It was raining again by the time Mama and Sagwa returned to the alley. They squeezed through the cold, wet gate; ignoring each other. Dongwa studied them as he followed them through. They seemed almost as angry with each other as he was with Hun-Hun.

Sagwa came up to a stack of boxes that had been artistically arranged. A large box had been placed on top of two smaller boxes, keeping it mostly dry even in the steady rainfall.

Her parents and brother were close behind, and she stifled a groan, finding their warm presence unusually stifling.

"We thought you kids could take the bottom ones," Baba began, "And your mother and I - "

"No, I understand," Sagwa said loudly. She crawled into the nearest box, turned around, and pushed the flaps shut.

Her family exchanged a bewildered glance.

"What happened between you two?" Dongwa asked.

"She's upset."

"As are we all, considering everything," Baba began, but Mama shook her head.

"No, she thinks Sheegwa won't love her anymore."

"What? That's ridiculous." Baba reached for the flaps, but Mama stopped him.

"Let her sleep, my love. The poor dear was so tired, she was hearing her voice!"

They jumped up into the large box on top, and Dongwa looked worriedly at his sister's cardboard bed before crawling into his own.

"You're sure she won't sleep better if we talk first?" he heard Baba ask.

"She's probably sleeping already. There is plenty of time to talk."

"Shao Fun...my dearest...I hate to say it, but that is exactly what I told myself the night Sheegwa disappeared. She came crying to me about the rules in place, but I was busy," he said, sounding self-loathing. "Juan-Bai and Ming-Hai were telling me all about Mama's humans, and I didn't want to stop them. I told her to talk to you."

"And she went to Sagwa," Mama sighed.

There was an awkward pause. "Well," Baba finally sighed. "Maybe I am the one to blame."

Dongwa pushed his flaps closed. The silence made him smile.

Sheegwa might be missing and everyone else might be angry, but at least they wouldn't be too tired to look in the morning.

-0-0-0-0-

Sometime during the night, Dongwa had to get up to answer nature's call; and returning to his box bed, he saw that Sagwa's box flaps had been blown open by the wind. The rain had changed direction and he could see her getting wet, so he walked closer to close her box. That's when he saw the intense frown on her face and heard the words she was mumbling in her sleep. "Sheegwa...Sheegwa, please forgive me."

Dongwa put his paw down.

"No...don't go...No, please don't be mad. I love you..."

Dongwa slowly reached up and pushed the flaps shut. Turning to his own bed, he saw Hun-Hun in the middle of coming over to check on her. She paused when their eyes locked; and seeming to push aside his earlier words, she approached. "Is she alright?" she asked.

"Which sister?" he grumped. "Either way, I'm not sure."

She turned around and took two steps. "Wait," Dongwa blurted, and she turned back. "Uh, I'm sorry. Please stay with me?"

She smiled and followed him to the box. They turned to face the opening and lay down.

"I saw the bats," Dongwa murmured, looking up at the angry, rolling clouds. "I know how far you went. Thank you."

She turned her face to the sky and was quiet for a moment.

"I won't give up either," she said. "I promise."

He put his head on her shoulder and didn't move. Though he didn't feel cold, she felt him shaking. She reached up and draped a front leg around him. "Dongwa," she said softly. "I love all of you. And especially you."

"I love you, too, Hun-Hun." He raised his eyes and they looked at each other; then they turned their faces to the bruised sky and listened to the howling wind.

Appropriate, Dongwa thought. Anger, hurt, tears... He put his head down and told himself to relax. Sheegwa would need him to be strong.

Eventually and inexplicably, sleep came.

-0-0-0-0-

Morning began with a hasty fish breakfast, which Hun-Hun had gotten up early to catch. Sagwa ate slowly, walked sluggishly and didn't say a word. She was still haunted by her dream. Still haunted by the sight of Sheegwa floating away from her, vanishing into nothing. She could still hear her spitting cruel words. Sagwa knew it was just a dream, she knew it didn't make sense, but she was angry. Over a stupid dream. It made her very afraid to think of how Sheegwa was taking the reality.

After the quick but delicious meal, the hunt continued. The rain was still falling, but lightly now; and everything smelled fresh and sparkled in the daylight. It felt like a day of promises and new beginnings. But instead, they were continuing the agony from two weeks ago.

"Okay," Mama began, "She's not in or around the village; so how about we check in with Auntie Mae-Mae?"

"Sheegwa doesn't know where she lives," Dongwa said dismissively.

"Okay, um," Baba said eloquently. "What if she went onto the palace property and they took her in?"

"She would get out," Dongwa answered.

"Unless she wants to be there," he replied. He looked at Sagwa, who stood still and gazed off into the distance. "Sagwa?" he asked.

