"Ladybug, wait!" I catch hold of her arm before she dashes off towards the water. "Cat, let go. We have to refill the bottles." "M'lady, what if you fell in? That's some powerful water. Remember when you made that grass basket. Let's see if we can make another one of those." "You'll make one?" she smiles, booping my nose. "Okay, if you can find enough grass, I'll make the basket." We do a pound it, and I walk towards the edge of the water where tall grass is growing. Well, that was easy.
I spoke to soon. The grass is anchored into the fast-flowing water, and I yank and pull to no avail. I hear a giggle, and find Ladybug watching me, a light blush on her face. "Need some help?" I nod. Even together the grass doesn't give up the fight easily, but at last we have enough for the basket. Ladybug sighs as she sits down on the ground, and I sit beside her, giving her a concerned look. "What's wrong, love?" I ask, putting a hand on her knee. "With the time it took for us to pull up the grass, it throws us off schedule. Who's going to get the firewood and cook?" "I'll take care of it," I tell her, leaning forward and kissing her cheek. Our eyes linger, then I shake myself free of from her spell. "Here, use the bow and arrows."
As I walk into the woods, I wonder what could be wrong, its unlike her to get flustered like that. Is it because she kissed me as Adrien and now feels guilty about it? I shove it from my head, making sure to keep quiet as I look for game. I find a couple of birds and a hazelnut bush. I gather as many nuts as possible, for not only can Ladybug add these to the stew, they can provide snacks for later. Just as I'm about to head for camp, I dive back under the bushes when I hear voices close by.
"Boss is thinking of heading back to Paris soon," I hear a male voice say, and instantly my cat-ears are alert. A second voice laughs, roughly. "Why, Paris is nothing but a pile of ash and rubble." "Hawmoth will stop at nothing to get the Miracle Box." "But I thought he only needed the earrings and ring to-" "Sendi! Do you ever listen? Just because those are the two he wants most, doesn't mean he can't have extra powers." "I do too, listen, Tuff! Your just always in my way!"
I wait until I'm sure they are out of sight, then slowly crawl out of hiding. I must get to Ladybug as soon as possible, for we are either being followed or we are close to the castle. But that doesn't add up, I think to myself as I walk back to camp. My heart speeds up as I walk into camp, with no sign of Ladybug.
The bad guys didn't find her making the basket did they? I want to call out, but afraid it could give us away. Just then, Ladybug pulls herself from the stream in her Aqua Powers. The sun shines off her purple tints and ribbons and my mouth falls open. She's so beautiful.
"Cat, did you-" Ladybug stops and walks over to me, shutting my mouth gently. "Close your mouth, or a bird is going to make a nest." I clear my throat, tripping over my next words. "Ugh, feathers. Your just so pretty." Ladybug laughs. "You see me everyday, Kitten. But thanks." "I got food. Where you able to find any firewood by chance?" "I did. Then I got two very special visitors." "So, you saw them too?" We sit down and begin to break the sticks to get the fire started. "What I don't get is how they were following us. We've been so careful!" "Now, love, we don't know that for sure. They could have just been passing through." She gives a small smile before handing me a match. "Let's hope for the second the option."
Once the food is cooking on the fire, Ladybug leans her head against my shoulder. "Thanks for sticking by my side all these years, Cat," she sighs and looks into the fire. I turn, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. "That begins you give the best scratches." She snorts. "I'm serious." "You have the loudest purr in the world." "And that's a bad thing how…?" "Cat," she laughs and she wrestles me to the ground.
She's got me pinned, but I like it. I reach up to stroke her cheek. "There's your smile. I was worried we'd lost it and we needed to go back." "Even on my grayest days, you always make me smile." Ladybug leans over and gives me a kiss. Its quick, but we cuddle as we listen to the crackle of the fire.
The sky is growing dark and…."M'lady, what's the smell?" "The birds are on fire! Quick!" she shrieks and we just get them off in time.
