On your own (Catradora)

How did we get here?

"I can't believe of all things, you grabbed the cards. We said to grab what we'll need bow. Not games!" Glimmer and Bow were currently bickering about the deck of cards Bow had pulled out of his back pack when the Young Queen asked what they should do now. "Oh come on Glimmer. You asked what we should do, luckily for us we won't be dying of boredom." Bow retorted with a cheeky smile as he held up the box of cards giving them a slight shake. Glimmer cheeks puffed out as she shot her friend a slight glare before plopping down on the ground. "... Deal the cards. Adora do you want to join?" The purple haired girl asked as she glanced back at her blonde friend. Adora was sitting against a tree staring down at Catras Body watching as the felines chest rose and fell in her sleep. "Adora?" Glimmer repeats, this time catching Adora's attention as she glanced over to her two friends. "No. You guys go ahead. I'll keep an eye on Catra.." Adora responds looking back down at Catra's figure. Adora sat there with her knees to her chest. Her head settled in her arms letting her eyes peek over at the feline who they had pulled out of the bush and away from the tree. Now she laid in the slight open space they were in. Only a foot away from the blonde. To make sure she wouldn't escape they tied her hand up with the belt from Adora's jacket. Her legs also bound in the cloth ripped from her Cloak. Bow sat down and dealt the cards occasionally glancing up at his friend with a concerned look. A few hours passed, about 4 card games before anyone noticed that the sun was going down and this beautiful forest was becoming slightly more interesting. "HA! Three games in a row! beat that!" Glimmer cheered throwing her winning hand down before her card rival. Putting her fists on her shoulder as she grinned triumphantly. Bow glanced at the cards and sighed hanging his head down. "Darn. Another loss. Whelp. You won fair and square. Good game" the archer said looking back up at his friend. He was smiling as he was Just happy that she was happy, yet, in his hand he held a full house of cards. The true winning hand but after Losing the first game Bow decided to let Glimmer have the last few wins. This would cause a Tie and subsequently a new game that would end up hurting someone's feelings. "Hey guys. I hate to interrupt your victory celebration but can you keep it down. We don't want to attract another one of those giant Bugs" Adora said as she stood up and stretched. "Right. Sorry" Bow said in a whispered voice, smiling as he sheepishly reshuffled the cards. "Oh how about we make a card castle? Glimmer suggested. "And you said the cards were a stupid idea" Bow smirks handing glimmer the cards so that she could make her castle. As the sun began to set the forest seemed to radiate, the foliage began to glow faintly without any touch to activate its glow. Adora noticed the subtle glow of the forest. Looking up she noticed that the tree was Glowing from the inside out. A light yellow glow peeked through the bark of the tree like zebra stripes. As Adora's pale blue eyes traced the many small lines in the trees limbs, a small groan from below caused her to suddenly look down. Catras tail started to shift as she began to regain consciousness. Another groan left catras lips as her head moved to the side, her eyes opening slightly as she tried to look around, her vision still blurry from sleep and dehydration. Then she felt a sharp pain in her side, A panic set in as she tried to move her hand up to her head but found that they were bound together. Suddenly there came a familiar voice "H-hey. C-calm down. You're hurt. don't move around like that Catra" Adora managed to get out as she placed her hands on the felines shoulders to try and keep her from flailing and injuring herself further. The feline tried to break her restraints but found herself to be too weak to even stretch the belt wrapped around her wrists. Bow and Glimmer raced to Adora's side suddenly forgetting about their card fortress as they watched as the blonde tried to settle the feline. Once she stopped fidgeting, Catras eye sight began to clear and she was finally able to see her captures or rather three familiar faces. one in particular catching her eye. Long Blonde hair, red jacket, pale blue eyes.. "h-hey.. Adora.." Catra said shyly with a hint of pain in her voice. Her ears laying down against her head with slight shame and embarrassment for everything that had lead up to this reunion. It was weird, Catra felt like she had woken up form a long horrible dream but it wasn't a dream. The sword, the portal, the ship. It was all real. "W-what happe- hsss" Catra hissed our in pain as she suddenly felt another surge of pain in her side. Glimmer stepped forward kneeling down. "You were reckless yet again and... got herself injured.. saving us.." she said pointing out catras bandaged side. "It was stupid and reckless and.. amazing" glimmer smiled. Bow still being skeptical couldn't help himself as he recollected the days earlier event. "As terrifying as it was getting chased by that giant bug you totally saved our butts. And how did you do that with the tree trap? Did you know that the tree was carnivorous? How have you been able to survive out here? Did the ship crash? When you flew over the black out zone? Did you rip that bugs leg off? Or is there another giant bug that could jump out and eat us any moment?" The archer rammered on looking behind them as he said that last part, a bit of paranoia on his face at the thought of facing another giant insect. As she laid there listening to the rambling, Catra