Chapter 3
"What's that..?" Tikki asked as she tightly held Plagg's hand.
Both Plagg and I remained silent. My breath was heavy and my heartbeat was so loud, I thought the whole world could hear it. Was I afraid? No... I couldn't be…, right?
"What is it?" Tikki repeated.
Plagg and I exchanged glances and started slowly towards the bush. I picked up a stick and held it tightly. As I prepared to slam it down on the bush, two voices pleaded for me to drop the stick. Cupcake and Sprinkles crawled out of the bush.
"What in the name of Hawkmoth were you two doing in there?!" Plagg whispered.
I cringed at hearing the name Hawkmoth.
"We were looking for bugs," Sprinkles muttered.
"You were. You dragged me along with you. Bugs are gross," Cupcake interrupted.
"Ok, I was looking for bugs. Then we heard you guys and were gonna follow you,"
Plagg sighed and looked over at Tikki, who looked as though she just saw a ghost.
"Guys, please don't go," muttered the so! and tired voice of Wayzz, as he emerged from his tent.
I felt embarrassed in the moment, "Did we wake you?"
Wayzz shook his head gently and yawned, "We'll look for Trixx in the morning- together,"
My blood boiled at hearing him say that, "What if it's too late by then?! What if... what if he's dead?! What then?!"
"We'll just have to take our chances,"
"I'm with Wayzz," Plagg muttered. I could tell he felt sympathy for me, but he still had common sense.
Duusu and Pollen crawled out of their tents at my shouting.
"Nooroo, are you trying to wake up the whole forest?" Duusu mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"Duusu, are you trying to make me kill you?" I retorted with a scoff.
"Nooroo," Tikki gently took my trembling hand in her own, "calm down. Take deep breaths. Ok?"
I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath.
"Good," Tikki smiled softly.
"Ok. Now listen. We all are really worried about Trixx, but we can't go after him without a gameplan. First of all, we need to be in pairs- one group will have an extra person. Then we need a way of communication. How many of us have phones?" Wayzz asked.
Plagg took out his phone, "I do." "As do I," Pollen smiled.
Cupcake and Sprinkles nodded.
Tikki smiled shyly and took her phone from her pocket.
"Ok, and so do I. Duusu and Nooroo?"
"I do, but the battery is dead," Pollen sheepishly grinned.
"I... don't," I blushed embarrassed, "my father doesn't trust me yet,"
Wayzz was silent for a moment before replying with "ok, we can work around this,"
As Wayzz was organizing how we would rescue Trixx, I zoned out. I twirled a strand of my lavender hair around my finger and dazed o" at the stars. It was likely a good 45 minutes later before Plagg gently touched my shoulder, snapping me out of my trance.
"Are you ok..?" he asked me, concern dotting his tan face.
I nodded, blinking slowly.
"You're tired. Come on," he led me into his tent.
"What about Tikki?"
"She's with Pollen," Plagg offered a tired half-smile.
I sighed and sat on a blanket he had spread over the bottom of the tent.
"What's bothering you? You've seemed off all night. And I know it isn't still Trixx; you're passed that shock," Plagg sat next to me, cross-legged and looking at me as though I'm about to tell a deep and spiritual story.
"I'll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone... ok?" I reluctantly whispered.
He nodded eagerly.
"Earlier... your statement 'What in the name of Hawkmoth'...-"
"Crap! I offended you, didn't I!?" he interrupted, struck with fear.
I gently placed my pale hand on top of his tan one, "No. I can assure you, you didn't o"end me."
He released a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"Hawkmoth is my father..." I whispered softly.
Horror and shock spread across Plagg's face. He opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it again. I had a feeling he'd react this way. I awkwardly glanced down at our hands.
"Who else knows..?" Plagg was finally able to say. "...just you," I murmured.
Another awkward silence filled the atmosphere.
"I don't see you any different. Now that I know that, a lot of stuff makes sense. Why you're so jumpy, why you don't trust easily... and you're evident lack of sleep. Speaking of, when's the last time you slept?"
"Who keeps track of that?"
"Um... a sane person. Come here,"
I reluctantly crawled towards Plagg. He made me lay down and rest my head on his lap. He gently combed through my hair with his fingers. He hummed soothingly. I yawned.
"I should warn you," I began.
"Hm?"
"I suffer from sleep paralysis," I said as I drifted off into sleep, "thought you should know..."
The last thing I heard before completely falling asleep was; "Don't worry. I already promised Trixx that I would protect you... no matter what,"