Hardships

Fine Line

Stars filled the sky like pale corn into freshly turned ground. It was the promise of life in the darkness, a sense of warmth springing from the cold that Catra felt. What is this place? For she is not familiar with it. The sense of peace and inevitability surrounded the feline as she laid in the middle of a beautiful flower field: flowers that glimmered under the stars in the moonlight.

'There was a time where flowers were just mere seeds that blossomed through hectic storms', A familar voice states behind Catra. Catra's eyes widened and she sat herself up and turned her head over her shoulder, her breath hitching when she saw who it was.

'Hey RaRa', Hako says a bright smile played on her face as she watched Catra stand up and run over to her taking the slightly taller female into her arms in a tight embrace. Catra couldnt control the tears that raced down her cheeks. Hako closed her eyes, feeling her own tears fall as she put her hand on the back of feline's head as Catra cried into her shoulder.

Catra pulled back, wiping away her tears and said, 'Im sorry. For not getting there in time to save you Hako. I-Im so sorry'. Hako smiled, flicking Catra's nose and saying, 'Dont blamw yourself for the inevitable Catra. I watched you every day and night. I was always by your side you idiot, I never left you. And I never will. We made that promise to eachother right?'. Catra smiled, pulling Hako into another hug.

'Right'.

The two of them hugged for what felt like hours before Catra finally pulled back, her cheeks dry of tears as she asked, "What is this place Ko?". Hako sighs and says, 'Do you wanna know Ra?'. Catra nodded and flicked the woman's nose and said sarcastically, 'No i dont wanna know. Of course I wanna know you idiot, why the hell would I ask?'.

Hako rolled her eyes and punched Catra in the shoulder, 'Jesus I see you havent changed a thing whatsoever'. Catra flicked the woman off before they both sat down in the flower field, looking up at the stars. 'Am I dead?', Catra asks suddenly taking Hako off guard.

Hako turned to face her friend, only to see a small smile on her face. 'No, you're not dead nor are you completely alive', Hako says softly. Catra nods and asks, 'Do you know if I survived the Seirei kai with Kade?'.

Hako nods and says, 'You will, thats why you're here'. Catra quirked a brow and looked at her friend questioningly as she laid down in the flowers. 'What do you mean?', Catra asked laying down aswell. Hako sighs and says, 'For you its only been minutes since you've come here. But in reality you've been comatose for a month. You're in the fine line between death and life. This place, its a shelter for your soul'.

Catra nodded and asked, 'So why are you here Hako?'. Hako was silent for a moment before she said shakily, 'I had to make sure you kept on living Catra. I love you, and I would like nothing more than for you to join me on the other side but you and I know that cant happen. Not yet'. Catra sat up looking at her friend, watching as the woman stood up and looked ahead of her.

Catra blinked and asked, 'Why not?'. Hako scoffed and turned to face Catra and said, ' No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Loss and possession, death and life are one. There falls no shadow where there shines no sun. I know you're tired Catra. You're exhausted from having to lose those close to you. To fight. To kill. But your time is not up yet. When it is, I'll welcome you with open arms but for now you have a fiancée to return to'.

Catra's eyes widen as Hako approached her, lending Catra her hand which the feline takes quickly. 'Do you understand why you cant join me yet Catra?', Hako asks softly pulling the feline up on her feet. Catra nodded and asked softly, 'Will this be the last time I see you?'. Hako scoffs and elbowed the feline in the side and said, 'Of course not, did you not hear what I said?  Im by your side always. You may not see me but thats because im in here'. Hako pauses and pokes her finger into Catra's chest before saying, "Im in your heart Catra never forget that'.

Catra nodded and hugged Hako once more, feeling that this would be their goodbye. 'Do me a favor Catra', Hako says gently into the feline's ear. Catra hummed and said, ' What is it Hako?'. Hako smiled and whispered, ' Go back to Etheria. Leave the duties of the Throne to Jaki. And... Don't think of me too often. I don't want you getting sad. Just live well. Just live. I'll be walking beside you every step of the way. Say hi to Adora for me aswell'. Catra pulled back in confusion before Hako pushed her back in the field with intense force.

Catra's head hit the flower field with a thud, the feline's vision going black...

To be continued...