When I wake in the morning, Cat is looking at the map of the area that Aria gave us. I walk over to him, yawning. "Good morning," I tell him, and he smiles at me. "Bugaboo, look at this. There's a village near by and its on our route." I sigh. We do need supplies, but stopping always slows us down. "We'll make it a quick stop," I tell him. Then I squint at the map. "Love, why is the map upside down?" "Why are you right side up?" He grins, and I groan. "I need coffee. Let's make a fire, and make breakfast."

The fire doesn't need much fuel, for we're just making coffee. Aria insisted she make her homemade granola balls and I have a surprise for Cat once we stop again. I slurp my coffee, loving the warmth of the sun, but also scan the woods for danger. Ever since Felix told me about Lupine, I'm always alert for a snap of a twig, a piece of cloth snagged on a branch, indicating someone could be close by.

"You know, your cute in the morning," Cat nudges me. "Cute and cranky, and after your first cup of coffee, your as sweet as peaches." For some reason this makes me burst out laughing, spraying my coffee everywhere. "Your the one who's cute. Especially with your green eyes and gold bell." I flick it, listening to the golden tones. I look up into Cat's eyes and suddenly my heart thuds in my chest, and I desperately want to kiss Cat. "May I have a little kiss?" I ask, a bit shyly. "You can have all my kisses, Bugaboo." Our lips meet and I place a hand on his chest, and I feel so alive. I scramble onto Cat's lap, longing for his touch and I am not disappointed. His lips trail everywhere, over my eyes, my nose, my mouth. He growls softly as he begins to nip my neck. The sky is a perfect blue, but my world has gone foggy.

Cat lays me down in the soft leaves, hovering over me. "Spots off," I whisper. The morning air is chilly as Cat removes my clothes, yet I feel hot as fire. But Cat takes his time, trailing a glove hand down to my chest, finding my breasts, kneading them slowly. I groan as he uses just the right amount of pressure, and I arch slightly. "Stay still," Cat says in my ear and his lips brush my sensitive nub. "Cat," I moan as his lips close over my breast, tasting one then the other. I'm just getting lost in the sensation when he's moving southward, past my stomach and finds my forest of curls. I dig my hands into the leaves, as he breaths in my scent, then his tongue is back at it, swirling around my most private regions.

I whimper as he finds my bundle of nerves, but I can take the pain, for with this kind of pain comes pleasure. "Cat, please," I want him inside me. "Claws In." I help with his pants, and when he enters me, we're off. We mate, craving each other like oxygen we need to breathe. I can feel myself building as Cat pushes in deep, and suddenly I come.

We lay quietly in the leaves, catching our breath. "Now this is a good way to start off the morning,"Cat whispers in my ear, and we look at each other and giggle. We dress quickly, heading back on the trail, now holding hands.

"I hope they have a good clothing store there," I sigh. I lean in close to Cat as if I think the trees are listening. "We might need to go undercover." "That will be easy for me," Cat tells me. "I used to be a model," he lets go of my hand a moment, showing off flexing his muscles. "You, the Pun Master and King of Snoozing in the sun?" "There's a lot you don't know about me, M'lady." "Oh, yeah, like what?" I spring lightly, tackling him into a hug. "When I was little on bad days, I would scream something awful at photo shoots." "Your a model?" "Was a model. Anyway, Mother would pull a silly face or tell a silly joke. It always made me smile. Maybe that's why I like puns so much, because of Mother and I do like making people smile." The air seems chiller for a moment. "You've got me through some of my darkest days with with your smile, Cat." "Charmed, I'm sure. But, I'm curious, M'lady, what would you see me doing?" "Despite my teasing, I can see you being a model. Did you ever have your face on a tuna can?" Cat's green eyes gleam wickedly. "No, but that's a paw-sible for the future."

