For hours they drove making a lunch out of the odd mix of items Ladybug had found at the local store. They entertained Ember by telling him stories of some of the acoma victims they had to face over the years. He seemed to take an interest in their adversaries, but was especially wrapped up in their defeat of 'Feast,' which had finally restored himself (along with the temple and the monks he loved).
They reached a bridge that crossed the Ashburton River, but found they could not get across. A tree had been dragged across the bridge blocking any passage. Ladybug and Chat stepped out of the jeep to remove it. While they were pulling it off to the side, Ladybug noticed the slight movement of scales. Without a word she grabbed Chat's tail, and yanked him backward just as a massive Saltwater Crocodile sprung up at him. Its wide mouth snapped trying to catch hold of him. With his ambush spoiled, the croc took another frustrated lunge in their direction. They jumped up, backing towards the jeep. They moved into a fighting stance; yoyo and baton ready. The creature seemed to be evaluating whether or not they were worth the effort to pursue. Ember ended the standoff by charging the croc. By brandishing his fiery wings and screeching at him, he banished him to the river.
With a glare at the firebird, and a disgruntled snap of his jaws, he slid all 3000lbs of himself down the bank. His scaled tail slapped the water, and he submerged himself. They could tell though that he hadn't slunk far. Chat was sure he felt its eyes watching from below.
"You saved me," Chat turned to Ladybug, as they tried to push the rest of the barricade of the trunk off to the side again.
"You know I always have your back Kitty," she puffed, breathing hard with the exertion of trying to remove the tree, and still buzzing on the adrenaline from facing the crocodile. "But that was way too close," she said pausing to catch her breath. "It was like it had purposefully laid an ambush for us."
Chat turned to Ember, "That was amazing Ember. You took that croc head on!" Then Chat stopped pushing too, and looked over to them both. "I know we have been trying to save our kwamis' energy, but I think this calls for a 'cataclysm!" Chat said, raising his hand and disintegrating the trunk. Chat then went back to the jeep to recharge Plagg with some -, while Ladybug and Ember stood guard, looking towards the river.
"The road is even more dangerous than my last journey," Ember stated quietly to Ladybug, "We should not tarry too long."
In agreement they jumped back in the jeep with the newly transformed Chat and drove on. It was only Ember who noticed with suspicion an Emu retreating from the jeep as they got back in. Yes, Ember thought to himself, we need to keep moving.
How much further to the next town? Chat asked Ladybug and Ember who were snacking on some crackers they had brought.
"Not for miles Ladybug," answered searching the folded map.
They continued down Nanutarra Road, when they started to hit rough sunken parts in the road. They hit one bump, than another, and then 'POP.' The jeep swung uncontrollably to the left. Flattening brush in its path. Chat gained some control, and coasted the jeep until it came to an abrupt halt in the ditch.
"Now what?" Ladybug exclaimed.
They got out to investigate the situation. It wasn't too hard to diagnose. Their rear right tire was so flat its hubcap kissed the ground. Neither of them had ever changed a tire, and although Ember was the spirit of wisdom, he had been out in the world much since the temple reappeared. (Almost a couple hundred years ago…no cars). Chat and Ladybug dug under the mess in the back of the jeep and pulled out the spare. Luckily it was old, but seemed to be in pretty good condition. But even after a desperate dig throughout their ride, they had no tools.
Well, I guess it is my turn, Ladybug stepped up. "Lucky Charm!"
A red and black spotted bandanna floated down into her hands. "No! Tiki! Why can it never be anything straight forward! What about a car jack?! A box of tools?! Ladybug was so busy waving the bandanna around her head angrily, she didn't notice the truck that had pulled up behind them.
A young man with black hair, dark skin, a white t-shirt, and jeans got out of the truck, and approached them. "Hey, are you okay, we saw you waving that red…" at this Ladybug had turned around and the man was a little surprised when he realized she was wearing a mask and what could only be ladybug pajamas. Then was even more surprised when he noticed her friend, in the black leather cat suit…in the middle of a desert. (Ember, ever wise, had hid in the jeep). "Ahh you're not from around here are you?" he asked smirking.
"Not at all," Ladybug admitted
"We blew a tire, is there any way you could help us?" Chat asked coming up beside Ladybug and scratching the back of his neck nervously.
"Sure thing, it is pretty uncommon around these parts. Although, usually people need our winch to get out of the sand," he replied good naturedly. Then called back to the truck, "Hey Bunji, can you grab the tire kit?"
A teen in board shorts and a tank top, not much younger than them, grabbed a tire jack in one hand, and a bright red metal tool box in the other. The man bent down to check out the tire, and whistled. "Bad blow out," he commented, "looks like some kind of puncture weakened the tire, and maybe the rough road did it in." His passenger, 'Bunji," set up the jack, and raised the car, while he quickly worked with Chat to remove the damaged tire, and replace it. (Ladybug had found a discrete place to charge Tiki up quickly while the others were occupied).
