Sheegwa was making a face as one of the humans pulled a tight silk bootie over her paw. As the human stood up, she lowered her foot to the ground and studied her four matching slippers.

"I feel ridiculous," Dongwa complained. "I look like Mama."

"Is that so?" Mama asked from behind. He whirled in embarrassment. "And I suppose you think I should feel ridiculous as well?"

"No, Mama, you're a girl. It's different for me."

Sagwa and Sheegwa tuned them out as Ming-Hai walked regally into the room with an arrogant swish of her tail. She was escorted by another bejewelled feline. "Now you will fit in," she said approvingly.

"Yeah, with the circus people," Sagwa said.

Affronted, Ming-Hai led her friend away and Baba came closer, scowling in displeasure. "Sagwa. Be a little less careless. You are in the home of your ancestors."

"I'd rather not be!" she said vehemently, and ran from the room.

"No running in the palace!" Mama called after her.

"Can we run outside the palace?" Sheegwa asked hopefully.

"I'm sorry, dear, but we're indoor cats now," Mama said.

"Then why not just say no running?"

Mama just smiled fondly and escorted her mate from the study.

"Ah, who cares," Dongwa grumbled. "I don't want anyone seeing me like this." He turned and staggered away in discomfort, head bobbing as he attempted to balance his new decorations. "Whoaaa..."

Fu-Fu flew inside through the open balcony doors. His head swiveled around to look at Dongwa and he started laughing.

"Spare me!" he snapped.

Fu-Fu landed on the floor, observing Sheegwa's misery. "That didn't cheer you up? Heh, worked on me like a charm!"

"I feel cursed, Fu-Fu. We were going to be our own boss in the alley. We left the mice, the catfish...I miss them."

"Well, at least you're away from Tai-Tai's awful sleeve dogs. That's good, right?"

"But Fu-Fu, I miss playing. I was growing up already, and now my childhood is just over. And look at these things!" Sheegwa lifted up a bootie-clad paw. "Footwear is for people!"

"Sheegwa..." Fu-Fu smiled and spread his wings. "These people are just protecting you."

"I don't need them to keep me safe. I can do that. I've got a mind." Sheegwa stood up. "And tonight we're leaving!"

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean we're not staying." Turning away from him, she didn't notice when Ming-Hai stood up and slipped out onto the balcony.

The new cat waited for Sheegwa to leave, then approached Fu-Fu. "You're not supposed to be in here."

He turned. "These cats are my friends!"

"These cats do not own the palace. They need to earn their place, and you need to go back to yours."

"What - "

"Before they see you!"

His eyes narrowed at her urgent tone, then he turned and flew out through the open doors.

-0-0-0-

Sagwa sat on the floor of the library, head down. Not even her tail moved. She heaved a sigh.

Then someone cleared his throat. She looked up to see Jet-Jet, sauntering towards her...in booties and jewels. Her mouth twitched in a smile she could barely suppress.

He stopped in front of her and executed a bow. "Good evening, fair feline."

"Hi, Jet-Jet." Her tail thumped on the carpet as he moved closer and groomed her. Watching in horrified displeasure from the stairs, Dongwa made a face and retreated into the shadows.

He was going to have tyrannical, horrible little nephews, wasn't he?

"Don't worry. You can take all that off tonight," Sagwa was telling him.

"Why would I want to do that?"

"Well...we're leaving."

"That was never on my agenda. I spent my whole life sleeping in soggy boxes! Why would I want to go back to that?"

"Well - " Sagwa faltered, blinking at him. "Well, it's on mine!"

He backed up a little, his eyes locked with hers. "Are you gonna rethink it?"

"Jet-Jet, we don't have freedom here."

"Freedom schmeedom, look at me!"

Her eyes narrowed. "I got to say, I thought you'd hate the jewels."

"I thought you'd love 'em."

"No, they remind me of everything I lost!" she exclaimed. "I can't surround myself with memories of someone who threw us out like bad food!"

"Well, I can't go back to eating bad food."

"Not even for Lik-Lik?"

"Lik-Lik was a fool!" Jet-Jet shouted. Sagwa withdrew in surprise, and he turned and walked elegantly from the room.

Sagwa stood up, turned and ran from the room. She slowed down when she realized there were people in the room, but it was too late.

"No dinner for Sagwa tonight."

Sagwa turned and continued to run. "Oh, I'll eat," she growled to herself. "Just not your fancy little dinner. Try and punish ME for breathing. I'll show 'em." She clambered up the steps, almost losing her footing several times. Griping about the nuisance of silk footwear, she heaved herself off the last step.

"Sagwa!" Sheegwa said, trotting over to her. "Are we still leaving? Please say yes."

Sagwa smiled and patted her sister's head, thinking about Jet-Jet.

"Yes, Sheegwa...we're still leaving."

Sitting on the desk, the unfamiliar cat dipped her tail in the ink, and her eyes narrowed at the Miao sisters.

They would be stopped...and they would be sorry.