Chapter Text
“Catra,” Adora murmured one restless night, long before she was supposed to be promoted, “I’m leaving.”
“Not without me,” Catra mumbled, still half asleep at Adora’s feet.
Such a seemingly small thing, two cadets fleeing from their home. And yet, years later, these two would have the ability to bring the Horde to its knees.
Catra held Adora’s hand, both laughing giddily as they raced through the Whispering Woods. It was night, the crescent moon high in the sky but mostly obscured by the swaying canopy of leaves. They’d slipped out silently. Shadow Weaver was in another sector at the moment of their departure, leaving them nothing to fear for the moment.
“We’re free!” Catra cried in joy, slowing to a stop in a large clearing. Adora wheezed behind her, laughs mingled into her heavy breaths.
“We’re… free…” Adora laughed, but it faded as she took in the surroundings. Catra turned somewhat solemn, as well.
The pair stood in a ravaged plaza of sorts. Horde technology laid destroyed and shredded, surrounded by signs of old settlement. Burnt huts scattered around in a somewhat circular shape, a few carts crushed, tools littering the ground… and bones. Lots of bones.
“Catra… this…” Adora gasped, trembling in her confusion. She’d known the Horde was bad… but there were tiny bones mixed with big bones, clear areas that were for agriculture, homes …
“Adora,” Catra said firmly, her quiet voice carrying in the unnatural stillness of the ruined town, “This is why we had to leave. You know what they’re capable of.”
“I… I know more, now,” Adora took a deep breath to steel herself. “And we can’t let this continue.”
Catra have a harsh laugh. “What do you suggest? Become princesses? ” The word was almost spat, her prejudice shining through.
“No, no.” Adora shook her head. The princesses were as bad as the Horde, in her eyes. She met Catra’s gaze, eyes like fire. “We aren’t either. We are our
own.
”