Sagwa didn't mistakenly envision her sister again, her balance and concentration had improved, and she did feel better rested...but she still couldn't believe that after almost fifteen days of being lost, she would magically stumble into her path; and she began looking forward to the fatigue-induced imaginings. At least for a short time, she was there.
Sagwa returned to the alley before daybreak, and checked the sign for Sheegwa upon her arrival. Though she couldn't be absolutely sure they were hers, paw prints smaller than anyone else's had been left around the sign; entering and exiting the abandoned alley. The paw prints then lead onto the stone path and disappeared; and any scent had evaporated. With no sense following a cold trail, Sagwa remained alone in the alley; in case Sheegwa happened to show up. Just because she didn't believe it would, didn't make it impossible, and she knew the others still had high hopes.
She didn't want to give up. She didn't want to be a bad big sister. Again.
She was pacing restlessly and exploring for the seven billionth time when she heard a cat slipping through the gate. Turning around, her eyes widened with interest at the sight of Jet-Jet. Looking up, he forced a pained smile and began limping to her. She helped him close the distance. "From the pace you're setting, I take it you haven't been back 'til now."
"Nuh," came the eloquent response. He arduously got into a sitting position. "And from your beaming smile, I take it gang's all together again."
"Real funny, Jet-Jet."
"I try."
"Well, keep trying. Or stop, it'll feel the same."
He watched her restless pacing resume. "So, what, is everybody else lost too?" he asked.
"Of course not." She began to wander off-course, and began pacing through a puddle. She didn't seem to notice. "You know they're looking."
"And you aren't?"
She whirled to face him, eyes flashing. "I'm waiting here. In case she sees the sign."
"Are you sure I have nothing to do with you coming back?"
"I'm very sure. My priorities haven't changed one bit; I'm still looking for my sister. You...you're 'nobody to us,' remember?"
"Oh, now I understand. You're mad I broke up with you. Don't feel bad. I only said it so your parents would feel like they could continue. It's what was best for Sheegwa."
"Don't tell me about what was best for Sheegwa. If you'd simply stayed put, we would have had more eyes!"
"You got plenty of those; the last thing you needed was dead weight. I didn't need Shao-Fun's concern."
"You're an idiot." Sagwa faced him directly, "You think they worry less when they can't see you? It made them worry more, because they were thinking of..." Her words stumbled to a halt and she had to fight to the finish. "Of both of you."
She begrudgingly met his eyes.
"Or both of you," Jet-Jet concluded.
She sagged. "Great. Now I'm a bad daughter."
Jet-Jet shrugged. "Yep."
The remorse in her eyes was short-lived. She had to rectify her mistakes in the order they were made.
Sagwa turned and ran down the alley, calling back to him, "Stay here, okay? In case she comes by." Then she leaped through the gate and ran out into the misty afternoon.
-0-0-0-0-
For at least the fifth time, Mama's sigh echoed her mate's. Dongwa and Hun-Hun exchanged a glance that was partially concerned and partially annoyed. But before their antics could become too annoying, Mama suddenly surprised them all by darting off the trail and running up to an old house. She climbed up the steps with an ageless grace and pushed the door open, peering into its dark interior. She must have seen something (or, Dongwa hoped, someone) because she disappeared completely inside. Wondering at her unexpected detour, the other cats moved closer as a group.
Mama emerged then, with a faint smile. "Can you come here a moment?" she asked. "I think this place has potential."
They clambered up the stairs, paraded inside and surveyed the house. It was dark and a little dusty, and totally empty. Hun-Hun leaped onto a windowsill and rubbed away the grime, then smiled at the view. Trees provided shade beside the energetic flow of a creek.
"Potential for what, exactly?" Baba's voice floated through the dark room.
"For living here!"
Dongwa stopped and looked at her. "Are you kidding me?"
"Well, why not? We certainly can't live in an alley forever."
"Actually you can," Hun-Hun said. "You just don't want to."
Mama's voice was like winter, abnormally cold. "You're right. I don't want it. Not for Wim-Bao, not for me, and not for my children. Of course," she added, "I am their mother. Not yours."
Hun-Hun narrowed her eyes, but silently wandered down the hallway.
Mama turned back to her mate. "What do you think?"
"Well...it would be nice to sleep indoors again. No wild animals, no humans...but if Sheegwa is expecting to find us anywhere, it's the alley."
"And when we find her?" Mama inquired.
"Then I would be happy to return here. It does seem like it would be...drier." Their eyes quickly inspected the interior.
"Though it is certainly a step down," Mama murmured. "But I suppose it's the best we can do."
"You're wrong." Dongwa's unexpected input got their immediate attention. "The best we can do is get a new owner."
"Yes, that is indeed the greatest idea of them all. But not until Sheegwa has been found. We can't risk getting put behind locked doors again."
"I suggest we all try to get some sleep," Baba contributed, as Hun-Hun regrouped. She looked around the room as the three remaining Miao cats lay down.
She looked behind herself. "How long was I back there?"
"We're just going to get some rest," Mama told her, "Searching with no end is good for Sheegwa, but definitely not for ourselves."
Hun-Hun lay down where she was, feeling less and less like part of the family.
-0-0-0-0-
Fu-Fu's vision wasn't exactly improving with age; and the misty rain was of no help. He flew high above the ground, listening to the rain and the constant beating of his wings. Everything was so fuzzy. The ground was a haze, the treetops were blobs of barren branches, and the small white animal running along the trail was...It was a cat. He dipped headfirst and swooped in low. "Sheegwa?" he asked, hopefully.
Sagwa turned around. "No. Just me."
His response was a frustrated groan, and he quickly amended his disappointment as he landed before her. "I was just...really hoping I could bring her to you."
"I know."
He quietly sighed his relief. "So...why is it just you?"
"Because I'm stupid, Fu-Fu. I really am a melon head."
"What makes you say that?"
"I voluntarily left them. Now we're split up even more!"
"I can help with that. I saw 'em going inside Teller's house. They haven't come out in awhile...you wanna follow me?"
"No," her answer surprised him. "I have to find Sheegwa."
He came closer, to inspect her with his abysmal eyes. "You need other things. You're hungry, I can tell. Just take a short break and - "
"No," she repeated harshly, and took a breath, sitting on the ground. "I have to be the one to find her. I mean, of course we all have to look, but...I have to be there."
He was quiet. She wouldn't meet his eyes, but she could still see when he nodded. He didn't quite understand. But he would try.
"Want some company?"
She briefly considered how many individuals of all the different species were out there looking for Sheegwa.
"Yeah. I do."
She turned back around and they began to walk. Sagwa ducked her head to avoid getting rain in her eyes; and as they walked, she searched for paw prints in the mud and spoke her thoughts aloud. "If I was Sheegwa, I would be an innocent kid. I wouldn't choose to lash out at someone who tried to take me home because I wasn't wearing my collar," she faltered to a finish. Her big blue eyes lifted to the distant town off in the dreary distance.
"So we need to look in the homes," Fu-Fu inferred. "You stay here and be safe; I'll do it."
"Why should I stay here?" she demanded.
"People want cats. Not bats." He spread his wings. "If she's in one of them I'll come get you. She can still see you first."
He took to the sky and flew towards the village, and Sagwa began to pace. "They might want a bat if they're down on their luck," she muttered. She sat down and waited.
