"It feels good to have an owner again," Sagwa commented. In the silence that followed, she looked over at Sheegwa, who didn't quite seem eager to agree. "Doesn't it?" Sagwa prodded, surprised by her sister's reticence.

"I guess I'm just not used to it anymore."

The first night into their stay, the pair sat in the doorway facing the enclosed backyard. It was a clear night, and the only sound that met their hypersensitive hearing was the soft snoring of the dowager's pompous orange cat.

"You don't miss living outside, do you?"

Much to her surprise, Sheegwa began to slowly nod. "Yeah, a little bit."

"Come on," Sagwa said, with a slight humor in her voice. "You don't want to be one of the alleycats, do you?"

"Hey, you came a lot closer than I did."

Sagwa's face slid into a scowl. "Don't remind me," she grumbled. Soft paws on the tile got their attention, and they looked over to see Dongwa come ambling down the steps.

"You can't sleep, either?" Sheegwa asked.

He raised his head and looked quizzically at her. "Yes, but it's time for Tai Chi."

Realization flashed quickly through her eyes. She hastily said, "Before you go, I have a question."

"Uh, sure."

"Between the alleycats and...that," she pointed to Gunji. "Who would you rather be around your kids?"

His eyes narrowed and he moved past her, finally saying, "Neither was my first choice, Sheegwa."

"You realize you're their father, not Baba?"

Dongwa looked over his shoulder as she stood up and walked further inside the palace. Seeing him hesitate, Sagwa approached him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sure I am. I'll just...be out a little later than usual."

"Don't let it bug you. She's not used to this."

"Did she tell you that?"

"Yes," Sagwa answered simply. She watched him retreat into the fancy yard before going her own way.


That morning, Dongwa was sniffing around the palace when he heard a strange sound. Turning, he startled at the sight of Fan, sliding down the handrail. He landed on all fours at the bottom and looked smugly up at his uncle.

But Dongwa wasn't impressed. "Don't do that! Don't you know where you are?"

Fan only smiled and broke into a run. Dongwa moved after him at a brisk walk. "Fan!"

But his nephew was long gone; literally bumping into Mama. She stabilized her errant grandson. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!"

"Good. No running, okay?"

He walked away, and catching up to him Dongwa relaxed, hoping the issue had been resolved...

...But by lunchtime, Fan had made it clear that he just didn't fit in. They were in the kitchen, eating on the floor like they were supposed to, when Fan decided he wanted to try human food. So he jumped up onto a chair and onto the table, approaching the dowager's plate. She shooed him off and Dongwa grabbed him by the neck, carrying him from the room with Sheegwa scrambling to catch up. He disposed of him beside the couch. "What is the matter with you, Fan? You can't do that kind of stuff here! You're not wild anymore!"

"You realize I'm his mother, not you?" Sheegwa asked, and Dongwa backed off. Wandering away from the yelling, he realized that the couch looked awfully...torn. As he stood there looking at it, Sagwa came up from behind him. Her eyes followed his to the flapping fabric and she scoffed quietly.

"We have to help him."

He nodded slowly. "Yeah. We've done that before." He looked at her and smiled then, with a confidence even he couldn't believe.