CHAPTER ELEVEN:
INTO THE WOODS
Marinette ran like she never ran before, not looking back once.
As she swept past the kitchens, she stole a small napkin lying on one of the tables and used it as a bandage for her bleeding arm. Then, she proceeded back down the hall with all haste.
The fairies were probably sleeping by now, utterly oblivious to what their precious master had done to their beloved guest. Marinette wondered if they would bother staying with Cat Noir once they learned what had happened. It didn't matter now. This castle and everything in it were no longer her concern.
She stole through the castle entrance and made for the stables, praying there was a spare horse that take her as far away from this place as possible. To her relief, the same white stallion who had brought her here was grazing calmly on a bail of hay. He looked up at Marinette when she approached him. Only then did Marinette realize she had no food or supplies packed for the journey home. Well, she would have to make do without. She had meant what she said to Cat Noir, and nothing was going to stop her.
Marinette grabbed the horse's reins and said sternly, "Take me back to Villeneuve."
The stallion no doubt understood her, but it whinnied with something like confusion or dread. His unruly new rider didn't wait for him to object. Marinette hoisted herself onto the saddle and urged him forward. "Hyah! Hyah!" she shouted.
The great white beast sprinted out of the stables and into the snowstorm. It followed the main cobblestone pathway leading to the icy castle gates. They seemed to respond to the horse's presence, for they swept open just in time for Marinette and her steed to come racing through.
An iron-like taste appeared on her tongue, and Marinette sputtered, but the horse galloped on.
The snow-ridden forest swallowed them up. The once-beautiful trees now stood out like dead, gnarly hands that seemed to reach out to them. Marinette squinted through the whirlwind, blinking furiously so she wouldn't lose sight of the trail.
Despite the chill and the haunting manifestation of the woods, Marinette started to relax. She was going home! She would see her mother and father again, and they now had enough money to leave the country and go wherever they want. Marinette might even convince Alya to come with her, and Nino, too! Oh, she couldn't wait to see the looks on both their faces when they saw her!
An eerie howl broke through the sounds of the storm, and Marinette's hopeful fantasy was short-lived.
The stallion grounded to a halt and neighed fearfully, jumping up and down on its hooves. Marinette regained control and patted him on the neck. "It's okay," she cooed. "We're okay. Come on." She nudged the horse's side with her foot, and he took off once again.
They hadn't gone more than a hundred feet before another howl sounded, followed by several more.
Marinette's insides turned solid as she glanced over her shoulder.
Monstrous, blurry white shapes swept towards them beyond the veil of trees, barking and snarling with hunger. Wolves!
Marinette whipped the reins. "Hyah!"
The horse was more than happy to obey, and it picked up the pace.
They rode hard along the trail, but the snarling was growing louder. Marinette tried not to look, knowing she needed to focus on getting out of there alive. But now, the trail was becoming denser, and more branches lingered in their way. One of them whipped against Marinette's face, and she winced from the hot slice on her cheek.
Suddenly, something nudged her left leg, and Marinette cried out as a wolf tried – and failed – to jump on her.
The notion, surprisingly, made Marinette angrier. "Back! OFF!" she shouted, steering her stallion hard to the left. She drove the unsuspecting wolf into a nearby tree, and it smacked against the trunk hard enough to shake the snow off its branches. The wolf whimpered, but Marinette paid it no further heed as she rode on.
That was only one wolf. There were still more chasing her.
Marinette looked back, surprised to see only three on her tail now. Weren't there more of them, or did their intertwining howls make it sound like there were more? Marinette reaffixed her gaze on the trail ahead, hoping she would never find out.
Sadly, karma had a cruel way of shattering all hope.
Four more wolves emerged onto the path, blocking the horse's trajectory. Marinette gasped and made a snap decision: she steered the stallion down a narrow, root-infested trail nearby. The wolves clearly did not like that and pursued them with agitated barks and snapping jaws.
Faster, faster, faster! Marinette thought, but she knew that one hoof in the wrong place, and it was all over. She needed to find an open area!
Glancing around through the storm, she spotted a large slab of white along the ground several feet to the right. The frozen lake! Marinette redirected her steed towards the landmark. It sped down the woodland hill, leaping over fallen logs and large batches of roots.
The wolves, however, were no strangers to the difficult terrain. A few of them leapt onto the logs and up into the giant tree branches to get a higher vantage point. Thankfully, Marinette steered her horse out of the way before the beasts could jump her from above.
