Her eyes were already adjusted to the darkness when she opened her eyes. Baba had retreated into the depths of the pagoda and fallen asleep, and Mama's familiar shape sat stubbornly at the entrance. Looking to her other side Sagwa saw Sheegwa was awake, her head on her paws. She looked terribly sad and wouldn't look at her sister. Like both grandparents, Dongwa was presumably asleep, his back turned to her. In a corner of the pagoda, Hun-Hun snacked on a fish. The other alleycats were still absent.
Sagwa stood and padded over to her mother. As she neared, Mama stood suddenly and stepped off to the side. Jet-Jet soon appeared, soaking wet; and Fu-Fu swooped in and hung from the ceiling like a mysterious harbinger.
"You couldn't find Lik-Lik?" Sagwa asked, looking up at Fu-Fu.
"Oh, we found him," Jet-Jet answered, and she looked at him. "He's going back to the alley."
"Why?" Sagwa asked curiously.
"I dunno, something about our friendship not being enough, or whatever."
Sagwa's brows came low. "Enough for what?"
"Leaving home," Fu-Fu answered.
"Yeah. He said, and I quote, 'I can't stand the mother.' " Jet-Jet looked at the surprised Mama. "Sorry, Shao Fun," he added respectfully.
"It's alright, Jet-Jet. I'm just sorry you lost a friend."
"Lost...Nah. We're still on good terms."
Mama smiled sadly. "Dry off, we don't want you sick."
Jet-Jet nodded and walked into the shadowy depths of the pagoda.
Sagwa walked closer to her mother. "Mama," she said, sitting beside her, "How can they be on good terms if their friendship isn't enough?"
"They can't," Mama said sadly. "The hard truth is, friends come and go. And it's okay, Sagwa. It hurts, but sometimes it can even be for the best."
"But Jet-Jet called Lik-Lik his brother."
"So you have told me. He is likely hurting more than he let on."
Sagwa looked back at Jet-Jet, who licked his paw for the last time before laying down and closing his eyes, appearing neither happy nor upset.
"Why would he hide it?" Sagwa asked.
Sadness touched Mama's smile again. "He's a tough guy."
"Can he get over it?"
"Maybe. Whether he does or does not, in time he'll at least learn to live with it."
Sagwa felt a rush of shame, for having considered staying in the alley without her loved ones. "Can...can I help him somehow?"
"You can be his friend."
Sagwa's tail flipped. "I'm glad you and Baba are on good terms."
Mama's smile faded and she nodded. "Me too, kitten. Now, shall we sleep?"
"Sure."
Following Mama closer to their loved ones, Sagwa paused and looked up at Fu-Fu, sharing a fond smile with him.
They would never be parted, Sagwa thought fiercely, and she knew in her heart he was thinking the same thing.
