My Kingdom For A Stray

Chapter Three

The next day the sky was sunny and bright. The songs of the crickets were replaced by songs of birds, the clinking of guards' armor, and the babble of servants and with the overall hustle and bustle of every day life in the castle...mostly.

Chat Noir strode along the hallways, smirking as his usual. Almost as if his entire life hadn't been burned to ashes just the night before. But Chat noticed something odd in the air. The chattering of servents was more hushed, their eyes darting at the shadows, wide with a quiet fear. His fellow guards seemed more active as well, always in pairs as they march through corridors and hallways much more frequently than Chat was used to, always armed and ready to spring at any foul movement. If Chat Noir wasn't already tense, he certainly was now. Was there an attack he hadnt heard of yet? Was there a meeting he missed? No, SOMEone would've let him know. He was, after all, a much higher ranking officer now after his time spent at the castle. (May or may not be thanks to some nudging from a certain royal family member...)

Just as the dark knight was attending his morning duties, a person runs up to him. Or, to be precise, runs into him.

The stranger crashes into Chat Noir, sending the both of them toppling in surprise into the baskets of produce the knight had been checking for the castle staff's lunch that day. Groaning, and now covered in squashed pears and tomatoes the second person stands up, brushing the bits of fruit off of himself before straightening his spectacles. Chat, his butt firmly set into what had once been a basket of cabbages growls irritably. "HEY! Whatch it next time-....Nino?" the dark skinned man, about Chat's age, huffs. He still flicks produce from his bright green tunic. The two had become fast friends when Chat Noir first joined the Royal Guard. They often were assigned similar tasks, because of how well they worked with each other. But now his friend seemed tense, and even agitated. "We've been looking for you all morning!!" he snaps, before offering a hand to help the still rather stuck knight up. "Why the hell are you down here?! Shouldn't you be up in the castle?! I thought you of all people would be concerned about this the most! Come on! The Captain is looking for you!" chides Nino, grabbing Chat's wrist as he began to pull the confused knight towards the castle.

"Woah woah woah!" Say Chat Noir, pulling his hand away from Nino. "Why is the Captain looking for me?! And what's all this fuss about?!" Chat snaps, his patience running pretty thin.

Nino looks at Chat as if he had two heads, his spectacles slipping slightly as the two stared at each other in confusion for a minute. "Do you seriously not know..."

"WHAT DO I NOT KNOW?!?" growls an now very irritated Chat Noir.

Nino blinks, his demanor softening ever so slightly. His lips pressed together, contemplating if he should tell Chat Noir the Princess was missing. Nino knew of his close bond with the princess, and even of his "secret" little crush. But he didn't want his friend to go into a full on rage, and cloud his judgement before he even got to the scene of the crime. He sighs, shaking his head. "Just...just come with me...I'll explain once we get there."

Chat Noir huffs, but begrudingly follows Nino as they wind through the corridors and hallways of the castle. As they walk, the feeling of irritation fades away as slowly it is replaced by fear. He knew this castle better than anyone. And he dreaded to see where Nino was taking him, even though he already knew...

Nino stops walking, his face a stony solemn as he gestures to the door....of the Princess's suite. Chat stands there, petrified as he stares at the door. His eyes dart to Nino, questioning. The man sighs, and pushes open the door gently.

The wooden door's damaged hinges squeal loudly in protest as the door swings in, revealing the mess inside. Papers from Marinette's journals were strewn about, some ripped or torn. The bedsheets, normally neat and clean, looked as if someone had a very, very restless night. The glass door leading out to the balcony was thrown wide open, the curtains waving in the light breeze that entered as sunlight filters through them, making the shattered glass fragments on the carpet sparkle and gleam like a thousand gems. The roses, which had once sat in the same vase that now lay broken all over the floor are scattered, wilted and dying as they petals slowly fell apart.