"Thank you for not eating me," Pocket Elf said to Marinette's newly adopted cat, Cinders. Cinder's gave a soft growl and marched towards the door of Marinette's small cabin. Something evil was stalking through the windows and he had to protect Marinette.
"There you are," Marinette smiled as she made breakfast. "I was started to think I should give Cat Noir the can of tuna instead," she giggled. Cinders stalked over to his dish, and Marinette looked at him, puzzled. "You've been acting weird this morning," she told her cat. Cat Noir looked up at his spot at the table when Marinette set his bacon and eggs in front of him. "And I thought I was the goofball," Cat grinned. Marinette absently ran her hand through her best friend's hair, thinking. Did Cinders know something she didn't? Already, he had eaten his food and was wanting to be let out. Acting quickly, Marinette grabbed her green cloak from the hook by the door. "Come on, Kitty. We're going on a walk," she said. Cat got up, eyeing his breakfast longingly. "Now, Princess?" Marinette shivered slightly, despite the heat coming from the fireplace. "I think there's something out in the forest and Cinders is going to lead us to it," she explained.
Pocket Elf looked up from her hammock that she had climbed into and was beginning to knit. "Just be careful, you two. Always make sure to have each other's backs." Marinette nodded seriously, and Cat took her hand. Then they ventured out into the forest, watching to see what path Cinders would lead them.
Cinders looked up at them and meowed, and took the path that forked to the left. "Cat, look," Marinette said, squatting down. It had rained during the night and the mud made their shoes muddy. A imprint that looked like a cane or walking stick made a impression in the mud. "It seems we have a visitor in the forest," Cat told her, his usually playful voice now serious.
Following the tracks, the two friends plus Cinders crept slowly through the forest. It was a bit eerie in a way, a stranger to their beloved woods while the forest birds and other woodland creatures carried on as normal. Usually, a visitor would knock on Marinette's or Cat's door, resting up and getting a bite to eat.
"Cat!" Marinette hissed and Cinders, hearing Marinette's worried voice, hissed too. "A man is walking around your cabin!" Cat growled, deep in his throat. He had seen this man before, and the man was evil. "Hawkmoth," Cat spat like he had tasted something foul on his tongue.
They were far enough away that Marinette could speak normally, but she still kept her voice down. "What's a Hawkmoth?" "He wants power, Marinette. Power of the Miraculous, I am Guardian of the box."
Marinette nodded, her face now pale. She knew how powerful the magical jewels could be, and in the wrong hands very dangerous. "Let me handle it, Princess. Get behind me and follow my lead." Marinette's throat grew dry but she as Cat told her.
"May I help you?" Cat asked, walking up to the man in a purple and black suit. Marinette could tell he came from wealth, and he wore a gray mask covering most of his face.
"Well, well, Cat Noir, we meet again," the man spoke, and Marinette tried not to shiver. The voice made her feel cold inside. "Hawkmoth. So, we cross paths once again, but it will be the same as before. You won't get my Miraculous!"
Hawkmoth grinned evil. "But you'd do anything to protect your precious girlfriend, right?" Cat let out a warning growl, making his hand into a fist. "If you touch her, I'll Cataclysm your Miraculous!" As if to prove his point, Cat called for his destructive power, and the black ball soon was swirling in his hand.
It was if time had stopped, Cat and Hawkmoth leaning towards each other. Then…..
"Owch! Ow! Get this monster off of me!" Cinders had leapt onto Hawkmoth's face, not using his claws, but so the villain couldn't see. Hawkmoth tripped and stumbled into the mud, and Cinders leapt into the undergrowth.
Covered in mud and breathing hard, Hawkmoth stared into Cat Noir's eyes. "You may have won this time, Cat Noir, but I'll be back! I swear it!"
After he had gone, Marinette sank to her knees in relief. "Princess, are you alright?" Cat lent down to her, his green eyes looking concerned. "I'm fine. You might want use your Cataclysm on that rock though."
After Cat did as he was told, he supported Marinette in his arms. "Hawkmoth has always wanted to my Miracle Box, and he has found me once again. But, thanks to Cinders, Hawkmoth gave up rather quickly. This time."
Cinders, hearing his name, padded over and jumped into Marinette's lap. "Good boy, Cinders. If you hadn't been keeping an eye on things, Hawkmoth could have grabbed the box without me knowing."
Marinette stroked Cinder's soft fur. "That's why you've been acting so strange lately. You know there was someone here that didn't belong. I'm going to cook you a big juicy salmon for lunch today."
"Uh, Princess?" Cat asked, as he helped Marinette to her feet. "Yes?" "Don't you think we should eat breakfast first before eating lunch?" Marinette laughed. "Silly me!"
When they got home and Cinders curled up by his spot by the fire, Pocket Elf came over. "Good boy, Cinders. Cat's right, with the Miraculous in the wrong hands the world could be destroyed!"
"I'd never let that happen," Cat saying, walking over to them. "Besides, with the four of us, guarding the box, there's no way Hawkmoth could win." "Don't be cocky, Cat Noir. Hawkmoth is a smart villains so be on guard," Pocket Elf said. Cat nodded.
Though everything had returned to normal in the forest, Cat would be on guard, in case the Butterfly Man returned.