The sky was growing dark and the field was filled with people. Everybody always came to this spot to watch the fireworks. Dodging past humans who couldn't see very well at night, Dongwa and Baba tried to stick together.
"Sheegwa!" Dongwa called.
"Sheegwa!" Baba echoed. They burst out of the crowd just as the first firework erupted into the sky. They tried not to be distracted by its beauty as more fireworks were launched.
Then the silhouettes of about a hundred bats blurred past the colorful lights. In the intermittent silence between explosions, they could be heard squeaking in distress and calling Sheegwa's name.
"I don't see her anywhere," Dongwa yelled.
"Neither do I, but keep looking!"
The spectators oohed in delight at the fireworks as Dongwa began jumping over their feet and squeezing through the crowd. Making his way to freedom, he flinched as a dog began barking at him; and his eyes frantically looked for a leash. There wasn't one.
"This way," Baba yelled over the noise. Dongwa turned around and ran after him, listening to the dog give chase. He and Baba made it to a wooden building, and sank their claws into the wall; scrambling up towards the roof. Hoisting himself up without difficulty, Dongwa turned and watched his father, whose ascent had slowed considerably once he had exceeded the dog's greedy reach.
"I'm feeling my age," Baba strained, as he climbed arduously to the top. Dongwa pulled him up over the edge; then Baba turned and surveyed the dark crowd from their vantage point. "Guess she's not here."
"Who knew that would be a good thing?" Dongwa asked.
"Who isn't where?" asked a familiar voice. They turned to see the sinister shadow of Lik-Lik sitting on the rooftop with them; his dark profile blinkingly lit up by the fireworks.
"Lik-Lik? Why are you here?" Dongwa asked.
"Are you kiddin' me? It's the Chinese New Year!" he exclaimed. "So, who you lookin' for?"
"We're looking for Sheegwa."
"She went missing two weeks ago," Baba jumped in. "We thought she'd be here watching the fireworks."
"Well, if I see her I'll give you a holler."
"Thank you," Baba said, walking to the far edge of the building. Dongwa hung back, looking at Lik-Lik again.
"Why would you do that for us?"
"Hey, us alley cats gotta stick together."
Dongwa followed Baba to the edge of the rooftop. A fence blocked the dog from their path, so they jumped off with a feeling of safety that Dongwa tried not to believe.
It had tricked him once before.
The entrance to the building was on this side of the fence, and they poked their heads into it and took a quick glance around before continuing on their way. As they walked, Dongwa looked at his father. "Is there anything else we can do?"
Baba thought for a moment and then his eyes lit up. He stopped walking, and Dongwa stumbled to a halt, looking at him in wonder.
"What?"
Baba smiled at him. "Tell me something, son...How rusty is your calligraphy?"
-0-0-0-0-
Mama sighed, backing out of the hut and looking at Sagwa. "She has to be here someplace."
"Hmm," Sagwa said, sounding frustrated. Then she perked up. "I have an idea!"
"Alright," Mama said expectantly.
"We found a cave with our ancestors' statues in it. I remember the place!"
"Why would she be in any cave at all? She's afraid of tight spaces."
"It's a pretty big cave, Mama. And there was water in it...maybe we're not finding her because she's living there." She considered. "That's what I'd do."
"That doesn't sound like my Sheegwa."
"Well, we've looked everywhere else." Sagwa plopped down and kept thinking, then perked up again. "Oh, except the pond by the alley!"
"Why would that be of interest to her?"
"She made friends with a lot of frogs there...maybe she's lonely!" Sagwa turned and began running before Mama could reply. Forced to stick together, Mama ran after her.
"Sagwa," she called. "How many times need it be said? Don't disappear!"
Sagwa slowed, allowing Mama to catch up. Together they made their way beyond the alley and up to the pond. They heard the frogs long before they saw them. Unfortunately, there was no one else to see. Sagwa moved forward. "Hey, hi," she said, summoning their attention. "Have you seen Sheegwa lately?"
"Not for many nights."
"Okay," Sagwa answered sadly. She turned around and walked back to Mama. "He said - "
"I heard what he said," Mama answered, sounding snippy.
Sagwa's tail lowered at her mother's tone. She sat down. "Mama...you don't think I closed the window on her, do you?"
"No," Mama said fiercely. "You were raised better than that." She still sounded angry, and Sagwa was not comforted by her words. Seeing this, Mama had to force herself to hold on to her phony anger; it was all that was keeping her from crying. "I just want my family whole again," she said.
"We all want that."
Mama turned and walked quietly back towards the palace, and Sagwa followed. Coming up to the alley, Mama turned her head; and thinking she was looking at her, Sagwa looked at Mama. Her eyes were aimed over Sagwa's head. She turned to see what had captured her attention. A new sign leaned against the alley wall; its fresh paint glistening under the full moon's light. Dongwa's penmanship was unmistakable.
Sheegwa, we're looking for you. Wait here.
A giant horde of bats flew overhead, calling Sheegwa's name. Feeling like she was being cut all over, Mama closed her eyes until they had passed; then looked at Sagwa with a new determination. "Okay," she said simply. "Let's check the cave."
Sagwa faced the direction of it, and together they ran off.
As she ran, Mama attempted to force away her fatigue; but it clawed at her like an animal. As their journey progressed, they encountered more of Dongwa's signs; each one directing Sheegwa to the alley. By the time they spotted the third sign in total, Mama was slowing down. Glaring past the blurriness obstructing her vision, she forced herself to keep stumbling forwards.
Her second yawn made Sagwa stop, and put a restraining paw in front of her mother. "Okay. You can't find her if you're dead."
"I won't die until she's found."
Sagwa worriedly watched her bound forwards, and followed her.
-0-0-0-0-
They reached the cave, and again Sagwa put a restraining paw in front of her mother. "Wait. The entrance is pretty steep."
"Good," came the bold answer. "Maybe it'll wake me up."
Sagwa followed her to the edge, and looked at her. "You can't say I didn't warn you," she said, and jumped down the trail. This time she was expecting the harsh descent, and was able to enjoy it a little. Turning around, she ducked as Mama jumped off the trail and soared over her, landing on all fours.
Sagwa waved away the dust. "Feel awake yet?"
"No," Mama said, and her voice echoed as she called, "Sheegwa? Are you in here?"
And then Sagwa heard Sheegwa's voice echoing to them. "Help me, help me, Sagwa, Dongwa!"
"Sheegwa!" Sagwa cried, trying to learn the direction. "We're coming for you, Sheegwa! Keep talking to me!"
"Sagwa!"
Hearing nothing at all, Mama frowned in concern, watching her daughter explore the trail.
Perhaps she wasn't the only one who was tired...
