It was the perfect day to take a walk in the woods. It was autumn and the trees were dressed to impress in their suits of red, yellow, and orange. Cat Noir sat a berry bush, stuffing his face with berries. "Cat! Your going to make yourself sick!" Marinette laughed. Cat laid back in the leaf pile. "Do you want to know the best part of autumn, Princess?" "Getting to try all the autumn foods?" she guessed. Cat nodded.

Suddenly, she heard a frightened chirp above her. "Cat, look," she told her best friend quietly. A small blue bird stood on one of the branches shaking. The dense foliage of leaves nearly hid the bird. "I think he's injured," she told Cat who was now standing beside her. "I'll climb up and see what I can do."

"Be careful, Princess," Cat said, taking her red cloak so it wouldn't get torn. Climbing up the rough trunk of the tree, Marinette looked at the little bird. It looked over at her, and gave a little hop toward her, its wing brushing the branch. "Here, little one, let me help you," Marinette said. She cupped palms making a shallow bowl shape then the bird nestled into her palm. "Your so sweet," Marinette murmured. "Since we found you in the leaves, I think we'll name you Leaf." Waggling his tail feathers, the bird seemed to like the name. He wasn't even scared when Marinette handed Leaf down to Cat.

"Ow!" Cat said, as Marinette jumped down from the tree. "He pecked me!" "No, no, Leaf! Cat wants to be your friend," she soothed. "You didn't lick your lips while looking at him did you?" she hissed. "I'm a Cat and he's a bird! What do you think?!" Luckily, Marinette's cabin wasn't that far away and they went inside.

Marinette had herbs and plants growing everywhere, and she made a poultice for Leaf's wing. Cat held him steady while Marinette wrapped his wing with a bandage. "You look so handsome!" she said, as Leaf preened his good wing. "I'll make up a box for you."

Lining a box with soft towels in a cup shaped nest, Marinette gently set the bird inside. Leaf settled down, tucking his one good blue wing over his face.

"We'll have to find him some berries to eat, and maybe a few worms," Marinette said, walking towards the door. She knew Leaf would be hungry when he woke up and the last thing she wanted was a cranky bird!

She didn't mind having a extra visitor. The birds woke her with their morning chorus, a perfect way to start the morning. The berry bushes grew down by the stream, as Marinette picked, Cat lapped some water from the stream. "If you help pick, I'll make you a blackberry pie," Marinette told him. The blackberries were plump and juicy as well as warm from the sun. No wonder they called Autumn the season of plenty, as long as you worked hard for your labor.

Cat hummed under his breath. "One and twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie," "Cat, you are not eating Leaf!" Cat pouted as he picked and his tail slapped the leaf pile below.

Leaf sat up and chirped when he saw Marinette and Cat, but stayed in his cozy nest. He liked the juicy worms and berries they brought, then snuggled back down to sleep.

Cat helped Marinette roll out the pie crust, and she worked by the stove. The room begin to smell sweet and sugary, and Marinette was perfectly content.

Leaf grew stronger each day, then finally flying around Marinette's small cabin. He was ready to be released, and when Marinette set him on a tree branch, he turned to look at her. "You can go now, little one," she encouraged. Leaf would never forget this girl's kindness, nor the Cat's. He whistled a small melody, thanking them. Then he flew off into the trees, a splash of blue amid the trees.

"Goodbye, Leaf. Visit anytime," Marinette said, walking back towards home. Though the small bird had only stayed a short while, she would miss him.

"Thanks for helping me with him, Cat. I know you weren't the best of friends, but…." "He was a good bird, Marinette, and you healed him. He will always be grateful for your kindness."

Cat liked Marinette for ability to help others and to be their friends. Cat looked back into the trees, whispering softly. "Goodbye, Leaf, be free."