The property was big, and the rain was severe. By the time she transitioned from grass to gravel, she was thoroughly soaked. Her vision was clear, but the darkness still scared her. Hoping she was headed in the right direction, she camped in the first pagoda she saw; but sheer panic made it impossible for her to sleep. She ate her sister's supper and continued at first light. The rain still fell and a storm had rolled in; and with every thunderclap, she nearly became paralyzed with fear.
She stopped at a lake to bathe and groom herself, and managed to catch a fish. She ate greedily and washed the scent off her paws. Then she continued onward. Alone.
Like she would be forever.
Sheegwa trundled forth, in a state of shock; her freshly washed tail dragging through the dirt. For the billionth time, she sighed her woes aloud; and raising her eyes, she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The rain got in her eyes and again, she ducked her head and walked on.
-0-0-0-0-
"I'm sorry about your ancestor's collar, Dongwa," Hun-Hun said.
Dongwa sighed, looking down at her heavily jewelled collar instead. "So am I."
"A necklace on a cat. This is ridiculous. I'm supposed to catch mice!"
"I'm sorry I took you away from your life."
She quickly schooled her expression and changed her tone. "I could have said no. I wanted to be with you...I don't care where I am."
"What a lovely thing to say, Hun-Hun," Baba said, surprising and embarrassing them both. He walked past them, getting a good look into his daughters' beds. "Hm. Dongwa, have you seen your sisters?"
"Not since last night."
"Well, I have some news. For some reason Lord Vu is under the impression that 'WE' are useless. He has decided to send us away."
"Uh, where?" Dongwa asked.
"Cairo. And if we do not find your sisters in time, we leave them behind! Help us look for them. Now."
Dongwa followed his father to the balcony. "Uh, Baba, why would they think we're useless? Don't they know we're calligraphers?"
"Yes. Or at least, I thought they did."
"The Magistrate knew," Hun-Hun pointed out.
"The Magistrate had reasons. Different reasons, I'm sure. Foolish, empty reasons," Baba fumed.
"I thought you were over that by now."
"You don't just 'get over it.'"
"Uh, sorry to change the subject, but is Cairo in China?" Hun-Hun asked.
"No. It's not." Baba slipped into the adjoining room and paused, hearing what sounded like Sagwa's muffled cries for help. He bowed down, putting his ear to the floor. Then he stood up, faster than he had in years. "There's a basement!"
He ran down the balcony, jumping back into the study and heading for the stairs.
"Baba, no running!"
"You are right to remind me, son." He scoffed then. "Not like it matters. Cairo!" he snapped, and began to descend. "I tell you, when we get there, we better stay put!"
Dongwa's brows went up at his father's harsh tone.
Stepping off the last stair, Baba paused and waited to hear Sagwa through the floor. All was silent. He lowered his head and moved slowly through the palace.
"Sagwa?" Dongwa called.
Her voice was faint, but they heard it. "Dongwa! Help!"
"Keep calling!" Dongwa yelled back, and the trio followed her wails, returning whenever her voice began to fade.
"I think it's this door," Hun-Hun said, summoning both of them. They tried to open it, but it was impossible.
Baba sighed and shook his head. "Some days I really hate being a cat."
Hun-Hun looked around, checking to see if there were approaching humans. Then she ducked, peering under the door. The coast was clear, so she began taking off her jewels.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting in." She ripped off her collar and booties, then struggled to squeeze under the door. The Miao cats watched as she disappeared completely onto the other side. Then her paw appeared. "Hand them over!"
Dongwa slid her jewels, collar and booties past the gap.
Putting her accessories back on, Hun-Hun descended the dark basement stairs. Her feline eyes were all that allowed her to see; the lights were off and there were no windows. The basement was just as large and luxurious as the rest of the palace; and in the center of it, Sagwa paced inside a wire cage.
"Sagwa!"
"Hun-Hun! Am I glad to see you!"
Hun-Hun looked again for humans before running to the cage. There was a lock on the door, and Hun-Hun fussed with it.
"You need the key."
"Where's that?"
"The human's got it. Hun-Hun, listen to me, Sheegwa got outside. It was my idea. Now the window is closed and she's stuck out there. You have to find her!"
"And you have to get out."
"No...I deserve this. It's all my fault."
"No, look, Lord Vu is sending all of us to Cairo."
"Then he'll be sending me, too. Find Sheegwa!"
Hun-Hun backed away, unable to look away from Sagwa's face. "I'll come back for you," she promised. Then she turned and climbed the steps.
-0-0-0-0-
The Miao cats smiled as Hun-Hun's jewels, booties and collar slid through the gap. Then she forced herself through. "Bad news. Sheegwa's locked outside," she reported, putting her things back on.
Baba's eyes narrowed with determination. "Up to the balcony."
They ran down the hallway, through the dining room, and up the stairs. Mama flinched as the trio blazed past her. As they stopped in front of the rail and started calling for Sheegwa, Mama walked up behind them. Knowing time was too precious for jokes and knowing her mate would never go along with it anyway, Mama came to stand beside Hun-Hun; her eyes frantically searching the property. It was so big, and so colorful, and so faraway...How were they supposed to see her?
"Shee-ee-eeeg-waaaa!" Dongwa hollered. But the only sound that followed him was the resonating boom of thunder.
As the rain began to change direction, Mama backed away from the rail. "We should get inside!"
"No," Baba snarled, effectively making Dongwa freeze in his tracks. "Nothing's stopping me from finding her." He moved away from her concerned paw. "I'm getting out of here." He turned and jumped inside, and ran to the stairs. Mama ran after him.
Downstairs, in the kitchen, Jet-Jet watched Baba run down the stairs, followed by his mate.
"Wim-Bao, stop!" Mama commanded. He didn't listen. Intrigued, Jet-Jet followed them alongside Dongwa.
Mama stopped, watching Baba painfully pull himself up onto the shelf. He fussed with the window.
"You're going to be punished," Mama warned him. "Stop this nonsense!"
"Nonsense?" Baba turned around. "That is our little girl. And if you don't have the courage to do what's right..."
"This is not about courage! We still need to find Sagwa, and if we get separated forever, you will never forgive yourself!"
Hun-Hun delicately cleared her throat. "Sagwa is downstairs, in a cage," she told her.
"What?" Baba barked. He jumped off the table. "You said nothing about her being stuck in a cage."
"She told me to find Sheegwa first. But she's stuck in a much bigger place. All Sagwa needs is the key."
"Then get it!" Mama shouted. "And as for Sheegwa..." She turned her eyes to the open window and realized Jet-Jet was missing. In his place was a silk collar, four booties and aristocratic jewels.
