"Cat," I see Ladybug in the corner of my eye. "Your going to have to tell it some jokes. Maybe if we make it laugh, it will let us through its terrain." I answer her back, my eyes still locked on the giant monster. "Are you crazy?" I hiss. "This guy is more scary then Edward Munch's "The Scream"." "Just trust-" Eldritch gives a loud wail. "Oh, if only my friends were here, I wouldn't be alone and wandering, screaming all the time." Hm, so if he loves his friends, should I make friendship jokes? I see Ladybug scurry away into the bushes, a pink glowing light rising from the trees. Well, at least one of us has a plan.

"I know what you mean about friendship," I begin, grinning, even if I'm sweating under the collar. "Bugaboo's my best tea, even if she loves coffee." Eldritch rolls his eyes, but seems to be listening. Here's my chance, so I grasp at it with all my might. "And ever since we got close, I'm her jam to her butter!"

A groan rises from the trees, and Eldritch barks out a laugh. "Your making me hungry," He says. "Well, fig it! We need to find you some new friends!" "What's the use?" Eldritch sighs. "Who would play with a ghostly creature that only screams?" "I don't know," I tell him, "But don't be a dead beet. Instead, be a up beet, and find yourself a new friend." "Your very kind, Cat Noir, but don't waste your breath. Even the ladybug is hiding from me."

"No, I was just painting this picture to make some new friends!" Ladybug waves her hand over the picture that she drew: Eldritch is in the center, with friendly looking ghosts dancing around and singing. But then the picture begins to shake, and to our amazement, Ladybug's painting is coming to life!

"Don't be sad,

Don't feel down,

For us spirits have come to raise you up and be your friend!"

Now, six little Eldritch dance around the real one, singing and playing. Eldritch looks at me, then at Ladybug. "I don't know what magic you possess, but now I have friends that will play with me forever! Thank you! Now, pass through my terrain!"

With grins plastered on our faces, Ladybug and I give each other a fist bump, and walk through the Eldritch territory, until we are no longer in sight of him.

"M'lady, how did you know the jokes would work, or the picture would come to life?" I ask. "Come on, Kitty," Ladybug smiles with a playful twinkle in her eye. "You know how up beet I can be." She takes my hand as we walk. "The truth is, I didn't. And to how my painting came to life, well, there is certainly magic in this forest."

I let go of her hand as we talk, only to scratch at the aphids bite dotted along my neckline. I plop down on the path, scratching like crazy. "I'll tell you what isn't magical, these bug bites!" "We probably forget all about them while we were dealing with our friend back there. Cat, stop scratching. Your bell is giving me a headache and your going to make yourself bleed."

I lower my paw, knowing she's right, even though its hard. "Maybe we can find a cottage or a cabin. Anyone who has medicine." But luck is not in our favor, at least for finding friends, so we travel doggedly on.

Ladybug instructs me to sit by fire, saying Marinette will be here shortly, and she'll tend to the bites. I curl up, miserable, by a crackling fire. Trying not scratch, I wait for my Princess's return.

"Cat, when we started this journey, I didn't think you were itching for this much adventure." I meow loudly. "Please, Princess, I'm very itchy."

"Here, lay on your back, and try not to squirm," she instructs me in a gentle voice, and I do as I'm told. Producing a small bowl, Marinette puts some sort of green medicine on my neck, and I start to feel better instantly. "Its just a temporary fix, I'm afraid," she says as she works, "But its the best I can do for now." "Whatever is in that bowl, that feels pawesome," I sigh, closing my eyes with contentment and beginning to purr. She strokes my hair for awhile, and even though I'm hungry for food, I realize her gentle touch is what I crave even more.

With such close proximity to Marinette, I hear her stomach growl. I sit up, cupping her cheek. "You'd helped me. Now, let me help you by finding some dinner, preferably in the fishy variety." She covers my hand with her own. "That sounds nice, love. But, you know, loving me is enough." Giving her cheek a soft kiss, I stand. "I know. But if you waste away to nothing, whom I going to love?"

I hum as I sit on my rock, waiting for a plump tasty fish to nibble at my line. Downstream, a girl about Marinette's age, casts her line, standing in the fast-flowing water. Curious, I reel in my line, and start making my way towards her.