began to grow tired and annoyed that she was being looked down upon and decided to try to sit up with Adora and Glimmers help as they saw her begin to move forward. As they sat her against the tree whispering to her to be careful, Catra Lifted her bound hands to her head, glaring slightly at the Archers many questions and that Glimmer and Adora kept reminding her that she was injured. "Ugh..my head... Arrow. Stop with the questions already. My head is pounding.." she muttered as she glanced up at them. Then a thought occurred to her. "What are you even doing here?..." she asked moving her hands away as she looked between them for an answer. Bow simply scratched his head giving a slight nervous smile. I mean this was Catra. An arch nemesis to the rebellion up until recent months. Glimmer scratched her cheek trying to think of an answer. "Wellll... it's kind of a long story" glimmer began but couldn't find the words to explain why they were here. Adora was still in shock that Catra was even still alive and the fact that she hadn't tried to attack them yet only proved what glimmer had said before. Catra was different. ".. Catra. We came out here looking for you.." Adora finally broke the awkward silence. Now the blonde had the felines full attention. Her large ears peeking up to hear the explanation. "Glimmer told us about what happened on Horde Primes ship. How you saved her and got yourself injured. We didn't believe her but now.." Adora looked over catras figure with a face holding mixed emotions. Emotions of relief, sadness, pitty, and a small smile graced her features. "You proved that you changed when you saved us from that creature. You could've let it eat us or watch us jump to our deaths but. You saved us and put yourself in harms way" Adora places her hand on catras shoulder and smiled. "Thank you.." she finally said. Catra watched Adora with skepticism but her look softened as Adora placed her hand on her shoulder. The feeling of warmth already radiating from the blondes palm against her skin. Glancing behind her The feline saw glimmer and bow nod and smile. "Thank you. For saving us" glimmer added. "I have a whole new respect for how awesome you are" bow smiled giving the feline a thumbs ya. "Uh.. you're. Welcome... but that doesn't quite answer my question. why were you looking for me? Isn't everyone ready to chase me out of every village in Etheria. They want to put a noose around my neck for everything I've done.. and maybe they have the right idea. Well. It doesn't matter anymore. I'm as good as dead out here on my own. You've only just signed your own death certificate by coming here for me.." Catra says shooting them a slight glare before looking away in sorrow. "That's not it at all. You saved the queen of Bright Moon. And the entire planet. You're like a hero now!" Bow chimes in as he stepped forward to catras side. "Whoopi.. that doesn't change what I did. How much I've hurt you all.." Catra gave bow a sight glance before looking down at her bound hands seeing that it was Adora's belt. A slight smirk gracing her lips. "You trust me. Yet you still tie my hands. And legs. I feel more like a prisoner than a hero." She laughed. The feeling of the belt on her wrists somehow comforting. She didn't trust herself not to engage in their iconic fights. Maybe this was for the best. She almost feared what would happen if she were released. Would she lose control and attack or would she be a willing prisoner to this squad of idiots. "You're not our prisoner.. this was just a precaution. When you woke up you were startled. We didn't want you running off and hurting yourself more" Glimmer explains as she carefully untied catras ankles. But when Adora reaches for the belt Catra pulled her hands away. "No.." Catra said looking down at the belt. She could break it whenever she wanted if she were honest. Being thirsty and dehydrated was just an excuse to not break the leather band restraints. "I don't want to hurt you. Or anyone anymore. So. Keep this on. Please" this shocked all three of them. Even Catra was a bit surprised at her own words. But it was true. She was done hurting people. Especially the ones she cared for. "Catra.." Adora said softly as she gently took the felines cheek in her hand. Again. That warmth. It wasn't like shadow weavers touch, This was a compassionate and undeceiving touch that made the feline almost melt. Closing her eyes Catra gently nuzzled against Adoras hand yet again surprising the trio. "Ok. For now we'll keep this on" Adora agreed before helping the feline to her feet. Catra cringed slightly as her arm was lifted over Adora's shoulder. "We need to get out of here. This place is a nightmare when the sun goes down." Catra explained. "The ship is about a few miles beyond the forest". "Wait. The ship? It's still intact? How?" Bow asked. So many questions to be asked but that would have to wait. As they made their was through the forest the trio found that Catra was right about the forest not being quite as sweet and innocent as it was in the day time. Now as the sun was setting the creatures big and small grew aggressive and would charge at them if they got to close to a certain tree or bush. At one point a flock of glowing birds attacked them for stepping on a stump. This caused the four teens to run for their lives while avoiding low handing branches and vengeful beaks from poking out their eyes. Luckily they had arrived to the edge of the forest in one piece. As they were hunched over trying to catch their breath Catra pointed to the river. "W-we'll follow the river up stream. The ship should be on the left side of the