I shiver into wakefulness as a curtain of mist descends from the sky. That, and I hear a strange sound, animal-like coming from the direction of the path.

It has rained during the night, and as I walk the squelching sound of mud is quite audible to the ear. I creep along the path slowly, in case I should need the element of surprise. But once I locate the source of the noise, I hurry back to where Marinette is sleeping. "Princess? Princess?" I call down into her tree-hole. She pokes her head out. "Is it morning already?" "Marinette, you need to transform. A herd of deer is stuck in the mud!" Instantly, she is wide awake and I lead her to the where the deer are struggling. "Spots on," she says, in a determined voice. "Follow my lead," she tells me, and I nod, following as she approaches one of the does, eyes averted downwards. "Here now, let me help you. You've gotten your hooves stuck in the mud, haven't you?"

Surprisingly, the deer don't flinch or try to run away. Marinette rubs the soft velvety nose of the one she's closest to, and its as if she's having a silent conversation. "Don't be alarmed, for all I am doing is calling up my Lucky Charm," she coos, and two shovels drop from the sky. "Okay, Kitty, here's the plan. We're going to shovel away this mud, so they can be free."

Working quietly, we shovel the thick, goopy mud until all of the deer are free. They must be quite a tight herd for once one gets free, it waits for the others on higher and drier ground. The mist burns off mid-morning, and we sweat, wiping at our brows. Finally, just afternoon, the last deer is free. Ladybug has another conversation and she beckons to me. "For getting us free, they've offered to carry us where the mud stops. Climb on, slowly and gently, and above all, don't talk."

Deer are shy creatures, and I zip my lips shut before mounting my deer. With a stamp of a hoof and a short bark, we're off. The going isn't fast or slow, maybe somewhere in the middle. With all the physical exercise and no breakfast, my stomach is complaining loudly. I try to feast on the beauty of the forest, until my stomach starts to hurt. Ladybug looks over at me, a gentle smile on her face and she blows me a kiss. I catch it, bringing it to my cheek before sending back. Its a another hour before we stop in a large meadow, and Ladybug dismounted, while I tumble to the ground.

Ladybug doesn't laugh at me, she instead holds out her hand, helping me to my feet. Together, we give the deer our silent thanks, before they leap back into the forest.

"That deer really took a shine to you," I tell Ladybug, as she opens the packs. "We're you talking to her somehow?" "Maybe she's a ladybug before on one of the flowers she eats. I'm not sure, we just clicked." "You could charm the birds right out of the trees, Bugaboo." Ladybug blushes, waving a hand at me. "Oh, stop. If I did that they would fly right into our mouth." "Exactly. Yum." She swats my tummy with a wooden spoon as I flop down on the grass. "No, not yum. More like achoo with all those feathers." I open one eye, giving her a sly smile. "Oh, I know what's going on. You haven't had your refreshing morning beverage and feeling cranky." "What about my good morning, kiss? That's important too." I sit up and comes to sit by me, her fingers playing with my ears and my soft hair. "I love you." I nod, and our lips meet and the way the sparks fly between us, I'm surprised we haven't set the forest on fire. "Okay, time for breakfast." Ladybug gets back to business, and we eat. Ladybug scans the horizon as she munches on her fire cake thoughtfully. "It looks like this meadow goes on forever, but my deer friend told me we head back into the forest once the meadow ends." I pluck a dried berry from the packs as I answer. "The woods had been such a blessing. I know we have your yo-yo and my baton. But sleeping out in the open would make me feel vulnerable and exposed." "Plus, anyone could see us. Like Hawkmoth." she sighs, and I put my arm around her. "We'll get there, Bugaboo. Chin up." Instead of answering, she leans her head against my chest, while wrapping her arms around me. I hold her, letting her calm down. After a few minutes, she lifts her head. "We'd better get moving if we want to cover any ground today."

Despite our late start, we make good time, and the day is beautiful, perfect for traveling. When the shadows begin to lengthen, we just enter the fringes of the forest. "Should we set up camp?" Marinette bites her lip, deliberating. "If we hold hands, and you use your night-vision, I'd like to keep going until moon rise." "Your wish, my command."