"Find any fish?" I ask, as she looks up and sees me. She smiles and puts a finger to her lips, and within a minute, she pulls up a struggling fish, its sliver scales flashing in the late day sun. "The secret is," the girl climbs onto the bank, "to stand as still as a statue and the fish eventually forget your there." "Clever," I rub my chin. Then I stick out a hand. "Cat Noir." "Cosy." "Nice to meet you. I'm traveling with my partner, who is waiting by the fire….." my voice trails off. "Oh, choke berries and crab apples, I forget to catch a fish!" Cosy laughs. "How'd about you come share dinner with me? Its only me and my two cats, and I love having company." "How about you come to camp and meet Marinette?" "All right," Cosy answers, clapping her hands. "I love meeting new friends."

Marinette and Cosy hit it off instantly, and she leads us to her home. Marinette's mouth drops open as we approach it, for Cosy's home is a literal shoe. "Can you tell I grew up a cobbler's daughter?" she laughs, as she takes a gold key from her neck. "I've always wanted to go to cobbler school, but with Hawkmoth, it can wait. Well, here we are!"

Just then, two fur balls come careening towards us, meowing at the top of their lungs. "Down, Meg and Mog! Hold your tails for one minute!" Cosy grins at us, sheepishly. "There always hungry, but its dinner time. Make yourselves at home, and I'll feed you right, soon as I get these little terrors fed!"

Marinette and I laugh as Meg and Mog follow Cosy like a Piped Piper, tails high in the air like masts. A roaring fireplace sits along the wall, while the living area is a patchwork of colors.

I sit down on the couch, rubbing at my neck, and let out a small whimper. Marinette sits down beside me, taking my hand, and presses a kiss to the back of it. "Be strong, don't scratch." "If I can't scratch, can I at least have a kiss, Princess?"

The fire crackles as she rests her forehead against mine. "You may." We haven't kissed much today, so we kiss once, twice, a third time.

However, we jump apart as Cosy re-enters the room. "Dinner's on! Hold up, Cat, what happened to your neck?" "Aphid bites. Its a long story." "Well, we have plenty of time during dinner, so come sit up."

Along with the perfectly cooked fish, Cosy has made squash, bread, and other yummy things. "Oh, I already had most of this ready before you came," she tells us, with a wave of her hand. I let Marinette tell our story, as I'm feeling sleepy with good food, good company, and a very long day.

"Goodness, you've had some adventures. Cat, you look all tuckered out." I open one sleepy eye, and shut it again. "I'll fix you up a cot in the living room by the fire, and Marinette you can have the room upstairs, overlooking the yard. Now, Cat, before you fall asleep on me, let's get those bites taken care of."

Cosy lathers some cream on my neck, and it smells of herbs and a few spices. "Now, let that set for about ten minutes, and you can hit the sack."

I barely make it to the cozy bed Cosy has made up for me, and I hug Marinette, whispering a "I love you" before flopping into bed.

But then I hear a soft meow, and open my eyes to see Meg or Mog staring at me. "Come on, jump up and we'll have a nice cuddle," I tell her, opening my blanket and Mog jumps in, turning herself around once, and settling down for a snooze.

The cat's warmth helps me settle down quickly, and soon I'm out like a light.

"Marinette, let's let both sleeping kittens lie," Cosy whispered, as she watched Marinette's face as Cat fell asleep. She could tell already there was already a strong bond between them.

Climbing the stairs, Cosy showed Marinette her room. "Oh, how lovely! I want to be a designer someday, so this seems like my dream room!" Cosy showed Marinette around from the spinning wheel to the sewing machine desk in the corner.

"I can tell you have gentle hands, Marinette. Cat is very comfortable around you." "We've known each other a long time. Even when I lived in Paris…." Cosy's eyes grew wide. "You...you...lived in Paris?" "Yes, but there was to many memories I needed to get away from. Coming here was a fresh start."

"And a fresh start on your romance?" Marinette blushed, and nodded. "Well, I bid you good night, till morning." Marinette climbed into bed, but unlike Cat, she stayed awake for a bit. Thinking of Cat who slept downstairs.