Chapter Text
The darkness of night blanketed the land as Catra left the Fright Zone. After she and Adora had taken the skiff earlier, the blonde claimed to have seen a sword. Adora could be imagining things. Or the stress of the promotion was getting to her. Catra made her way across the flower field. It was a stretch of land between the Fright Zone and the Whispering Woods. She proceeded into the mysterious forest.
A chill ran up and down Catra's spine. She was expecting a creature or something else to jump out at her. It was eerie. Moss-covered paths twisted and turned in the ground. Behind her, the trees and leaves rustled in an invisible breeze. Did the wind make a whispering noise? She scrutinized her surroundings. Her tail and hair bristled, claws elongating. Towering trees acted as silent sentries, obscuring the sky with leaves and branches. Their limbs seemed to conceal whatever lurked in the shadows.
Catra stepped into a clearing, where Adora said she saw the sword. There was nothing to see here. Not even a heap of vines and a glowing blade. How strange. Leaves crunched, and she whirled around, stance widening. There was a faint breathing sound. Her tail whipped back and forth with sharp flicks.
"Who's there?" Catra shouted into the darkness. "Show yourself!"
No response. Catra's ears twitched. The crunching of leaves sounded closer. She swore she glimpsed a pair of glowing eyes. Was it an ancient creature? According to the Horde, the Whispering Woods teemed with monsters. No wonder there were stories of soldiers disappearing in the forest. A shadowy figure transformed from a large cat to a feline, bipedal hybrid.
Catra tilted her head. She hadn't seen anything like this before in her entire life. Was it a shadow version of herself? Was it the forest's magic trying to spook her? Whoever the figure was, they stepped into view. The light from Etheria's moons illuminated the stranger. It was a magicat. Since when was there another magicat in Etheria? The magicat's gaze flicked over Catra's body, assessing her.
The magicat was female, with red hair and green eyes. She was wearing chainmail beneath her gray tunic. Upon closer inspection, she appeared to be around Catra's height. Or a few inches shorter.
"Looks like one of our own is in the Horde," the stranger stated. "You resemble the Queen of Halfmoon."
"Who are you, and what do you want?" Catra asked.
"I'm Minou, daughter of Sir Tao. My father's the captain of the royal guard. Who are you and what are you doing in Rebel territory?"
"I'm Catra. I'm not here to attack, unless your plan is to ambush a Horde soldier in the woods."
"Why are you here, then?"
"I was passing through."
Back in the Horde, Catra had heard repeated stories of how magicats were monsters. And how her species deserved to suffer for resisting the Horde. It was why the cadets bullied her, why the superiors and Shadow Weaver were cruel. Yet, here Catra was, communicating with a magicat. As far as she could tell, Minou seemed calm. But it could be a facade. Anyone outside the Horde was the enemy, right?
Still, something nagged at a small part of Catra that always questioned stuff. She was here to see if the sword existed. Not to run into a member of her species. Minou didn't attack her on sight, which contradicted the horror stories surrounding magicats.
"What are you doing in the middle of the night?" Catra asked at last.
"Making sure the Horde wouldn't discover the tunnels beneath Halfmoon. We call our main city Felidae," Minou said.
"Sacrificing hours of sleep to go on a patrol, huh?" Catra maintained eye contact. "You mentioned the Queen of Halfmoon. How did I resemble her?"
"You share some of the facial features and heterochromia eyes. The difference is the hair color. Queen Savanah's hair is dark. Yours is cedar brown."
"Your point?"
"She had said that her missing daughter would have looked like this. Twelve years ago, the Horde took her daughter. They killed half of our people, took the survivors prisoner. They murdered King Rufus."
Catra huffed. "I was five when the Horde took me in."
Minou leaned against a tree. "Guess you're the same age as the lost princess. She'd be seventeen by now."
"Weren't princesses or magicats monsters?"
"No. The Horde is wrong. Ever since they showed up in Etheria, they tore apart families. They raided villages and wiped out some species. If the magicats hadn't gone underground, many of us would be dead by now. The first Princess Alliance fell apart after a crushing defeat. It's what my father told me, what Queen Savanah said to me."
"Oh. The superiors didn't say anything about it. Shadow Weaver raised me in the Horde. Even if she was a cruel guardian." Catra crossed her arms. "Can't you go back to wherever you came from? Forget I told you anything. I don't want any pity."
Minou sighed. "I don't pity you."
"Whatever. This is a waste of time, and I'm going back to the Fright Zone." Catra turned to leave. "Not that there is a reason to stay in the Horde..." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "Other than my childhood friend who's like a sister..."
"I thought you Horde types don't care about anyone but yourselves."