"I'm sure you're wondering why we're dressed like this," Chat said a bit sheepishly while he worked with the two good Samaritans.
"Well you're certainly not wearing dungarees," (At this Bunji snickered a bit), but it is not the strangest thing I've ever come across," he smiled finishing tightening the bolts. But to Chats relief that was all he said about their appearance, and did not inquire further.
"There, you go, that should hold you for a while," he finished, and stood up brushing his hands.
"Thank you so much," Chat said sincerely, and then politely offered to pay them for their help.
They shook their heads though, and Bunji hopped back into the truck with their kit. Just as the man turned to go, Chat stopped him. "Wait, I didn't get your name, "
" It's Yannathan," he smiled, then paused, "There is an Aboriginal proverb that says, "We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love…and then we return home…safe journey black cat." Then without another word got back into his truck, and sped away.
Chat, Ladybug, and Ember drove on and didn't stop till they pulled off on the side of the road where Paraburdoo joined Nautarra road. The radiator was starting to overheat, so they poured some water in, and let it cool a bit. They both walked around nearby to stretch their legs, and take separate breaks to charge up their kawamis, and grab some food for supper.
When it was time to go Adrien said "Plagg, Claws out," transformed. Then he went to put the water back in the jeep. He stepped back calling "hey LB do you want any…aaayee!" He shrieked, tripping backward on something with prickles that scuttled away into the arid brush. The creature made a faint snuffy cackle as it disappeared, while Chat ended up upside down in a bush, wriggling to free himself.
Ladybug came running, and stifled a giggle herself when she saw him.
"I'm glad you find this amusing, Chat mumbled, turning red, "Just get me out of here."
Ember and Ladybug eventually managed to right the disgruntled Kitty, and Chat picked a prickly twig out of his hair, and mumbled, "Let's get going."
"Why don't you take a break Kitty," Ladybug said kindly, "How about I drive for a bit."
Chat was about to assure her he could still manage, but decided to accept her offer to drive the last small stretch. Ladybug jumped into the drivers seat, and Chat took a look at the map. "Hey! We are getting pretty close he cheered, spirits brightening. "We are almost at Nameless Mountain Drive."
"Nameless Mountain?!" Ladybug strained to see the rugged plateau peak. "I didn't think people could run out of names for mountains."
"It was named this by people who arrived fairly recently (by kwami standards). It is the mountain the Australian kwamis refused the miraculous or the names given to them by human wielders. The mountain's original name was 'Jarndunmunha," the domain of rock wallabies. You can drive up, and we can get a view of where we need to go next."
"Cool!" Ladybug exclaimed. "A mountain we can drive up! Maybe we will even see some of these cute rock wallabies!"
So they cut around the road till they reached the base of the rough trail moving upward. Ladybug was thrilled to see a kangaroo peering at them, twitching his long ears solemnly, before bounding off. But the excitement turned to concern. There were narrow patches, and stretches where the rock had eroded, or cracked. But they kept making their way steadily forward. Chat started hearing strange noises coming from the engine that put him more on edge then the elevation. Ladybug hit a grove in the path, and the jeep grinded and clanked. A few more meters and they reached the top, but blueish black smoke started seeping out of the hood. Ladybug quickly turned off the engine, and they both ran to open the hood.
"I'm so sorry!" Ladybug sighed devastated, looking up at Chat, "I pushed it too much, and I destroyed our jeep! We shouldn't have taken this detour!"
"No, it was my fault! I should have found a better vehicle that could handle the road ahead," Chat countered.
Some of the small rock wallabies that were indeed tucked into the corners of the mountain peeked out to observe the strangely attired humans.
Ember was doing a thorough inspection while they went back and forth. "I don't think either of you are a fault," their guide announced from under the hood. He pulled out a clump of broken wires that had finally detached.
"How long is that going to take to fix?" Ladybug asked.
"Out here it might take days or even weeks to get the parts. It sure is not going anywhere soon." Chat and Ladybug looked at their crippled transport regretfully.
"It was a fun drive while it lasted," Chat lamented…well kind of…besides all the crazy stuff that happened I guess. But at least it brought us most of the way!"
"Here, let's get everything out of the jeep, and backpack down into town. I see a trail down this way, and the wind is picking up. We need to get to the nearest town before nightfall in a couple hours," Ladybug instructed jumping into strategy mode, and not wasting any more time mourning their jeep.
"I can see so far from up here!" Chat announced from the edge. "How high are we?"
"About 1128 meters above sea level," Ember answered landing on Chat's shoulder, ever a source of geographic trivia. He and Chat gazed over the sweeping view stretching across the Hammerseye Mountain ranges, across to a huge mine where the red soil was dug out in square sections, and then spotted a town not too far below.
