I curl up on my bed of leaves after saying goodnight to Marinette, but they keep rustling as I toss and turn. This is no good, I'm just not sleepy. I poke my head out of my hole in my tree, finding myself bathed in moonlight.

Everything always looks different at night, but our minds trick us with shadows and spooky thoughts. So, when I hear a rustle in the bushes, I jump in fright. The moonlight is so clear I can see a rabbit staring curiously at me, from my perch on a stump. His nose never stops twitching and it makes me grin. "Hello, there," I say, softly. "What's your name?" I approach the rabbit slowly, wanting to pet it for its brown fur looks so luscious and soft. Thump, thump, thump! I pause as it begins to thump its back legs upon the ground. Before I can know if I'm scaring it, a voice calls out from the night.

"Jade, Jade, where are you?" I look at the bunny, and one ear turns listening to the voice. "Jade, is that your name?" I ask, wishing I had a carrot for it to nibble on. A figure pushes through the bushes and scoops up her rabbit. Then she straightens and freezes for she has caught sight of me.

Or maybe it isn't a person after all, for her skin is pale as the moon, and she looks almost elfin. "My, my, what have we here?" she murmurs, as she strokes her companion. Her eyes are like crescents, like the current moon that hangs in the sky. "You weren't sent from the moon, were you?" I ask timidly, then groan silently to myself. The girl laughs, and even though its dark, her laughter reminds me of sunlight. "What do you think?"

"Maybe I'm still asleep," I sit back down on my stump. "Ah, but if you were an asleep we wouldn't be here right now." "As long as Marinette gets her sleep, I'm happy." "Marinette? Is she the girl your in love with?" I nod. "She's my only friend, and she means everything to me." "Does she feel the same way?" Whoever this is, she sure asks a lot of questions. "I don't know. I hope so." "Would you like to find out?" Do I? For if she doesn't feel the same, this cat is going to pout. But I am curious. "Follow me, Cat Noir. We have answers to find." I rise slowly. "How did you know my name, for I don't know yours?" "Oh, Cat. The moon sees everything."

Okay, now I'm convinced I'm asleep. "Your the moon in the form of a girl?" "Come now, no more questions."

The stream doesn't sparkle like it does in the daytime, but I can still hear its foolish chuckle. Moon sets her rabbit gently down. "All right, Jade. Do your thing." Jade dips a paw into the water, and before my eyes it starts to swirl and pictures begin to dance on the surface.

Marinette appears, holding something glowing in her hands and I look closer. "Those are the earrings of the Ladybug!" I look up at Moon. "Marinette feels a heavy guilt that she didn't defeat Hawkmoth after all back in Paris. That's why she wished on the crystal. The man who you search for is not only Hawkmoth, but someone from your past." "Our past, or my past?" I look back into the water, the pictures merge together, and then vanish altogether. "Your not ready for that answer yet. But you must promise me one thing, Cat." "Yes?" "You may not tell Marinette you know she is Ladybug. When the time is right, you'll find out for yourself. And to make sure that happens…" she reaches into her pouch at her side and takes out a handful of stardust and blows it in my face. I feel so sleepy, and am drifting on a fluffy cloud…..

I wake on my pile of leaves, finding that its morning. I yawn and sit up. Wasn't I restless night, and found out some secret about Marinette? These memories are like rays of rising sunlight, and they slip away quickly.

I find Marinette hunched over the campfire, flipping a flat object in the pan. "Well, good morning, sleepy," she grins at me. "Did you sleep well?" "Like a kitty," I joke. I point to the yummy object sizzling in the pan. "What's that?" "Oh, I just thought I'd try a new creation this morning. I'm calling it a fire cake."

Fire cake is made of oil, flour and a bit of water, patted down and turned into cake like object. Growling stomach or not, I find it delicious. We clink cups after we pour the morning coffee and make a plan for the day. "There are caves nearby. In fact, we'll probably bave to travel through one." "I'm not sure if I like caves, but today promises to be hot." We pack up quickly after breakfast and set out at a quick walk.

Around lunchtime, we can see the cave in the distance, and we estimate we'll reach it sometime late this afternoon. "Whenever we would talk about treasure in school," Marinette says as we walk, "It would be hidden in caves, and that we would strike it rich. I was never sure how I felt about that." "What do you mean?" "I mean, wouldn't you want to work hard and earn it, knowing you made people happy?"

A memory of my father surfaces. "Father used to make such beautiful clothes for men and woman. But I don't think he ever felt satisfied. I worked for his company, modeling the clothes, but I grew to hate it, when I became just another mannequin to him." a bitter taste fills my mouth. "It was from that point on, I wonder if he loved me." "Did you feel alone?" Marinette comes to walk closer, and slips her hand into mine. "Yes," I whisper. "But there was one girl who always lifted my spirits. Ladybug." I squeeze her hand. "But now that I know you, I'm even happier."

As predicted, we reach the cave mid-afternoon, and we drink thirsty from our water bottles before heading in.

As we enter, the air grows cool and soon we can't see a hand in front of our face. Or, at least Marinette can't, for I can see perfectly with my cat night vision. Marinette holds my hand more tightly now, for loosing each other in here, would we ever find each other again?

The further we go into the cave the blacker and chiller it becomes. "Cat," I can hear Marionette's teeth chattering. "I'm so cold." "Here, lets see your hands, Princess." I rub them together and softly blow warm air onto them. I want to cuddle her close, but we have to keep moving.

I feel myself growing sleepy as its slow going in here, and suddenly Marinette stumbles and gives a little cry. I kneel down as she holds her ankle in agony. "Don't worry, you'll be right as rain in no time."

My words sound calm and soothing, but I feel anything but. We don't have a lot of medical supplies and Marinette needs that fast. "Marinette, I've been through this cave before. I need to get you medicine, but I need to leave for a bit to do so." Marionette's voice is tight with pain, but I feel her fingers brushing against my cheek. "Go then, I trust you to come back."

It takes all my strentgth to walk away, but the words she trusts me, gives me the confidence boost I need. We didn't go in as deep as I thought, for the entrance seems to come up quicker then I thought.

I know some herbs and plants but need help, and I wish Ladybug were here to help. But she's not. Think, Cat, think.

I wrinkle my nose as I smell the sharp scent of smoke. I hope there's not a fire nearby, but then I smile as I see a chimney far off in the distance. I move towards it, hoping whoever lives there is a healer and knows this area well. For time could be running out for Marinette, as who knows what is in there.

But Marinette isn't helpless, and she's clever enough to get herself out of tight spots. I finally reach the cabin and when I've caught my breath, I give the small knocker a rap.

A woman comes to the door wrapped in a shawl, but she wears a kind expression on her face. "Goodness me, child, your shaking like a leaf. Come in and get warm by the fire." "But Marionette's in trouble," the words tumble out fast, and I tell her what happened. The kind old woman smiles. "Now, slow down, dear, You need to take care of yourself too. Would you like some hot tea?" I nod, and sit down warming my hands by the fire. "Now, what's your name, dear?" "Cat." "Well, Cat, my name is Hazel and I'm a healer. As soon as you've had good night sleep, we're take care of your Marinette." "But we can't leave her in the cave all by herself!" "I would go now, but its dark out." My mouth falls open in surprise but find that she's right. "Now, you just curl up by the fire and I'll be right here in my rocking chair."

The sound of her rocking and the fire hissing and popping are a lulluby that my heavy eyes can't win.

"Please be safe, Marinette. Its not long till morning." And with that, I fall asleep, exhausted.