Catra whirled around and made eye contact. She had forgotten that Minou could hear her well due to being a magicat. "You don't know me, or how it felt to grow up in the Horde under a cruel guardian! I do care about someone, and it's my childhood friend. I could care less about what the Horde expected from us. No one ever tried to understand me, other than Adora. People saw me as either someone to walk on eggshells around, or someone who's a rulebreaker."
Minou held up her hands. "Chill. If you don't want power, what is something you want?"
Catra's tail lowered, becoming still. She hugged herself. "Respect. Not being seen as a scary creature to avoid. Adora was the only one in the Horde who understood me." She lowered her arms to her sides. "Also, I'd like to know where I came from. But Shadow Weaver said it didn't matter."
"Come with me."
"Why should I? I'm a Horde soldier, and you're not."
"You could find answers in Felidae, the underground city. It's where the magicats live, and will stay during the war."
Catra followed Minou to a cave entrance. They explored the underground tunnels, moving past stalactites and stalagmites. Fat drops of water dripped from the stalactites and formed tiny puddles on the rocky ground. Scents of cold stone and damp earth wafted in the air. Every step echoed off the cave walls. They had to slow down when moving through narrower passages. Where was Minou leading her?
Catra was about to demand an explanation when they arrived in a vast chamber. It was massive enough to encircle a city. The sight took her breath away. Walls of stone stood between them and the city within. On either side of the city, and both sides of the drawbridge, tower roofs pointed upward. Guards patrolled the outskirts and the entrance. Crystal lights dotted the walls and the distant cave ceiling.
The crystals on the ceiling shone bright enough to mimic Etheria's illumination sources. Minou lead Catra into the city. Someone must have constructed the buildings and cobblestone paths from ancient stone. This place consisted of many shops, homes, and parks. There was a main square with a beautiful fountain. It was something out of a dream.
Several onlookers gawked at Catra's uniform. They seemed wary, considering the clothes she wore. She figured they had negative experiences with the Horde. After all, Minou had mentioned the Horde attack to her. The whispers floated in the air.
"Horde soldier..."
"Did some of our people join the Horde at some point?"
"She resembles the Queen. Who is she? What if she's the lost princess?"
"She couldn't be the lost princess..."
Were they judging Catra? They might as well admit to assuming the worst about her. Her shoulders tensed as she continued following Minou. The attention was getting to her, making her want to scream at them. She restrained the urge to do so.
Morning came. Shadow Weaver had summoned Adora to her office. Adora didn't have the chance to get breakfast from the commissary. She didn't complain. Whatever Shadow Weaver would say must be important.
"Adora, you have returned with an interesting artifact. I have a question. Where is Catra?" Shadow Weaver sat in her office chair, steepling her fingers on her desk. "Has she turned against the Horde?"
Adora placed the sword onto the desk. "She didn't tell me where she had gone. If I had known, I would tell you."
Shadow Weaver narrowed her eyes. "Is it the truth? I hope you aren't lying, my dear."
"I'm telling the truth, ma'am."
"The cameras caught her sneaking out of the Fright Zone, going who knows where. You didn't keep her in check." Shadow Weaver gestured to a monitor on the wall. She pushed a remote button, turning on the recordings. The screen flashed to life, revealing the footage. "Stealing a skiff was one thing. You did it with her, knowing she would drag you down. Later, she left when everyone slept."
Adora fidgeted in the chair. "What do you need me to do?"
"I wouldn't recommend following her for the time being. Let's see how long until she returns. Knowing her, she is an unmotivated slacker who doesn't follow rules. She never respects authority figures such as myself and Lord Hordak." Shadow Weaver pushed the remote button again. "If you will excuse me, I will recharge my magic in the Black Garnet Chamber. You may leave. I can sense great power within the sword. It has spoken to you, hasn't it?"
Adora walked to the door. "It has. Why do you mention it?"
"Whatever it is, it could give us significant advantage."
After the conversation, Adora strode through the adjacent hallway. She made her way to the barracks, checking for a note. Catra wouldn't have left without informing her. When she couldn't find anything, she searched the rest of the base. There was nothing. As far as she could tell, the footage was the sole proof of Catra leaving.
How typical. Catra had never shown much interest in fighting for the glory of the Horde. Why else did she always show up late to training? Adora couldn't stop herself from wondering if Catra was safe, or if she was in danger. She proceeded to the training area. Lonnie, Kyle, and Rogelio were in the middle of beating up a few bots in the obstacle course. One of the bots picked Kyle up by the ankle. He dangled upside down. Lonnie shook her head, and Rogelio grunted.
"Ready to train with us, Force Captain Adora?" Lonnie said.
"I have an important role in the Horde now. I get to lead troops on missions, hence the title," Adora said. "I'm going to Thaymor soon. You guys aren't coming."