It wasn't long before she rode onto the lake, the stallion's hooves padding hard against the thick layer of snow. Marinette prayed with all her heart that the ice was strong enough to hold a large horse and its rider… and a pack of hungry wolves.
Tha-thump-tha-thump-tha-thump… The hoofbeats quickened, but the wolves were not far behind.
Just then, Marinette saw something white streaking along the corner of her eye. She looked and saw to her horror that a few members of the pack had broken off and were racing along the edge of the lake, quicker than Marinette imagined. It made her realize her folly. If the wolves managed to get ahead of her to the other side of the lake, Marinette would never get past them… and her pursuers would finally get a warm meal.
Suddenly, a small section of the ice cracked and caved in, and the horse staggered a bit. The motion forced it to slow down as it tried to steer clear.
That was enough time for one of the wolves behind it to leap up, and a few hundred pounds of muscle slammed right into Marinette. She screamed as she fell from her saddle and landed hard on the ice, her hair breaking out of her ponytails and obscuring her face.
The horse whinnied in terror, and the wolves were yapping at each other.
Marinette briskly swept her hair away and scrambled to her feet, wobbly and sore. The toe of her foot nudged something half-buried in the snow, hard but hollow like wood. A fallen branch! Thinking quickly, Marinette pulled it free and held it out like a sword as she turned to face the wolves, her cheek stinging against the bite of the wind.
Three wolves crept towards her, baring their sharp, mangy fangs at her. The others were advancing on the stallion, who kicked one of them away and bucked at the others. Marinette knew she had to fight off the ones she was facing first before going to help her four-legged companion, or neither of them were getting out of here. She nudged her makeshift weapon at the wolves, daring them.
The one on the right tried to nip her ankle, but Marinette stepped aside and swung her stick, driving all three of them back. The middle wolf drew too close and got clubbed in the head, and it went sprawling. Dazed, to be sure, but still conscious. Marinette also got the third one in the neck, and then forced the first one back when it tried its luck again.
Now, Marinette had a clear shot for the stallion, who was urgently trying to buck off a wolf that had bounded onto its back. Marinette rushed over and whacked the predator clean off, sending it skidding along the ice. The horse neighed and backed up towards the shore while Marinette held her stick up at the wolf pack, ready to strike.
The beasts growled and licked their chops threateningly, each one impatient and eager to make the kill.
But then, the largest one yapped at its brothers. One of its eyes was covered with hideous claw-like scars, like it had been mauled by a bear not too long ago. From the way the other wolves obeyed and spread out in a semi-circle, Marinette was certain this wolf was the alpha male.
The leader now directed all his attention on the blue-haired girl before him. His mouth pulled far back over his teeth, revealing black gums, and his back muscles arched as he crouched low. A low growl rumbled from within him. His brethren raised their heads and howled up to the night sky in a synchronized song, and suddenly, Marinette didn't feel so brave anymore. This wolf was much bigger and clearly much stronger than the others. And he wanted the brave human girl all to himself. But Marinette readjusted her grip on her stick and waited for him to draw closer.
The alpha's feet prodded forward, one at a one.
A little more, that's it.
Finally, when it looked like the wolf was ducking to the left, Marinette sidestepped and swung at him.
The alpha moved faster and caught the end of the branch whole in his jaws. Marinette gasped and tried to wrench it free, but the beast had years of tug-of-war experience behind him. Within seconds, he ripped the branch free from Marinette's hands, almost causing her to fall forward.
Marinette stared at the wolf, wide-eyed and horrified, as it tossed her only weapon away like a clean-picked bone. The rest of the pack howled again in triumph.
No… No, no, no…
Marinette couldn't stop shaking. Her mind had gone numb, and all the courage she had before went out of her like water being dumped out of a bucket.
The alpha barked, and suddenly, one of the other wolves to the far end of their little semi-circle pounced forward.
Marinette cried out as she fell to the ground. She tried to roll back up, but the wolf now held her cloak firmly in its mouth, preventing her from squirming away. Marinette panicked and tried to wrench free. "No!" she cried, knowing full well that no one was around to hear her. No one was coming to save her.
She heard another growl, and she managed to glance down her body at the alpha male stalking towards her. He crouched again, this time to spring on its freshly-caught prey. And as he let out a blood-curling snarl, Marinette screamed at the top of her lungs.
The wolf leader leapt, and she uselessly held up an arm to shield herself.