This causes another wave of laughter, and it feels good. I help her make a shelter, and she cuddles up to me. "Cat, I-" she pauses. "Yes?" "I kissed Adrien Agreste!" Though I know this, I look at her, hiding her face behind her hands. "Why are hiding?" I ask, pulling at her hands gently. "That's nothing to be ashamed of." For awhile, the only sound is the waterfall in the darkness. "Your not mad?" "Adrien is special to you, and I don't want to stand in the way."
Before long we are both asleep. During the night it begins to rain, and Ladybug cuddles close. Its still raining when wake in the morning.
Even if its not the most pleasant weather, we travel rain or shine. But at the fifth face plant in the mud, Ladybug calls a halt to make a new plan. "Good. Cause one mud facial is good enough." "Here, let's clean you up," she says, gently, wiping my face clean. She looks at the river, today the current is strong.
"Cat, do you think the current is strong enough with our aqua powers?" Now the wind is picking up and she has to yell over the roar of wind. "Only one way to find out, Bugaboo! Power up!"
The water is angry as we enter its dominion, and we fight up the river. Good thing for our powers, because even with the suits the water is cold and you can't stop moving.
Finally, wet and dripping we pull ourselves out the water. Its still raining, but not as hard as before. It isn't an easy day for traveling, but we have each other to lean on.
It gets dark early, and suddenly Ladybug points to something up ahead. I follow her finger, noting the first cave is just ahead.
It seems safe, and we gather wood at the entrance, thankful its dry or it would be a cold night. We huddle in front of the fire, warming our cold hands. "Do you think I should look for food?" "No. Its dangerous and its getting dark. Didn't you say you found some kind of nut?" The nuts, of course! After toasting them in the fire, its like a reward for the day we've had.
"Today was no picnic, though traveling isn't always easy. Right, M'lady?" No answer, she's already asleep. I sit at the entrance, baton in hand, and stare at out at the falling rain.
Somewhere out there is Hawkmoth, plotting evil. The image on Ladybug's bug phone still haunts me, what if that was father, and he's the villain I'll have to fight? Maybe we can reason with him, though the odds of that happening are slim to none.
"Cat?" Ladybug's voice floats through the cave. I'm at her side at once. "You okay? I couldn't find you." "Will you hold me, Ladybug?" "Come here. Drop your transformation."
I do as she tells me, and I start to relax as her fingers find my hair, the warmth of her body, her soft smell….
"I love you, Ladybug," I whisper. "I love you, Cat Noir." Like vines seeking the sun, we wrap ourselves around each other, awaiting the sun's return. We already know we love each other, but is she in love?
Sleep tugs me like the current, and I'm pulled under quickly. I dream of laughter and children, and a bright blazing sun.
I must sleep deeply, for when I wake in the morning, the sun is well up. "Good morning, sleepy!" Ladybug says, giving me a kiss. "I haven't slept the day away, have I?" "Shh. You needed the sleep, it was a huge day yesterday." "I had a dream about kids and laughter," I curl up, resting my head in her lap, purring softly as she scratches my ears. "Maybe its showing your path. Perhaps you'll be a father."
I meow softly. If only she knew how cold my father is or was, but the secret barrier is firmly in place. To soon its time to go, but the beauty surrounding us makes me feel better. Droplets drip off the leaves, shimmering in the sunlight and high above us, mountain goats play and skip.
Ladybug shields her eyes from the sun, the nudges me, pointing. Another cave is above us, and Ladybug shows her screen. "That cave will take us to the other side of the mountain."
Encouraged, I begin to have a spring to my step. But the air up here is even thinner and we have to rest often.
Push, push, I tell myself. One step, another. When we get to a certain part of the trail, we reward ourselves with a kiss, before keeping going.
"Just a little a more," I tell her, slipping my hand into his. At last, when we reach the cave's entrance, I could cry with relief.
But the next part of our journey is just beginning.