"Let me guess. The bitter, old sorceress disapproved of the idea of us coming with you."
"She's not bitter. She's smart." Adora pinched the bridge of her nose. "We have to respect Shadow Weaver, even if she can be a little harsh at times."
Lonnie scoffed. "At least you admit she wasn't the nicest person around."
"Lonnie, it's not the main point here."
"Also, where is the cat now? Did she run off and become a stray?"
Adora gritted her teeth. "Her name's Catra. She's not a mindless animal. You must think twice before badmouthing her. Or I could make you into Shadow Weaver's training dummy."
Lonnie opened her mouth, then pressed her lips together. She focused on pummeling a bot. Rogelio grunted as he freed Kyle from the bot that held the latter upside-down. Adora paced to the commissary and grabbed a tray of ration bars. She would have shared them with Catra. Yet the magicat wasn't here.
Other than Shadow Weaver, Catra was the only family Adora had in the Horde. Catra was the closest thing to a sister. Adora gobbled the ration bars, trying to push her thoughts aside. She could get a strong drink. The superiors would forbid her from drinking. As with anything else in life, the Force Captain title would have pros and cons. She was in a position of commanding. Which meant she would have to act a certain way to avoid losing the badge. Or worse.
Adora swallowed the last of her usual breakfast and carried the tray to the dirty pile. She became aware of someone observing her. To her surprise, Shadow Weaver lurked in the doorway. The older woman sure knew how to make a silent entrance. It was spooky, reminding her of ghosts.
"Force Captain Adora. Lord Hordak has requested your presence in his throne room," Shadow Weaver said. "Come with me."
"Yes, Shadow Weaver," Adora said.
They made their way to the throne room. Adora kneeled before the steps to Hordak's throne. The warlord emerged from the shadows, wearing a permanent scowl. He stood tall, looming over her kneeling form.
"Rise, Force Captain Adora. Today, you will lead the attack on Thaymor, a Rebel fortress," Hordak said. "The Horde counts on you to succeed. Do not fail."
"I will do my best, Lord Hordak," Adora replied as she stood.
The castle was as magnificent on the inside as the exterior was. Tapestries hung from ceiling. Portraits and murals dotted the walls. Catra had spent her first night in the castle. This morning, she wasn't wearing the Horde uniform. The outfit was different, as it had Halfmoon's colors. A moss green tunic and beige leggings. Someone had painted her headpiece the same color as the tunic. She walked to the dining hall, where Queen Savanah would be sitting. She chose a seat by the stained glass window.
"You could be my long lost daughter," Savanah said. "Your birth name was C'yra."
"What makes you think that? I'm not princess material," Catra replied.
"The Horde may have trained you to be their weapon. Still, your scent remains the same, even when mixed with other scents."
"Even if I was the lost princess of Halfmoon, I haven't decided on my allegiances."
"You can take your time to think about it. The people will celebrate over the news of the lost princess returning. For now, we will keep things quiet."
They didn't say anything else as they ate their breakfast. Catra found herself gazing at a mural on the wall. The mural depicted a couple. Savanah stood next to a broad-shouldered man, holding a small bundle. Whoever the man is, he must be the late King of Halfmoon. Something about the blanket color swaddling the bundle seemed familar. When she was younger, she once had a blanket the same shade as her current tunic.
The broad-shouldered man was holding a shield at his side. It displayed a paw between the two tips of a crescent moon. Catra strode over to the mural, gaze flickering over the image. They were frozen in time, their smiles soft and regal. She left the dining hall, thoughts drifting to Adora. What was the blonde up to now? Was Adora worrying about her?
Within minutes, Catra was outside the castle. She walked through the underground city of Felidae. It felt as if her thoughts were leading her somewhere. She made sure to avoid the staring strangers and busy paths. There was a way out of the underground city and passages. She had mapped the directions in her mind when coming here.
Catra wandered through a tunnel entrance and explored the passages. The paths twisted left and right as she maintained her current pace. An exit came into view, and the bright morning light greeted her. She observed her surroundings. If it was the Whispering Woods during the day, she preferred it to its nighttime creepiness. Now, if she could make her way back to the Fright Zone...
Wait, why would Catra want to return? Was it because of Adora? It couldn't be the sole reason, right? She proceeded down a dirt trail, unaware she was going in the wrong direction. The wind whistled around the branches and through the forest ceiling. An hour of ambling later, she arrived in a village. The sound of approaching Horde vehicles startled the locals. A pink-haired girl and a dark-skinned boy led the villagers to safety. Whoever the duo was, they could be close to Catra's age.