"That must be the town of Tom Price," Ladybug guessed comparing it to the map she held under her nose.
They then rand sacked the jeep. The food and water was loaded into a canvas backpack, while the other items were tied into a bundle made out of the blanket. "Here, we should go undercover. If we're going to head into town," Chat suggested rummaging under the back seats. In triumph he pulled out some old closes from the jeep's previous owner. He dusted off a snap back cap with 'outback roadhouse' printed along the front, and handed it to Ladybug, along with a jean jacket. Then he tucked his tail around his belt, and put on some khaki pants with baggy pockets, and topped it off with a typical outback hat covering his ears.
"We look ridiculous," Ladybug complained, pulling at the over sized jacket.
"You think it won't look ridiculous to come into town dressed in a skintight cat and ladybug suit Bugaboo?" Chat inquired raising an eyebrow.
"I guess you're right, but we better keep out of sight as much as possible anyway," Ladybug grumbled.
"To keep a low profile?!" Chat asked handing her a pair of aviator sunglasses that hid most of her mask, and slipped a pair on himself, taking a model pose for her to admire.
No because my fashion career will be over before it can begin if anyone sees me in this, Ladybug thought to herself, but just rolled her eyes at Chat, and grabbed the blanket bundle, double checking that the oyster was still secure. Then she tossed the backpack to Chat.
"Let's just get of the 'Nameless' mountain before we loose our light," she said trailing Ember.
The path down to the town was uneven and steep. Frequently their foot would start to slide on gravel, sending it raining down the ridges below. The wind was getting stronger and stronger as they moved forward. The currents picked up the red dust forming dirt devils, and coated everything. They did not have to worry about anyone recognizing them after all with a think layer of grit turning each of them into an orangish zombie-like creature, wandering blindly.
As they reached the bottom of the trail, they were exhausted and parched. Some rock wallabies bounded away at5 their arrival. It was already dusk, and the sun was sinking. But rather than it becoming more quiet, the growing darkness seemed to awaken all forms of life. They could hear creatures and insects chirping and clicking.
Chat collapsed on a rock, readjusting the backpack straps so that he could stretch. He set it down beside him. Usually there was no time than in the midst of a good luxurious stretch that Chat looked more like…well a cat….but not this time. In his wide brimmed hat, baggy pants, all dust coated, he looked like some strange creature from Mars.
"Come on Chat," Ladybug urged. "I'd rather get into town before anything else happens…"
But then…something else happened.
When she had addressed Chat, her words were cut short by the reflection of two eyes glowing from beside the rock Chat was lounging on. As it moved forward from the shadows Ladybug recognized it as a large tan dog.
"Ah Chat…" she warned.
Chat looked down started.
The dog did not attack, but instead grabbed one of the straps of the backpack, and sprinted into the bush, dragging her loot behind her. Chat ran partway into the bush after her, when Ladybug pulled him back.
"Chat, no, you don't know what else might be out there!"
"That dingo stole all our food and water!" Chat groaned.
"A dingo?" Ladybug asked.
"A dingo, a wild dog," Chat nodded.
"No jokes about cats and dogs?!" Ladybug smirked.
"How are you the one joking when we have lost all our supplies?!" Chat asked throwing up his hands, "we've lost everything!"
"All is not lost," Ladybug replied holding up the blanket bundle, "plus, I've still got you." She added, and kissed him on his dusty cheek, spinning on her heel and heading for town with a skip in her step.
Chat was surprised, but broke into a goofy grin. As he padded along behind, trying to catch up to this girl who even now knew just how to drive him crazy.
A little mouse or mole-like creature, a bilby, not normally a resident in this territory peeked out from a leaf she had been watching from. She cleaned some of the dust from her paws, and then padded after the two humans, lit by Phoenix light.
Once they had got into the caravan park they had got a few strange looks from locals and backpackers, but they were able to find someone who lent them a small pop up tent. They were also pointed in the direction of the showers. Chat finished up first and easily set up the tent. Exhausted after everything from the day he laid down with a thud, and assembled the blanket over himself. Ember folded himself up into Chat's hat, and turned his beak neatly under his wing. Ladybug drew back the flap of the tent a bit later, and stepped inside. She zipped it up tight to prevent any of the relentless black flies from swarming in. She slipped in next to Chat under the blankets to warm up from the cold dessert air outside.
Chat hesitated a moment realizing how close she was snuggled up to him. He risked slipping his arm around her (to warm her up he told himself). Ladybug froze as his arm pulled her close, but then relaxed into his warmth. They lay there together, blocking out the coldness of the world. Chat noticed Ladybug's breathing turning into soft snores…and that is when Chat Noir realized he had never known pure bliss like he had in holding his lady in his arms. He adjusted the blanket gently over her, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.