No answer. No acknowledgement that she heard him. He moved closer. "Sagwa?" he repeated, this time more demanding.

She blinked and looked at him. "Huh?"

"She's still young. Do you think we should check the palace?"

She frowned at him, slowly. "Who's still young?"

"Your sister!" Baba said indignantly.

"Oh...right. Sure." She turned and began to walk in the wrong direction.

"Sagwa," Dongwa said, and motioned. "It's this way."

Sagwa surveyed the village with a lost expression, then retraced her steps. "Sorry. I'm...distracted, I guess."

"Well, get focused," Mama said calmly. "This is important."

"Yes, Mama."

They ran into the alley and up to the far gate, peering inside. "Sagwa, you're the youngest one here," Mama said. "Please go check."

"And be careful," Baba added.

No response. No movement.

"Sagwa," Mama said demandingly.

"Huh?"

Mama rolled her eyes. "Wake up and get your butt inside."

"Right. Okay," Sagwa whispered, and forced herself through. She scoured the yard as she trotted into the palace, trying not to feel too nostalgic. Anger was the proper emotion...anger was good. She hid behind or under anything she could. The coast was clear. "Sheegwa?" she called. "Sheegwa, it's me, Sagwa. Are you here?"

Nothing. Except...the big, familiar steps of the big, familiar Magistrate. Sagwa hid behind his throne, watching him disappear through an adjacent archway. She ran to the wall and peered surreptitiously past. He was going down the long, open corridor heading towards his study. She checked for the Cook and then darted after the Magistrate. He was humming...he was happy.

She didn't like that. He was supposed to be wrought with guilt and bargaining with Lord Vu to get them back.

He ascended the stairs and she trundled after him. Peering past the first step, she surveyed the study. The only cat in the room was an orange tabby. She quickly descended again and ran out into another corridor; and for some reason found herself veering off to the side and bumping into the wall. She righted herself, shook her head in confusion and kept going; mentally ordering herself to get it together.

The dining room proved to be empty as well; only housing Tai-Tai and her sleeve dogs. Sagwa smiled. There were three things right there she didn't miss about this place. She waited for Tai-Tai to turn away before she darted past the doorway; and quickly jumped behind a plant as Reader and Cook came walking around the corner. There were two things she had missed. They too seemed happy, as if nothing was wrong...as if their royal calligrapher cats were not strays. As if one of the royal calligrapher cats was not missing.

"I'm quite sure. Thank you for your consideration, but I do not celebrate my birthday," Cook was saying.

"But you do so much for others! Your birthday is all about you."

Cook chuckled. "There is not much to me. The day I get younger is a day I will gladly throw a party."

Laughing amongst themselves, they disappeared; and with nothing to show for all of her sneaking around, Sagwa snuck back out of the palace. She bounded across the yard, gasping when she saw the triplets walking towards her. They stopped, looking at her.

"Is that...Sagwa?"

Sagwa backed up timidly.

"I think it is."

"What is she doing here?"

Sagwa turned and fled the long way around the fountain, leaping through the gate to safety. And banging her paw. "Ouch," she griped.

"Are you okay?" Mama asked.

"Yeah. I guess," Sagwa answered sadly. "Any other ideas?"

They looked at each other. Feeling a sudden, unbelievable, loathsome surge of hopelessness, Sagwa plopped into a sitting position.

"Hey, you almost crushed me!"

Sagwa wasn't quite standing before she spun to face...

"Shei-Hu!" she gasped.

"Happy New Year!" he cried, waving his little arms. The Miao cats all snorted and scoffed in disagreement and he dropped his paws to his sides. "Hey! What's wrong?"

"How much time you got?" Dongwa muttered.

"Not a lot, I'm afraid. The gang and I are cleaning up from our party. Where have you guys all been, anyway? I went to visit you and some cat tried eating me!"

"I'm sorry, Shei-Hu," Sagwa murmured.

"The Magistrate kicked us out. We looked for shelter for several days and finally went to Nai-Nai's," Dongwa began.

"But then her owner decided we were useless for some reason," Baba interrupted, and missed Sagwa's sudden shame. "So he decided to ship us to Cairo."

"And we had to escape because Sheegwa's missing," Dongwa finished. "When you're done cleaning up, can you help us look?"

"Of course! Of course! We'll all help," Shei-Hu said frantically. "I have to go now. Great seeing you all again, and I'll see you all later."

"Bye," Dongwa said, watching him run down the alley.

Mama almost chuckled. "I have to say, I didn't have a mouse in mind when you told me about your good friend Shei-Hu," she said to Sagwa. But again Sagwa had that blank look on her face and a distant look in her eyes.

"Sagwa?" Baba asked demandingly.

Her eyes shot to his. "Huh?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"What? No. Nothing," she said.

Sagwa didn't notice the suspicious looks passing among them.