Standing in front of a tank was Adora. Catra closed the distance between herself and the blonde. Adora furrowed her brows as her gaze took in Catra's outfit. Catra's tail twitched. Explosions roared through the air, and people screamed. Adora was calm despite the chaos.
"They said Thaymor was a Rebel fortress, not a village," Adora said. "By the way, what happened to your uniform?"
"The uniform doesn't matter right now. I found out the truth the Horde tried to hide from me. I'm the lost princess of Halfmoon, a magicat kingdom. The Horde lied to me for years," Catra said.
"You're spouting nonsense, Catra. You're the only magicat who isn't a monster. Do you want to be as dangerous as they were?"
Catra couldn't believe what she was hearing from her friend's mouth. All she could think of was the propaganda drilled into Adora's head. "After I snuck out, I went to Felidae, Halfmoon's underground city. A girl, Minou, led me there. The magicats are peaceful, though some are warriors."
"Come back home with me. This outfit goes. We'll get you another uniform."
"No. Not after what I've learned."
Adora drew her stun baton. "This is a warning. You intend to betray the Horde?"
Catra grabbed Adora's hand. "You could come with me."
"And what, turn against the Horde and its values?" Adora yanked her hand away and swung the stun baton at Catra. "This ends now!"
The stun baton met Catra's side. Electrical shock rippled throughout her entire body. The ground came up to meet her. Groaning, she strained to move her temporarily paralyzed limbs. She didn't think Adora would be capable of hurting her. Until now.
"Sorry, Catra! I don't know what came over me!" Adora exclaimed.
"You chose to hit me," Catra replied. She forced herself up into a sitting position. "Why are you doing it?"
"I wouldn't have to do it if you didn't turn against the Horde. Didn't we promise to stick together no matter what? We could've changed the Horde together."
"Then why do you follow orders to attack innocent people? The Horde is-"
Adora jammed the stun baton into Catra's side again, making her recline on the ground again. "You're acting out."
A whooshing sound pierced Catra's ears. Or was it a poof? Someone teleported into view. It was the pink-haired girl from earlier. The girl teleported Catra to another part of the village, away from the violence. It took a moment for Catra to register what happened. She attempted to make sense of the sudden change of surroundings. Catra leaned against a boulder, and so did the girl.
"You saved me?" Catra asked.
"Yes. What was that about back there?" The girl asked.
"I left the Horde, and Adora hit me. Before this... I found out the truth about myself and Halfmoon."
"Yourself? Halfmoon? Some magicats survived? My mother told me the Horde wiped them out or something."
"You know about magicats, Sparkles?" The nickname was something Catra could come up with, as she hadn't learned the girl's name.
The girl's brows lowered. "It's Glimmer. I'm the Princess of Bright Moon. My mom told me stories about magicats, furball."
"It's Catra."
Glimmer chuckled. "Of all the ways to introduce ourselves, we started off with nicknames. I'm out of magic now, and you're sitting here. Have you ever fought?"
Catra turned her head in the direction of the ruckus. "I could try. I got my claws and my agility."
A bot approached the girls. Catra rose to her height and lunged. She sank her claws into its metal body, deep enough to affect circuitry. As she yanked her claws out, the bot collapsed to its side. She clawed its trapezoidal eye, making sure it wouldn't recover. Soon, she climbed trees and snuck up on soldiers and bots. She would knock them to the ground, catching them off-guard. The dark-skinned boy from earlier shot arrows at the remaining bots and tanks.
Catra jumped from a tree to the nearest roof. She shoved crates off the roof, launching them at more Horde soldiers. Upon impact, the soldiers fell. Others dodged. She jumped to the ground and ambushed yet another Horde soldier, overpowering him. After a while, the Horde soldiers retreated. Catra and the dark-skinned archer had succeeded in defending Thaymor.
Glimmer caught up to them. "Catra, you weren't kidding about your agility. How did you learn to do it?"
"It's part of being a magicat," Catra said.
"Also, your claws are badass. You're so cool. We need someone like you."
Warmth bloomed in Catra's chest at the praise. In the Horde, she didn't receive much admiration. It was nice to know someone had noticed her efforts. And that 'someone' happened to be a pretty girl. Glimmer didn't look at the claws with fear. Instead, she had said the claws were badass.
"You can join the Rebellion," Glimmer said.
"I will," Catra replied. "Even if it means I have to fight my childhood friend in battle..."
"The blonde girl who hit you?"
"Yeah. Adora chose the Horde."
"You have us now. Myself and Bow."
"Your friend's name is Bow? The same name as his weapon?"
Catra continued chatting with Glimmer and Bow. Who would name a kid after a weapon? Might as well be another person named 'Sword' in Etheria. As she got to know the duo, they brought up the idea of a new Princess Alliance.