Dawn was beginning to break over China when Dongwa came awake, and immediately noticed the absence of his mate. They had given up their box to Nai-Nai and Yeh-Yeh, and his eyes took in his open surroundings. Hun-Hun was definitely not in the alley, nor was she on the wall. He got up and slunk to the gate, looking out through the bars. And there she was, looking at him with wide eyes. He looked behind him for a wild animal about to devour him, but they were alone. He approached her. "Are you okay?"

"Uh-huh," she said uncertainly, still staring at him.

"Why are you acting weird?"

"What makes you think I'm acting? I mean," she added awkwardly, "I'm not being weird. I'm fine."

"No, you were fine up until now," he told her. Then his nose wrinkled as an unpleasant odor came to him. "Ugh, what's that smell?"

"I don't know."

She looked up over his head and he looked up, watching as snowflakes began to fall. "Oh, man," he groaned. "This isn't what we need right now!"

"Calm down, it's just a couple of flakes."

"Hun-Hun, we have only seen one snow before. And it stuck, big time." Here he paused. "Why are we always looking for Sheegwa when it's snowing?"

Her laugh sounded strained, and he looked at her. "This snow is going to ruin everything," he grumbled. "It's cold, it's wet, it's deep...the water will freeze, and there'll be so many tracks we'll never find the right ones." He blinked as the snow began to fall harder between them. "See, it's getting worse! Oh, what more can happen?" he added, walking several paces away. And he was stopped by the sound of gagging. He turned quickly.

Gross...

Hun-Hun stepped unsteadily away from the plant and turned to face him.

"Uhh," Dongwa said nervously. "Maybe we could make this a long distance thing. I really don't want to get sick."

"You can relax. It's not the kind of sickness that's contagious."

"What, it's like some kind of - "

"Baby?" Hun-Hun interrupted.

"Oh," he said uncertainly.

"Yours," she added.

Dongwa's head lifted and his tail dropped. "Ohhh," he repeated. "Uh, sorry."

"Why? They are going to have their father, right?"

"They? Their?"

"Well, it could be one. It could be four. It could be twelve."

"Twelve?!"

"Well, I can't exactly stick my head in there and count."

"Hun-Hun, how do you even know you're carrying one?"

She frowned at him. "This isn't the first time I've had to..." She nodded in the direction of the potted plant. "You know."

"When?"

She tilted her head and restlessly moved her shoulders. "Remember when I volunteered to go to the bat cave by myself?"

His jaw dropped and she looked away from him.

"Were you ever going to tell me?"

"Yes!"

"Would you have been nursing them?!"

She sighed. "I needed time. And, clearly, so do you." She walked past him and headed back to the alley. Moving uncertainly, Dongwa turned around and followed her.

Mama and Baba were awake when they returned to the alley, and visibly relaxed when they entered. Baba looked at his mate, who nodded at him; then he approached his son and Hun-Hun. "There's something we need to discuss."

"Okay," Hun-Hun said nervously, and sat on the cold ground. Dongwa did the same.

"This was not an easy decision," he announced. "But I have to take my parents to the Teller house. It'll be warmer there."

Dongwa was watching the snowflakes. They were falling harder and heavier, and it was sticking. He looked up at his mate. "You should join them."

"Excuse me? I can speak for myself."

"Just...go to the house. Please."

"How about I tell you where to go?" she snapped.

"Come on," he urged, "You have to think about the baby."

"What?" Mama asked.

The alley was completely silent. Then there were two quiet popping sounds, and they looked at the cardboard boxes to see that Sagwa, Jet-Jet, Nai-Nai and Yeh-Yeh were all watching in surprise.

"Good morning," Hun-Hun said timidly.

"Umm," Sagwa said, crawling out of her box. "I'm...going to go check with Shei-Hu. I'll be back when...when this is over."

"Smart," Dongwa mumbled as she neared him.

"Smarter than you," she answered, and kept going. She jumped clean through the intricate design of the gate and wandered through the dark, abandoned village.


Turning the corner, Sagwa walked up to the step and jumped up, then walked through the blue curtain. Approaching the hole in the wall, she pressed her eye up to it and peered into the mice village. Everything was arranged just the way she remembered it, but there were no mice.

She sighed, backing up and turning around. Hopping off the step, she was about to head back, but stopped when she realized that she was surrounded by baskets. And thinking of Hun-Hun, she curled her tail around the handle of the nearest basket and went on her way.

"Sheegwa!" she called, as she retraced her steps. But the only voice that followed hers was the hoot of an owl; and as she walked, Sagwa had to wonder why she bothered...


When Sagwa arrived again at the alley, her father was standing on the outside, lending a paw as first Yeh-Yeh, then Nai-Nai, struggled through. Sagwa trotted up to them. "You're going right now?"

"The sooner, the better," Baba told her.

Sagwa looked as Hun-Hun exited the gate.

"Why are you carrying that?" Nai-Nai asked.

"It's for Hun-Hun." Sagwa pushed the basket close to her. "Just in case."

Hun-Hun bowed and leaned, gracefully sliding the handle of the basket over her neck. "Thank you."

"I guess I'll see you when it's warm again."

"Hm. Well, you'll be lonely, then." Hun-Hun motioned with a paw behind Sagwa.

Sagwa turned to see all the cats standing there. Dongwa was sitting by the message he had written to Sheegwa; and he used his tail to push it into the dirt.


It took until the following night, and the snow was up past their knees. Not a moment too soon, they reached Teller's house and scrambled tiredly up the steps. Last in line and still recovering, Jet-Jet moved carefully up the stairs, yelping a little when the second highest one broke beneath him. He surged out of the cavity the step had become, wincing as he injured his injuries; then walked lethargically into the house. "Wow, what a dump," he chuckled.

"Yeah, but it's still a step up for you," Dongwa muttered.

"Come on," Sagwa said. "You're brothers! Act like it."

They both groaned as Hun-Hun returned from the bedroom, a blanket on her back. "I found this last time we were here," she announced, dumping it on the floor. "And I opened the window with the tree close by. So we can shut the door...That'll help."

Sagwa and Dongwa worked together to push the heavy door shut, with a creak and a bang that echoed through the large, empty room. Then, for awhile, they were quiet; getting under the blanket and making themselves comfortable.

"Home sweet home," Mama finally said.

Sagwa looked at Hun-Hun, who stared miserably at the floor. "Hey," Sagwa said softly. "This'll be a great place to have a family."

"You think?"

"Oh, yeah! The sun, shining through the trees and sparkling on the stream. The laughter."

Hun-Hun smiled at her.

Dongwa's shudder moved the blanket. "Uncle Jet-Jet," he said distastefully. Sagwa looked at him as he rolled his eyes.