When Sagwa realized they were closer to the alley than the dowager's palace, she knew she couldn't go on without a break. She climbed through the gate thinking how nice it would be if her family was there waiting for her; and she was freeing the satchel from the ornate design when she noticed the presence of someone new.

"Sheegwa? What are you doing here?"

Oh, no... Wu-Ming. How could she have forgotten about him? Well, watching her nephew float towards a raging waterfall probably did it. She turned around and tried to instantly master the bossy quality everyone thought she had. "None of your business!"

"It kind of is, if you left the pack to fend for—"

"The pack has Siao-Po."

"No..." Wu-Ming smiled at her then, "Siao-Po is here."

She nodded, trying to stand tall. "Fair enough. Pack doesn't exist anymore." Then, giving her nephew a nudge, she added, "Go to bed," and watched him wander through the alley. Turning around, she started to follow Fan to the water, where she could hear splashing; but instead found herself looking at a feline-shaped shadow in front of her. She looked up at Jet-Jet sitting on the wall.

Wu-Ming slunk off, and Jet-Jet joined Sagwa on the ground; scenting her out. Being the only one who had ever gotten close enough to the sisters, he could tell the difference. And she knew it.

"Why didn't you correct him?"

"I thought it was better if he assumed I was someone he respected. Less trouble."

"Lie stacked upon lie as long as you're here. Doesn't sound like less trouble."

"It's one night. I'm just trying to get home."

Sagwa turned and went to where Fan was laying on the ground. He had cleaned up in the shallows, but hadn't bothered combing his fur. Sagwa sat beside him and began raking her claws through his coat; and from a distance, Siao-Po watched, as messenger Wu-Ming left him. And he wondered why Song hadn't come along. Whatever his mate had to tell him, had to be very important...


When Sagwa woke up the next morning, she saw paw prints leading out of the water and into the bag. She slung it on, cringing at her nephew's weight on her aching back. She was definitely starting to feel her age...How did Dongwa feel?

"Well, I hope you have a good life," she told Jet-Jet, as she passed him by. She crawled with difficulty through the gate and once again freed the corner off the rung—the same one that had caught the bag last night. Turning around, she saw Siao-Po approaching her. "What do you want?"

"What do you mean, what do I want?" he demanded. "You show up here with our son. You're taking off with no pack to go back to; I don't see Song anywhere... Isn't there something you have to tell me?"

He must have caught her scent then, because his anger shifted into apprehension. He stepped closer and scented her again, then sighed in relief.

"Song is safe and sound. With her mother," Sagwa informed him. She thought about the times he had spent with Dongwa, and how close they were; and how crucial it had been to reunite their family. She frowned at him as she wrestled with her decision, finally saying, "I guess you can tag along if you want."

"Thanks. But nobody wants to see me."

Sagwa turned away with nothing more to add. She walked dutifully forward. "Go to sleep, Fan. Hopefully we're there by the time you wake up."

She began walking only slightly faster, wishing only to make it happen.


But nearly an hour later, she still couldn't hear him snoring. She could only hear the distant music of the circus.

Having skipped breakfast, she walked until the emptiness hurt. "Are you hungry, Fan?" she asked, and expected his answer. But none came. No answer; and yet, no snoring. She shrugged out of the satchel and the flap came open. And rocks spilled out. In a panic, she pulled on the bag until it was empty. Just rocks.

Her legs tried giving out and she stumbled. He had run away? She was trying to get him home, she had saved his life, she was doing all the hard work—and he had run away?

But, the paw prints... Sagwa pushed the satchel over onto its other side. And saw the dark patch where Fan had rubbed the water from his paws. So that he wouldn't make any more prints.

No way could she go home without him. Wherever home was. Sheegwa wouldn't understand, and nobody would ever get over it. Her failure. Sheegwa would hate her. They all would. Maybe it wasn't her job, but she had taken it upon herself to bring him back.

The circus music again met her ears. Her head lifted as she realized where he would run away to.

Sagwa jumped to all fours and took off running, leaving the satchel behind. Her paws struck the ground at an impossible speed. Her heart hammered. She stopped on top of a cliff and looked out at the crowd, clustered around performing feline shapes.

She slid down the incline and ran towards the sound of applause. She weaved through the feet of countless spectators, hoping that it was Fan's performance impressing the crowd. But she only saw strangers. Her paws were sweating as she moved through the interior circumference of the crowd to get to the tent. Ignoring the show entirely, she darted inside. It was dark and quiet, only containing possessions. "Fan?" Sagwa asked softly. She began navigating the maze. "Fan!"

But again, she received no answer. She exited the tent and found herself running from the angry swing of a broom. Outdistancing the human, she looked around for her nephew and sagged in exhaustion and defeat.

He'd be here. She knew he'd be here. So she jumped onto a tall rock, sat down, and waited; looking for him from the vantage point. And before she could even think of giving up and watching the performers instead, she saw a bundle of fluff moving towards her; a pair of low down green eyes entirely focused on the performers. Fan emerged into the light, stopping when suddenly Sagwa landed in front of him.

She approached. "You are in so much trouble, Fan!"

"I'm sorry..."

"No you're not. I know your type." She stepped back, leering at him. "Okay, wise guy."

His eyes shifted nervously, then she pushed him with a gentle paw. "Now it's your turn to lead. The palace is that way." She pointed.

"I don't want to go back to the palace!"

"I spent my life looking for your mother. Start walking," she hissed, and followed him away from watchful eyes.