BAM!
Something tackled the alpha in mid-air with a fearless yell, leaving Marinette unscathed.
She almost fainted when she realized she was still alive, but the sight of the dark figure wrestling with the alpha wolf made her refocus. The figure tore the beast off and threw him towards the other wolves, who backed away and snapped menacingly at the mysterious predator who had robbed their leader of his kill.
The creature rose on two legs, its tattered black cloak billowing behind it… and looked right at Marinette with those glowing green eyes that now bore unwavering resolve.
Marinette gaped at him breathlessly.
Cat Noir held her gaze for what felt like a good long minute. Then, he twirled his metal staff in his hands and leapt over with another yell. Not to attack her, Marinette realized, but to strike the wolf pinning her to the snow. The creature yelped in pain as it was sent flying.
With that finished, Cat Noir flipped over to stand between the fallen Marinette and the livid wolves. A dark knight shielding his lady.
The blunette's mind raced. He… He saved me?
"Cat…" she began, her voice raw from screaming.
"Stay behind me," he said over his shoulder before sinking into a defensive stance.
The wolves prowled forward, and Marinette crawled back on all fours.
One wolf growled. Cat Noir let out a throaty hiss in return.
Then… the fighting started.
The wolves attacked as one, but Cat Noir was ready for them. He dashed, swung, kicked and dodged in every direction, picking of the pack one by one. He never once used his claws, unless it was to grab a wolf by the scruff of its fur and fling it away. Most of the time, he fought with his trusty staff. He moved so graciously, like a dancer or an acrobat, but he fought with the strength and prowess of a well-seasoned soldier.
Marinette couldn't believe her eyes, nor could she turn away from the sight of it all.
But even one humanoid beast had little chance of holding off a pack of wolves for very long.
Marinette looked just in time to see a stray wolf charging at Cat Noir from behind. She didn't know what possessed her to do so, but she cried, "Watch out!"
Cat Noir turned just in time to take the tackling wolf full in the chest. Luckily, he had brought his staff out in front of him, so the only thing the wolf bit into was the metal rod. But it still dug its claws into his clothes. Cat Noir grunted through clenched teeth as he wriggled underneath the predator's hulking form. Another wolf came over and bit his leg. Cat Noir let out a pained yell before kicking it away. Then, he rolled over and flung the clawing wolf off of him, sending it crashing into one of the trees along the nearby shore.
Panting and wincing from the bite in his leg, Cat Noir slowly got to his feet, his furry ears twitching left and right. The wolves were now backing away from him.
Marinette glanced over each of them. Wait a minute, she thought. Where's the –?
A white, scarred form jumped right onto Cat Noir's back, and before he could throw him off, the alpha male sank all his teeth into the boy's shoulder.
Cat Noir screamed and fell to one knee.
Marinette covered her mouth, stifling her gasp.
The wolf dug in deeper, and trickles of blood splattered onto the snow around them. In the stormy darkness, it looked like black ink. Cat Noir had no choice but to drop his staff and reach back with both hands, stabbing his claws into both sides of the alpha wolf. Only then did the beast relinquish his grip with a cry of agony.
Grunting through his bared teeth, Cat Noir heaved the wolf up into the air with both hands, displaying it for all the others to see. Then, with a strained throaty yell, he threw the alpha towards the tree with all his remaining strength.
The wolf slammed into a tree before collapsing onto the ground, whimpering. He shook his head and staggered back onto his paws. The rest of the pack hung back, wondering if they should avenge their leader or wait for orders.
Marinette eyed them for a moment, and then looked back at Cat Noir.
He was pressing his hand against the ugly wound in his shoulder. Despite his efforts, it was still bleeding heavily, and Cat Noir looked like he was going to pass out. But he took long jagged breaths and straightened up as he stared over at the pack leader, his face twisted with both pain and amusement.
When the wolf met his green eyes, Cat Noir smirked. "What's the matter, boy?" he cooed. "Cat got your tongue?"
The alpha let out another vicious snarl, not willing to back down.
Cat Noir reeled and frowned with annoyance. "All right… you asked for it." He inhaled deeply through his nose. Then, he unleashed a pure, feral roar at the alpha that sounded like a mix between a lion and a cheetah.
The sound shook the ice beneath Marinette's body, and several mounds of snow fell from the trees bordering the lake. A cold rush flowed through Marinette and brushed down her spine before vanishing.
