Always Forever (Catradora)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Adora

"Catra??"

Adora's voice called out into the dark room. She could just hardly see the outline of the feline-like girl who stood in the room, her hand clenching and unclenching.

Catra's head turned, her eyes slightly dull as their color cut through the depths of the darkness. She didn't say anything. It was as if she didn't even comprehend that Adora was there.

Xeva and Adi were standing behind Adora, Xeva's face shifting with a bit of worry as Adi stared on in a non-concerned type of manner. They didn't seem to care about the situation too much. To be fair, they had used her only to find Xeva. They hadn't really cared about helping her.

Which annoyed Adora a little bit, but she decided to let it go.

Without another word, Adora shot forward and launched herself at Catra, picking her up and twirling her in the air, before latching onto her in a selfish hug. "Oh my god, I'm so glad you're okay... I was so worried!" Adora muttered, gritting her teeth as she squished poor Catra in her grip.

"Adora, you're hurting me." Catra's tone was dry. She didn't... sound excited to see Adora at all? Adora bleeped and let Catra go, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly as she glanced around. The room was mostly empty except for a giant crystal that reminded Adora a lot of the garnet back in the horde.

"Okay, I found you— we should probably get going before anyone tries to stop us," Adora started, grabbing onto Catra's hand to begin to lead her away. Catra didn't budge. Adora's expression faltered. "Catra?"

"..." Catra stared at the ground quietly, her eyes focusing themselves on something only she could see. Adora frowned, turning to Catra and shaking her a little bit.

"Hey, Catra, c'mon... we gotta get back," she repeated, her eyebrows furrowing worriedly as Catra sighed, pulling her hand away from Adora and tucking it behind her back.

"I'm not going back, Adora," she muttered, causing the entire world to crash around her. Her eyes widened as she opened her mouth to tell her that she was crazy, but nothing came out. She was stunned... Catra would rather be in this random place instead of returning with Adora?

"What do you mean... why not?" Her voice cracked slightly, causing Xeva and Adi to exchange a glance from behind her. Catra stared on absently.

Then, she turned away from Adora, beginning to walk down the hallway. Adora yelped and followed after her. The two of them walked beside each other in silence for what seemed like forever before Catra finally spoke. She began to explain to Adora everything that happened... the plague... the people... her mother...

"Oh... Catra, I'm so sorry... are you okay?" Adora whispered as Catra rubbed the back of her head.

"I'm fine. I can't leave though. I have to lead them." That... didn't make any sense... she had to lead them...? Why..? Did she feel obligated to?? She didn't know these people at all... ugh...

Adora felt a rush of annoyance wash over her. "Why can't Zell rule? He sounds like he's plenty healthy... or Xeva, isn't he older than you anyway?" Adora attempted to reason as Catra made her way out to a balcony to stare off over the city in silence.

"It needs to be me."

"But why???" Adora exasperated, her tone turning slightly harsh as Catra slowly turned to her.