way to the part of the alley where they usually played, to find Jet Jet, Wing Wing and Lik Lik trying to catch a lizard. The collarless Dongwa caught the attention of Wing Wing.

"Dongwa, where is your collar?" said Wing Wing.

"In the palace, where it belongs" said Dongwa. "But I don't belong there anymore."

Wing Wing and the other two were a bit confused, until Lik Lik remembered hearing a rumor about it.

"Oh yes, I remember now, you got banished because you stole the Magistrate's noodles. Ha ha!" said Lik Lik.

"No, he got accused of stealing jewels you pea brain!" said Han Han. "Make sure you get your facts straight!"

"So Dongwa, you gonna steal my ball too?" said Jet Jet. "Or do you want me to just give it to your palace cat self? Oh wait, you're not a palace cat anymore! Ha ha ha ha!" said Jet Jet.

Dongwa was starting to get mad, never before had he ever felt like fighting any of the alley cats, but they were getting on his nerves. He almost said something back until Han Han jumped in.

"Don't you have anything better to do than to run your mouths? I mean seriously. Dongwa came here to forget about all this but you guys are making it tougher on him" said Han Han. "Come on Dongwa, we can go somewhere else where these guys aren't around."

"Oh come on you two, don't be such babies!" said Wing Wing.

"Come back soon, we have loads more!" said Lik Lik.

Jet Jet declined to make any further comments, after all what he had said was way out of line and he knew it. He truly felt very bad.

Back in the palace, the healing process was continuing for Mama Miao. She had just realized that Dongwa was ok, and that she needed to be strong for him. Sagwa, then came to the kitchen where Mama was to talk to her.

"Hi Mama" said Sagwa. "Are you doing ok?"

"I am doing a lot better than I was last night" she said. "I now realize that I can go see him whenever, but I am still afraid for him during the nights where he isn't sleeping in the bed right below ours."

Sagwa, saw the hurt in her mama's eyes as she continued to struggle with this separation from her oldest kitten and only son.

"Don't worry Mama, me and Fufu will figure it out" said Sagwa. "We can help Dongwa, be proven innocent."

A smile came upon Mama Miao's face as she was happy to see Sagwa looking to help Dongwa.

Baba was at the Magistrate's desk writing scrolls for the Magistrate. He was so disgusted with him though. But he continued to do his job as he always would. Baba's anger was getting the better of him though; he immediately left the room after the Magistrate was done talking. He was certainly not the Magistrate's biggest fan at the moment.

The rat was still hiding. He managed to find a safe route to and from the kitchen from his hiding spot, to steal food. He couldn't let anyone see the ring stuck to his ankle, he had to get it off his foot as well, because if he didn't, he couldn't run very fast.

"If anyone finds out about this, I am so dead!" said the rat. "If Sagwa finds me, it's all over. I gotta keep low, until I can get this thing off."

The rat knew that his repeated shenanigans would be reflected his punishment if anyone ever found out about this. He had an innocent cat banished, and he really didn't care if Dongwa got to come back, he wanted to get away with what he did.

Dongwa continued to struggle and struggle with the situation. It wasn't as easy to adapt to the new lifestyle as he initially planned. Not even with Han Han by his side. After a bit of thinking, Dongwa got an idea, but he would have to tell Han Han before he did it.

"Han Han, there is something I must do" said Dongwa. "It's something that I have been thinking about for a while now, but I can't ask you to come with me."

Han Han looked at him with a puzzled look. "What is it?" she asked. "Why can't I come with you?"

"I must go into temporary exile into the mountains" said Dongwa. "I need to get away for a while. I will come back when I feel ready. Just make sure my family knows, so they don't think I ran away."

"DONGWA! YOU ARE CRAZY!" yelled Han Han. "You can't do that! You're letting this mess with your head."

"Han Han, I know what I am doing. I have heard of people going to the mountains to take thinking time before. It is a very good way to get a grip on things. I might even be able to figure out what is going on here" said the determined, Dongwa.

Han Han couldn't think of any reason why he couldn't do it. She knew that he had to do what he felt like he needed to do, so she then gave him her blessing to go. She then gave him a hug . Dongwa then heads up the mountain.

"This won't take long Han Han. I promise" said Dongwa as he departed. This wasn't going to be easy for him, but he felt like he needed to get his mind straight after all the confusion. He was ready for this new experience.

Sagwa and Fufu, along with the new helper, Sheegwa continued to look for clues as to who could have done it. New clues appeared on the scene. Tiny crumbs were on the floor near the book shelf.

"Guys, I think we found our first real clue" said Sagwa.

Sagwa appears to have a lead. Will this lead her to the culprit? Will Dongwa find the peace that he is looking for while in the mountain? Find out in the next chapter.