The alpha's ears flattened, and his black eyes no longer looked at Cat Noir with hatred and hunger… but with fear. A natural-born predator, showing true fear. With a final whimper, the wolf leader took off towards the forest and yelped at his brothers to follow. The other wolves, who were also whining and cowering away, wasted no time in chasing after their alpha and making haste for the safety of their dark domain.
The yips and defeated howls of the pack faded away, until no sound remained but the wind of the dying storm… and Cat Noir's laboured breathing.
Somehow, Marinette managed to stand up, even though her limbs felt like water. She was freezing, her cheek was still throbbing, and her head was buzzing. But other than that, she felt remarkably fine.
The white stallion trotted over to her and nudged her elbow, but she barely paid it any heed. All she knew and saw right now was the cat creature standing ahead of her, gazing out into the woods and clutching his injured shoulder. A small pool of blood lay in a crescent beside his furry, feline feet, and more drops were falling onto the snow around it like stars. Cat Noir's tail brushed jaggedly against the ground.
Finally, he turned to Marinette, his breath forming in front of his face in great gushes. He was exhausted, and in so much pain – she could see it all over his face, even with the furry mask covering his eyes.
Marinette's hair blew loosely in the wind, and the horse was now nudging her harder. She wondered if she should say something, but all that fighting and screaming had sucked her throat dry.
Suffice it to say, Cat Noir looked like he was lost for words as well, or maybe he was too weak to say anything at all. But the look he gave her was one of genuine regret and satisfying relief – light and darkness swirling together like the fading rays of twilight.
Cat Noir blinked several times as he staggered over to his staff. But as he bent over to pick it up, he groaned in agony he sucked in a sharp breath. He was shivering now, and he finally fell to his knees. Then, his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he collapsed face-first into the snow. Little flakes of it went flying away from his mouth as he loosed a long, soft sigh.
Marinette stared at him numbingly before turning to calm the anxious horse. When she was ready, she braced both hands on both ends of the saddle and prepared to pull herself up.
At the last second, she stopped.
Like a snowflake melting upon her hand, all of Marinette's muddled thoughts became clear, and she suddenly realized what she was doing.
This creature, this beast, this… Cat Noir… had kept her confined to his castle. He had frightened her, and he had scratched her.
But… then… why?
That word rang through Marinette like the rumble of a drum.
He saved me. He came all the way out here, and… he saved me.
Why? Why would he do that? After I disobeyed him; after what he did to me?
Why? He's just a… a…
At that moment, Marinette remembered what Plagg had told her earlier that night: He's not as bad as he appears.
Not as bad…
He didn't have to save me… but… he did anyway.
Marinette's shoulders sank, and a wave of realization and guilt swept over her, as cold and biting as the snow. She stared out into the open darkness, wondering what she should do. But she instantly knew that the answer she was looking for was lying half-dead on the ice behind her.
Without hesitating, Marinette turned and ran over to retrieve the metal staff. Then, she approached the fallen Cat Noir.
His golden hair was crusted with ice, and he looked so still and peaceful. The snow beneath his wound had now turned a dark red. Marinette knelt beside him, removed her mitten and checked his pulse at his neck, just like her mother had once taught her. His heartbeat was weak and barely noticeable.
There wasn't much time.
Marinette whistled at the stallion, and it trotted over to her. Then, Marinette removed her blue cloak and swept it over Cat Noir's freezing body like a blanket. He stirred and opened his eyes just a smidge.
"Get up," she told him gently.
He groaned, and his eyelids drifted closed again.
Marinette shook him by his good shoulder. "Get up, Cat," she said with more insistence. "I can't lift you on my own, and if you stay here, you'll die. You need to stand."
He seemed to have heard her, because then Cat Noir was blinking up at her. As though he was seeing her for the first time.
Then, very slowly and very painfully, he nodded.
It took a lot of time, and a lot of effort, mostly on Marinette's part.
But in the end, both she and Cat Noir were racing back to the enchanted castle on the back of the stallion, who knew the way home by heart. Marinette rode in the saddle while her injured savior sat in front, leaning unconscious against her. She had to wrap an arm around his waist to keep him from slipping off while she held the horse's reins in her other hand.
Once in a while, Cat Noir would murmur something in his sleep. And when they finally reached the safety of the castle gates and slowed down to a gentle trot, Marinette could have sworn she heard him say her name.
Not her actual name, though. It was the name he had given her on the first day they met: Milady.
