Though Jet-Jet was willing to proceed, Hun-Hun was worried about the wound she had glimpsed and the lag in his step. Despite his objections, she led him back to the pond. The walk seemed longer now that he had a bad paw, and Jet-Jet began to anticipate soaking his wound. By the time they got back, he was ready to admit that she had been right to return early...and maybe she had also been right about being more careful on the cliff.

Not that he could do anything about it now. Feeling useless and foolish, he nursed his paw, tried resting, and played I Spy with Hun-Hun. Eventually, the four remaining Miao cats returned. Dongwa and Sagwa were carrying fish.

"Why aren't you helping?" Mama asked, her tone light. "You are aware Sheegwa could become the stepsister to both of you?"

Jet-Jet, Hun-Hun, Sagwa and Dongwa were all embarrassed by her comment. She smiled at him.

Partially out of concern and partially an attempt to change the subject, Sagwa asked him, "What happened to your paw?"

He seemed too embarrassed to say, and Hun-Hun knew it went beyond Shao-Fun's teasing. She watched him struggle to answer and finally took over. "He was in an avalanche."

"Yeah, gigantic, house-sized boulders. Could've killed me."

Hun-Hun rolled her eyes.

"But - "

"We know. You're tough," Dongwa answered, sounding bored as he walked between Jet-Jet and Sagwa. He sat down beside Hun-Hun.

"Do you think you'll be in any condition to help us tomorrow?" Mama asked worriedly.

"Oh yeah. Not a problem."

"And I...have a request," Baba announced, forcing himself to be pleasant despite his awful mood. "It's going on day three. We need to go a new direction."

This time nobody argued.

"The sooner the better," Jet-Jet announced. "Which way?"

"Easy," Mama told him. "You need a little rest."

"Yeah. I do. But you can't really afford that." He sat up straight. "She got a pretty good headstart."

Her eyes narrowed and her tail flipped.

"We could compromise," Baba intervened.

"Okay," Jet-Jet said decisively. "Go without me."

"No," her tone was non-negotiable. "We need all the eyes we can spare. And, as long as you and Sagwa are involved, I want to know you're well."

Jet-Jet got to all fours, glaring at Mama. He turned his eyes to Sagwa, to whom he limped. Then he looked back at her mother. "Then we're not involved anymore."

"Huh?" Sagwa asked.

"Leave." Jet-Jet limped back to the pond. When he realized they were still there, he looked back at them. "Go! I'm nothing to you now. Go find your kid."

Sagwa's ears flicked back at the sound of her family starting to leave. She cranked her head back and watched them, then looked back at Jet-Jet one last time. Turning around, she ran after her family.