It is much harder to find rotten fruit then ripe fruit, but I come across a tree thick with purple plums. Its no time to think of eating, but the sweet smell of fruit makes my stomach growl.
My nose helps me to find the stinkiest, or the ones with worm holes. Tossing them into one of my empty packs I dash towards where Cave Bat still has Ladybug pinned to the ground. "Your going to sorry you've met me," he says, opening one sharp claw.
"Hey, Cat Bat!" I hold a piece of rotten fruit in my hand. "Wouldn't you like a tasty plump plumb rather then M'lady?" Cave Bat's greedy eyes light up and springs towards me, and I leap into a high tree just in time.
He gobbles down the rotten fruit like he hasn't eaten in days. "That was just the appetizer, now to the main course…" he wipes dribble from his chin. But just as he turns towards Ladybug, he starts to turn a greenish looking color. I hope Ladybug isn't looking as he wrenches into the leaves.
But we get the object we're after, and a dark butterfly flutters out of Cat Bat's mouth. "Gotcha!" Ladybug springs offered, capturing the butterfly with her yo-yo. She purifies it, and we do a pound it as Cave Bat sits in the leaves groaning.
"What happened?" he asks, holding his stomach still looking a tad shade of green. "You accidentally ate a akuma last night and it made you turn evil. But your safe now." Slowly, Cave Bat's color returns and he stands folded his large wings. Even while folded, his size is most impressive. "Cavern warned me about the akuma. But my hungry made me greedy to munch anything in sight. I'm sorry."
"Accidents happen, and everything turned out all right. Now, we should be on our way." "I must warn you there are more caves to come, only smaller then the ones Cavern and I live in. Beware if anymore evil bats cross your path."
Ladybug stands next me, her face bathed in confidence. "We'll keep a lookout."
We start down the hill, pausing for a moment for her to detransform. "That was a pretty smart idea with the fruit, wasn't it, Kitty?" she giggles as our feet rustle through the leaves. I grin, pulling a non-rotten one from my bag. "Care to share a plum, M'lady?" "Oh….." I laugh as she turns a slight shade of green and I put a hand around her shoulders. "Relax. This one's not rotten, here I'll take a bite and show you."
I sigh with happiness as I bite down into the plum, its juices bursting with flavor. "Mm, this is even better then tuna," I tell her and she laughs as I pass her the fruit. "Liar." "Okay, yes, but this is right up there."
Our bantering continues until Marinette stops, laying a hand on my arm. "Cat? Have you noticed that its getting darker, even though its still hours till sunset?" she's speaking in a hushed voice. I unhook my baton from back and look around. "Princess, the trees have gotten thicker, blocking out the sun's light. Who knows whats ahead?" She grips my arm tightly. "Didn't Cave Bat talk about more bats?" "He said they lived in a cave, but by this time of day, they could be foraging."
If we hadn't been chased by a giant bat influenced by a akuma, I'm sure we wouldn't have even batted an eye at more bats, but now we're extra cautious. The woods are growing darker and darker, and we begin to hear a spooky sound.
"What's that sound?" I breathe in Marinette's ear, hearing a high pitched wailing sound. She jumps and glares at me. "Stop hissing in my ear! I'm looking! Oh, wait…." she straightens, hand over her mouth. "What is it? A snake? More bats? Whatever it is, I can handle it!" I say, covering my eyes. Marinette snorts and I open my eyes. "Cat, look!"
Slowly, I uncover my eyes to find a black cat sitting up in a tree, meowing loudly. Marinette narrows her eyes and steps forward as she watches the cat bat at something in the tree. "More bats!" We say together and out loud and the cat sees us, meowing even louder.
"Oh, dear, no time, come down at once, Sooty, or they'll be no tea for you!" A large rabbit larger then Cat comes bounding out of the forest and the little cat gives a happy meow and leaps down into his arms. The rabbit sees us and freezes for a moment and begins to hop away still speaking in verse.
"No time to stay and chat, or my soup shall be sop!
Hop along the best you can, keep up with Bounder if you can!"
Singing done, Bounder bounds off into the trees still muttering. "Well, I would like some soup, Marinette. Think we can keep up?" "He seems a little different, but he may know how to get to the next detestation on the map!"
The bats who roost in these trees are harmless and we pass right under them, though Marinette still holds tightly to my hand. The woods have once again turned peaceful and no weird sounds or meowing are to be heard.
"I don't know if will find him tonight, Cat. The sun is almost set." Marinette is right, we can still see the sun in the sky but it won't be up for much longer. Divvying up the chores, we get a fire going at record time.
We've been following the same stream and Marinette scoops water into the kettle. I hurry over for Marinette gives a soft oof and I put on the fire to boil.
"Now, don't look at me like that!" Marinette says, as she chops carrots with vigor. I'm sprawled out by fire, basking in its warm glow. "Like what?" "Like going to die if I make vegetable soup." "Okay, maybe not all veggies are bad, but I still don't like the tree of doom." Marinette finishes and stares at me. "Tree of Doom? What on earth is that?"
I growl under my breath. "Its broccoli." "Oh, Cat." she walks over to me and plops down beside me in the leaves. "I have something for you that isn't veggies or anything green. But its a secret, so you have to lean in close." "Yeah?" "Sneak attack!" she yells, flicking my bell. "Marinette…" I spring up and begin to chase her around the fire. "No, Cat, please!" she begs as we meet at a standstill. I pull her into my arms. "Maybe this will teach you to sneak attack." I give her a smooch. But then, I trip and I take Marinette down with me.
"Huh," she says, ruffling my golden hair. "Maybe I'm not the only clumsy one after all." Just then, I look up to see the kettle boiling over. "Um, love…?" Her fingers dig into my scalp. "So soft and shiny." "Marinette, the soup is boiling over!"
"Off! Before you ruin dinner!" Luckily, she saves it just in time, and serves the soup with some rolls. "I hope we find Bounder tomorrow," Marinette sighs as we lay back in the leaves waiting for the stars to come out before we go to bed.
"Why? Does some bunny want a new playmate?" "Cat…." she warns. "No, he reminded me of the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. You know, the one with the tea party."
"A tea party would be fun. No veggies." It grows dark quickly and soon we become sleepy. We don't find any tree holes tonight, so we curl ourselves in blankets instead.
Marinette is little ways off by her own smaller fire, but she feels far away. I love our playful moments, and I shiver a little as I hear the distant hoot of an owl.
Sighing, I roll over and am soon asleep, ready for whatever tomorrow brings me. I dream of Father looking stern and silent and holding out the Butterfly Miraculous for me to take.
"Take it son, then grab Ladybug's earrings. Then your wish will come true." I look at horrified expression on Ladybug's face and when I look back at Father, he is Father no more, but Hawkmoth himself.
Bolting awake with heart pounding, I wrap my blanket around me and take a walk to calm down. Little do I know that two pairs of eyes are staring at me, waiting to pounce and play.