Secretly, I'm glad we're holding hands because as the sun sets, the night creatures come out, along with their strange sounds. "Don't worry, we'll protect each other," Marinette whispers, as if reading my thoughts. Then a whistling sound is overhead, and my feline instincts tell me to hit the dirt. I flip backwards, seeing a large owl-like creature swooping, its large silhouette visible against the moon. Marinette spits out leaves and bracken. "Cat, what is it?" "Some kind of owl. Sh, love, its landing."

"Keep it talking while I transform," I nod, as she scrambles off. "How dare you pass through my dominion? Why I bet your one of Hawkmoth's mimons, aren't you?" Before I can get a word in edge-wise the owl pins me to the ground. Now, I can get a good luck at my opponent. I was wrong at first appearance, for though she has owl-like features, she's half-human, half-owl. "We're not working with Hawkmoth," I gasp out, wincing as her claw touches my face. "Ladybug and I are traveling through to get to Hawkmoth's castle and rid of the world of evil." She stares at me, and she's close, I can smell her breath. "You speak truth? Hoot! Hoot!"

With a hoot and a flurry of feathers, Ladybug's yo-yo string ties her up. "You may ask us questions, but keeping my partner pinned to the ground is unacceptable!" I cough as I stand, brushing the old dead leaves from my suit. "M'lady, its okay! She's just wary of Hawkmoth, like us!" "Let me go, Ladybug. If we are on the same side, I have no need to fear you." Slowly, Ladybug unwinds her string, returning her yo-yo to her hip and walks over to me. "My name's Wanderer. What are your names?" "Ladybug and Cat Noir." "Come, its late. You may stay in my tree." Without waiting for our answer, she turns and marches off into the forest.

Wanderer opens a small hidden doorway at the base of the tree, and oh, how high up it goes. Hundreds, maybe thousands of nests, with owls occupying them snooze, barely aware of us. "Hold on tight, you two! I'll fly you up to your nests!"

I close my eyes as we fly upwards, and then I'm dropped into my nest with a gentle thump! My first impression is its cozy in here, and it certainly keeps out the wind. Thinking I won't see Ladybug till morning, I open my pack and find some dried berries and wash it down with some water.

Then I curl up, not realizing how much my body is aching. The tree goes upwards past my nest, and I lay flat on my back, trying to see the top, but I get dizzy, and have to turn away. I can hear the wind sighing through the trees, and with the gentle rocking of the tree, it lulls me to sleep.

When I dream, I dream of Mother, rocking me in a small cradle. She looks tired but happy, and I smile back at her.

"Rock, rock, my baby.

I'll rock you to sleep.

You'll dream of adventure,

Without ever leaving home.

But, if you ever leave, my child, or if I have to leave you,

Make sure you go on adventure, for life is calling you.

Now, close your eyes, and go to sleep,

Ladybug's guarding you,

So sleep in peace."

"My Lady," I whisper in my sleep, curling tighter into my ball. The rest of the night, I slept dreamlessly, waiting to be reunited with my lady in the morning. Strange, we are in the same tree, maybe not far from each other, but yet it seems like thousands of miles.

Remember, if you ever feel alone, I'm always in your heart, her words float back to me. The words with their soothing balm, make the hurt disappear.

Towards morning, I feel the rush of wings close by, and watch a mother owl bring "breakfast" in a form of a mouse to her offspring. Their are three owlets in the nest, and thank goodness Ladybug and I don't squabble over food like they do.

They shriek and play tug-a-war, until Mother bird steps in. Somehow, it strikes me as funny, and I laugh aloud, watching the drama play out before me.

"You find amusement wherever you go," Wanderer says, and I jump as she has come out of nowhere. "My mother disappeared when I was younger. I could hold onto my pain and be bitter and angry, or I could choose to let go and make others around me happy."

"You do have a charming way about you," our owl-friend says. "No wonder Ladybug's attracted to you." "Ladybug! Will you take me to her?" "Hold on tight." I close my eyes and feel myself rising into the air.