"Add 5 petals of star drops, some sage," Pocket Elf muttered to herself as Marinette's cat, Cinders was stretched out and purring watching her. Marinette sighed, stirring the soup in the kettle. "Potion of Scale, huh? I feel like Cat and I could use that," Marinette mumbled. Pocket Elf turned away from her book, her small frame wavering in the orange candlelight. "You and Cat balance each out nicely."
"Yeah, but…" Marinette bit her lip, and looked around as if someone was listening. "I feel plain next to Cat at times. I don't know…." she turned back to the stew. He's so confident and poised, and here I am, clumsy and shy and I like to babble…. Marinette felt the sting of tears and it had nothing to do with onions in the stew. "Are you alright, my dear?" Marinette jumped slightly as Pocket Elf laid a tiny hand on her arm. "Yes, just tired, I guess."
Marinette didn't sleep very well that night, but the wavering candlelight calmed her. Cat would often leave a candle in the window this time of year as it got dark so early.
Cat's like my candle, isn't he? Marinette hugged her pillow. He guides me and listens to me, giving me advice when I need it. Warm and gentle like the flame, never wavering never going out. Marinette finally asleep, and Pocket Elf blew it out.
Marinette awoke to soft sunshine on her face, and she sat up, ready to start the day. She made a quick breakfast, then hurried to wash and dress. She wanted to sit by the little stream for awhile, before helping Cat with his harvest.
Patches of fog like a white blanket hung over the forest, and Marinette giggled at the birds all puffed up like little balls sitting on the branches. When she slid her feet into the water, she gave a little gasp. The water had a bite to it that hadn't been there yesterday. Though it was so coming, Old Man Winter would be knocking before the forest knew it!
Blue jays cawed overhead, the sound sharp and bold. The bubbling of the stream calmed Marinette, and the blue water shimmered in the soft sunlight.
As much as she would love to sit here all day and drink in the beauty of the forest, Marinette knew she had to get to Cat's. She reached Red Mushroom Meadow and quickened her step. Once you got to the meadow, Cat's hut was just through the trees.
Marinette was surprised when she didn't see Cat working on the garden. She was looking so intently, she didn't see the tree root in her path. Squelch!
Marinette slowly sat up, wiping the mud from her face. She sighed and sat there, wanting to cry for a moment. Cat would have seen the puddle, and leaped over it with the power and finesse like a jungle cat. Why couldn't she be more like him?
Opening the door to the hut, Marinette walked inside. "Cat?" she called. Usually, he greeted her with a hug or a kiss on the cheek. "In here, Princess!" Cat called. Marinette cocked her head to one side. Did something sound different about his voice? Marinette walked into the bedroom, and was surprised to see Cat sitting in bed, looking sweaty and feverish. "Cat, are you ill?" she walked over before he could say anything, and pressed her hand to his forehead. "Just a bit under the weather, love. What happened to you?" Marinette looked down at the floor, avoiding Cat's loving gaze. He was just looking at her, and already she could feel her cheeks ablaze like the sumac in the forest. "I fell into a mud puddle," she waited, but he didn't laugh at her like her so called "friends" in her younger days. "Go change, then lets talk," Cat said, quietly.
Marinette changed quickly, then crawled into bed with Cat, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face his chest. "I just feel so…." her voice trailed off. "Off balance with someone as perfect as you," she whispered. "I babble, I fall down. You don't want a girl like that." "Marinette, yes I do. I'm not perfect, and I love you for the just the way you are. When I first came to the forest, you saw me for me." Marinette was quiet. "You didn't see the rich and handsome man that moved into the forest. You noticed that I needed a friend, and we slowly got to know each other. Your the first girl who could care less about my looks or how much as in my bank account. You love me for me."
Marinette opened her mouth, slightly, but Cat placed a hand on her lip. "Let me finish. And you, you are a helper to the forest, Marinette. Be it making a meal for travelers or opening up your home for the night. You are sweet and kind." Cat kissed her fingertips. "If we sat in scales, Marinette, we would balance out nicely. We want to help people, and even with our flaws, we're succeeding."
"So, you really do love me? Warts and all?" Cat laughed softly, brushing a loose strand of hair, and Marinette felt her heart stutter at his gentle touch. "If the spell needed to broken like that, I would have kissed you long ago. Besides, you'd make a cute frog." "I'd rather be a Ladybug," she smiled fondly, thinking of Miraculous hidden in the cabin.
"Now, lets go harvest some vegetables. They won't pick themselves," Cat grinned. Pocket Elf watched from a distance as Cat and Marinette worked together. She was even invited to have pumpkin soup (which Marinette made) and the delicious butter and honey rolls that Marinette had taught Cat to make.
"Are you feeling better, my dear?" Pocket Elf asked that night, once again sitting by the candle. "Yes, the scales are once more balanced," Marinette said.
Cat was truly her candle, her guiding light. They were the perfect pair, helping each other on even the darkness of nights.