Why the Cat Missed the Zodiac

Long, long ago, high above the clouds, the Jade Emperor lived in a palace of silk and quiet light. One evening he leaned over the edge of his balcony and looked down at the earth. 'The people need something to count the years with,' he said softly to himself. 'I will ask twelve animals to lend their names to twelve years, so that no year is quite the same.' He breathed out, and his breath became a silver path that wound all the way down to the forests and riverbanks of the earth.

The silver path found its way over the mountains and into a small grove where a cat and a rat lived together. They were the best of friends. The cat had fur like milk and large green eyes that blinked slowly. The rat was tiny and quick, and her whiskers trembled when she laughed. In the evenings they curled up side by side under the same root and shared the same dreams. 'It is good to have a friend,' the cat would say. 'It is even better to have you,' the rat would answer.

That evening a soft wind drifted in through the leaves and carried the Jade Emperor's voice with it. 'Hear me, all you animals,' the wind whispered. 'Tomorrow, when the sun rises, twelve of you shall race across the great river. The first twelve will lend their names to the years.' The cat and the rat sat up and looked at each other with wide eyes. 'We must be in the race!' said the rat eagerly. The cat yawned and stretched. 'I sleep deeply,' she said. 'Promise you will nudge me when it is time.' The rat laid her paw on her heart. 'I promise.'

The news spread like wind through the forest. The ox rose slowly and sharpened his hooves on a stone. The tiger stretched against a tree and smiled to himself. The rabbit bounded happily in a clearing. The dragon lifted her head above the river and blew out little clouds. The snake coiled in the grass, the horse snorted, the goat grazed calmly, the monkey climbed a branch, the rooster preened his feathers, the dog wagged his tail, and the pig rolled contentedly in the moss. Twelve animals, but only twelve places. Everyone wondered who would arrive first.