trench" she instructed. After a short break for water and air they began the treacherous two and a half mile hike up the river bank and just as Catra had said, they came across the ship which was embedded into the side of the trench wall with the back end sticking out over the steep slope. "Whoa!! There it is!! It's right there!! This is amazing!" Bow cheered excitedly as he began climbing the slope. "Uh. Be careful. I've set a few-" Catra began but it was too late as bow was now handing by his ankle from one of the trees. "Traps.." Catra finishes with a sigh. "Bow are you ok?!" Glimmer asked as she tried to get to her friend. "Yeah I'm fine. Just blood rushing to my head. No biggy" the arched days as he hung there nonchalantly. Glimmer was able to get her friend down before they began to climb the slope more carefully. "Hahaha, Your friends are so weird" Catra laughed but her eyes widened as she began to hear laughter that was not her own. It was Adoras laughter had had caught the feline off guard. "Haha. Yeah but I wouldn't change a thing about them. They're perfectly weird. Makes life a lot more fun" Adora said before helping Catra up the slope and onto the ship. Once the door was closed and everyone was inside. Catra lead them to where she had made herself a cozy room. It was filled with random items she had found. Afew luminescent plants she had managed to keep alive to add light in the room. "Make yourself comfortable. My prison is yours now" she said as she sat down on a makeshift bed. Bow and Glimmer laid down on a pile of tattered flags and blankets which was actually quite comfortable. "Hey Catra. I just wanted to say thank you again for. Everything. Saving me from Horde prime and saving us from that giant centipede thing." The young queen said as she settled into the makeshift bed. Bow laid beside her with his hands behind his head. "Yeah that was so awesome how you out smarted that monster. I have so many questions to ask." The archer added but soon he too fell victim to a much needed sleep. Catra knee that bow would talk her ears off tomorrow. She would even bet that he'd ask her a million questions before noon. The sound of soft snoring and silence kept Catra awake as she thought about what had happened. She sat there in her bed unable to sleep but found that she wasn't the only one. From across the room Catra saw that Adora was sitting on the cold floor, Staring between her two sleeping friends and Catra that was until she noticed that Catra was staring back of course. A light blush coating her cheeks as she pulled her knees closer to her chest. "Can't sleep? You'll get use to it.." Catra said as she tried to run her fingers through her hair but being bound made it slightly difficult as she sighed. Adora stood up and approached catras makeshift bed, the feline watching her every move until she saw the blonde kneel beside her bed. "Catra. Thank you..." Adora spoke earning a confused look from the duel eyes girl. "You saved us today and. You saved all of Etheria when you saved glimmer.. you stopped Horde prime from destroying our planet.." Adora said as She gently placed her hand on catras. Catra glanced down then back to Adora's pale blue eyes. "You seem to have forgotten that I'm the reason Etheria was even put in danger right? The whole portal and the reality collapse thing" the feline said with slight sarcasm and regret. "Nothing can change what I did..I shouldn't be forgiven.. this is exactly what I deserve, To live alone in the middle of nowhere. While you and your friends go back to bright moon. And live happily ever after" catras eyes cast down to the floor between them. Adora gave Catra a saddened look at seeing such sorrow and regret for her actions. "But you know. I am happy. I think. The thought of you in a better place with better people than me. Where you belong. You can go back and be welcomed and loved by friends.. that makes me happy even if I'm here.." Catra added. A surprised look now formed on Adoras face as she watched a soft smile form on catras lips. "Catra.. will you come with me this time?..." Catra looked up then suddenly felt Adoras hand on her cheek. It was warm. Unlike the touch she received from shadow weaver this one was a genuine warmth that brought the feline comfort. A solft barley audible purr began to rumble in catras chest as she heart began to race. "You've asked me that question so many times before.. what makes you think my answer has changed?" She asked looking to her blonde friend for an answer. Adora simply watched Catra with adoration, her thumb gently grazing over her cheek as she moved closer and leaned in. "Because I believe in you. I believe you've changed. You have a good heart in there." She says as she used her other hand to untie the belt around catras wrists. A slight chill running up the felines spine. She already missed her restraints. They felt almost safe to her. Safe from herself. "Adora..." Catra looks up at her old friend with an almost worried yet longing gaze. Only now did she notice how close they were, she could practically feel Adoras heat radiating off her face. Before they could touch Catra moved her head to the side and gently laid it against Adoras shoulder. The blondes eyes softened a bit at this hearing the light flustered purr coming from Catra. "Goodnight Catra.." Adora whispers as she gently scoots them into a laying position. Sleep took them both almost instantly. They laid there in that embrace all night. Catras arms als legs curled up to her chest while Adora allowed one arm to be used as a pillow while the other draped over catras body, Catras tail curled over both of their legs.