We crest the hill, and spread before us is a patchwork quilt of rice paddies and a small village beyond. As we walk by the paddies, people stare at us curiously, then call out a morning greeting. Papa would have loved this, and a small tear escapes from my eye. It doesn't take long for us to reach the village which is buzzing with people. A small market with stalls set up with every home good you could wish for is in those stalls. But for now, I'm intent on finding a clothing store.

"Ah, here we are! Fabrics and Apparel!" I read as the wooden sign swings in the breeze. We walk in and immediately a woman with a purple dress and a black undo sails over to us. "Darlings! Welcome to my bouquet! What can I help you find today? Oh, my!"

I look around expecting to see a spider or something unpleasant due to her facial expression, but I figure out she's looking at Cat. "He's gorgeous! You must help me out and be my mannequin for the day!" "Say meow, meow?" Cat asks, and I hide my giggles behind my hand. "Argh, Darling, my usual mannequins are all getting Mani-pedis before coming back as good as new. I would pay you and your pretty ladybug well, as in payment and say, some new clothes?" Cat and I stick out our hands. "Done." "Fabulous, darlings. Now, follow me and I'll show you where to stand and what to wear!"

"Why did she have to pick a feather boa?" Cat whispers to me as we stand motionless in the window. "Its going to make me sneeze!" "Hey, watch it fur ball, at least you don't have to wear wool!" "I must not scratch, I must not scratch. M'lady, I need to scratch!" "Oh, no you don't. Do you want a nice dinner or not?" I hiss. "Now hush!"

Cat glares at me, but falls silent, which is a good thing because I gasp in my head when the next customer walks into the store.

"Hello and welcome, darling! Are you here for a dress a fabulous new sweater!" "No, I'm looking for these two, and by my calculations, they should be in your village!" I turn my head just the tiniest fraction to see Lupine hand a crumpled picture of Cat and I. "There's a handsome reward for these two vigilantes, and I'm going to find them!" I hold my breath, praying that our employer doesn't blow our literal cover. "No, sorry, I haven't seen them." "Then I'll by on my way, good day to you!" The door slams and my heart slams in my chest. Looks we've made a new enemy, and its not only Hawkmoth now.

At last, our time being mannequins is up and Cat runs down to the fitting room to scratch. I'm not as eager and I walk over to the woman. "Please, I don't even know your name," I tell her. "Scarlet. Who was that strange woman, Ladybug?" "Someone looking for power. Thank you for not spilling our secrets, but you could have. Why not?" "Because you and Cat readily agreed to help me, and you didn't even know my name. But I can tell that you have a good heart and would help others at the drop of a hat."

"Speaking of hats," Cat comes over to us. "Did I hear something about payment in food and clothing?" "Darlings, help yourselves!"

We walk out of the store and Scarlet comes out onto the little porch. "Wait, I forgot to tell you something!" "No capes?" Cat whispers in my ear. "A masquerade is being held this evening at the largest hotel in the village. You two will be able to go dressed in style." "We won't miss it, we love a good party."

"One more "Darling" and I would called her Eda Mode!" Cat tells me as we walk up to the hotel. "But at least she was able to hide us from Lupine, Cat." "True. Do you think this Lupine will be at the party?" "Hard to say for sure."

The hotel is bustling as we check in and grab a room, and I gasp in delight, our room is so cozy. "M'lady?" I turn from checking out the window view. "I still can't stop scratching, and the only cure for that is a shower." I shriek playfully as Cat lifts me into his arms, carrying me into the bathroom and into the shower.

Soon, our clothes sit in a soggy mess in the corner, but its the least of our worries. "Ready for some bubbles?" Cat asks, squirting some shampoo and rubbing into his palm. He soaps me up all over, and his hands roam over me, and here in private I can relax fully.

We spend awhile kissing as the water splashes over us, but then its time to get ready. Being a fashion designer and a model it doesn't take us long to get ready, and I hand Cat his green man mask, for we found out its a fairy tale theme. I draw my mask out of the bag, hesitating before I don it. For the mask I wear is a purple butterfly.