"Are we there yet?"

Hearing a disgruntled sigh, Fan looked over at his cousins, unsure of which one had spoken. "Don't be annoying."

The parade went on silently. For a few seconds. Then Ying-Hua spoke again. "Can we take a break?"

"No." Hun-Hun's voice was non-negotiable.

"Okay, but I don't know how much longer I can hold it."

The line halted. Hun-Hun sighed and looked at her daughter. "Go. And come right back."

"I know, I know," she grumbled, and disappeared into the bushes. Yeh-Yeh slunk off into the bushes on the other side of the trail, and the rest of the clowder waited on the path. Mama took it as a grooming opportunity and soon they were back in motion. She kept looking at Fan, who walked quietly at the head of the group with his sister and cousins.

"I'm proud of him," Mama said quietly. "He's so well-behaved."

"Not really," came Sheegwa's disheartened answer. She met her mother's inquisitive eyes. "He tried to run away."

She shook her head then, narrowing her eyes. "He wouldn't have done this with his father around."

Sensing her cue, Sagwa had to interrupt. "We were in the alley when it happened."

Sheegwa was quiet, appearing to have nothing left to say.

"Where did you find him, Sagwa?" her grandfather questioned.

"The circus. Bei-Hu sends his regards," she added as an afterthought.

"You saw him?"

"Yeah. Fan knocked into him fighting over a locust." Sagwa's eyes hesitantly met her sister's. "Do you eat those?"

"Just the annoying ones."

Up ahead, Ying-Hua ducked her head and tried not to annoy the aunt with whom she was unfamiliar, but of whom she was scared. They walked in peace and Sagwa's mind began to wander. Then Dongwa's voice broke into her thoughts.

"They any good?"

Sheegwa's face twisted into an infrequent smile. "They're disgusting. But it's worth it not to listen to them."

Mama shared a glance with her mate, suddenly overcome with the desire to exact revenge on the Magistrate. Well, maybe this was her chance. Thinking only of the foolish decision to kick them out of the palace, subjecting them to everything that had happened to them; she didn't notice the joy lighting up her granddaughters' faces as they observed the sunlight shining on the golden leaves.


Unfortunately the weather couldn't stay beautiful forever; and before long the bright sun had regressed to heavy rain. This time when thunder shook the sky, Sheegwa didn't feel fear. She didn't even feel concern when Song cried out in alarm. "Oh, relax," Fan admonished, and proceeded to explain to her what thunder was. Above the rain and his rant of intelligence, the others watched their surroundings and listened for danger; and not for the first time, Sagwa wished the children would do the same. Maybe one day, but it wasn't going to happen tonight.

Somehow, the mature cats who were listening for trouble, didn't hear it coming. Somehow it was Fan, who stopped talking and stopped moving. He tried curling his tail, the way his father would have done to signal the others. But it just wasn't cooperating. Stupid short tail. So he turned around to call to them, crashing into his uncle.

"What's up, little guy?"

His answer came in the form of a huge cracking sound in the foliage directly beside them; drowning out the sound of the rain. Yeh-Yeh crept slowly closer, protective of the ones he loved. His failing hearing couldn't detect his son's protest over the noise. And then the beast emerged, stepping heavily through the trees. Its eyes glowed in the flash of lightning that illuminated its sharp horns. It advanced on the aged cat, who in his attempt to avoid the horns and hooves, got knocked onto his back. He defensively raised his paws. He had already gone down—but he wouldn't let it be easy. He started scratching the Yanbian. Hun-Hun's efforts to aid the old man were futile; as the others attempted to win the fight with their words.

Suddenly the bull lifted its head with a terrifying snarl and spun around to face a new attacker. Yeh-Yeh rolled out of the way as its hooves relocated on the trail. Suddenly the Yanbian trotted into the darkness, chuffing in displeasure. Siao-Po stood in its wake; his claws and mouth painted red. In the silence, Song rushed forward to lean into his leg, and he raised his paw to return her small embrace.

Yeh-Yeh climbed to his paws and stood on trembling legs, but brushed off his family's concern. "I'm okay. I'm okay."

All eyes went to Siao-Po. Sheegwa knew she needed to ask if he was okay, but the words wouldn't come. She felt way too awkward. Insecurity—that was something she thought she had outgrown a long time ago. Maybe he knew she wanted to ask, maybe he didn't. His face gave away nothing. He said nothing. He turned around and followed the trail; and they pursued him. Saying nothing.


The falling rain and the wet grass cleansed his paws, but his face was still an invitation of question as he clambered roughly through the gate. It took some time for the family of twelve to follow him inside. He ignored the alleycats once more, heading to the nearby sea to wash. He could feel it. He could taste it. And he was more reluctant to look at his reflection than he had been to save his children.

The alleycats chased him to the water's edge. "What happened?" Jet-Jet asked.

"A bull." His voice was sharp. He sat at the water and looked at the lapping waves, wishing they would leave him to bathe in peace. But in their silence, it was Sheegwa who spoke; affirming that he wasn't meant to get his way.

"How did you know what to do?"

Siao-Po startled at the voice he'd been hearing for most of his life, then raised his eyes to hers. "I didn't."

Seeing the alleycats looming there still, he looked over at them. And raised his voice. "Would you just go, please?"

They scoffed at him, and Sheegwa carefully got their attention. "Please. We need a minute."

"You can go, too," Siao-Po grumped. "I did it for them."

"I know why you did it."

Siao-Po gritted his teeth, then stood up and turned on the alleycats. "Get out of here."

"Who do you think you are, our leader?" Lik-Lik demanded.

"Rule number one—"

"This place doesn't have rules. That's the point," Wing-Wing interrupted. With another scoff, he guided his pals away from the water. "Gotta be a housecat," he muttered.

Alone with Siao-Po, she sat beside him and watched him cleanse himself.

"What were you doing out there?" she asked.

"Don't talk."

"We need to. You're an observant tracker, but... You couldn't have known."

Siao-Po dropped his paw into the water and hesitated for a moment, then surged to all fours and waded back out, his toilette not even partially done. He stood before her, dripping everywhere. "Sagwa came here with Fan," he growled. "She carried him in a bag, thought he was still inside. I found it on the ground full of rocks. What I didn't find was you."

Sheegwa sighed, averting her eyes.

"Where were you?"

When she wouldn't speak, he did. "The night they got here, Fan told me what the human did. Got to say, I have a newfound respect for your sister. She did what had to be done, and you..." He scoffed. "You would have let him die."