Quicksand

“Wait…. You left the Horde?” She-Ra pushes the pipe with her sword and steps back, looking confused. It made sense though, no Horde logo anywhere in the compound, the lack of attacks over the past several months.

Catra laughs dryly. “Oh Adora, I’d forgotten just how dense you are.” When She-Ra blinks at her in response she sighs. “I didn’t leave the Horde, Hordak sent me out here to DIE and instead, I built my own empire from the sand up.”

“So….we don’t have to be fighting?” She-Ra lowers the sword cautiously.

Catra shrugs, tossing the pipe to the side. ”You started it.”

“I did not!” Adora transforms back into herself, moving to sheathe the sword on her back.

Catra immediately pounces on her, pinning her and throwing the sword to the side and out of Adora’s reach in a swift motion. “Well that was stupid, even for you. Now I’ve got the rebellion’s most prized warrior.” She drawls. “Maybe I should give good ol’ Hordak a call, seeing as there’s a pretty big bounty on your head, and an even bigger one on that sword of yours.” As if sentient, the sword glints in the dim light.

Adora counters, “Why would you, when you could help me take him down instead?”

“Ugh for the last time I’m never going to join your stupid rebellion!” Catra’s nose scrunches in a sneer. “The reason that any of us are here is because we are all sick and tired of being told what to do by sissy princesses or stupid, weak lab rats. Out here, it’s take what you want or do what you're told. I wanted an empire, and guess. How. Many. I’ve. Taken.” 

Adora is quiet for a moment, staring up at Catra as her face changes from hurt to an expression that the gang leader can’t quite read. “I’m.... I’m really proud of you Catra.” Catra’s eyes widen, then narrow; her guard dropping for a second before snapping back, suspicion and distrust clear on her face. Adora pauses to take a breath before continuing.

“In just a couple of months you’ve managed to take command of the toughest groups of people in Etheria. Not only that, but you no longer have to take orders! You give them, which suits you much better. And what about all those troops they’ve sent? Your army has really started to scare the Horde!”

“.....whatever” She huffs with her ears back, the tip of her tail swishing. She could feel the light blush heating her face. She shifts her weight, but keeps a firm grip on Adora’s wrists.

“No really! And I know you won’t want to hear this, but you’re actually helping the rebellion by stretching their resources. Hordak was stupid to send away the best commander the Horde has ever had. So, thank you Catra.” Adora gives her one of those classic, dorky grins despite their current position.

Did she just call me the Horde’s best commander? Jesus christ why does the only one who can recognize my efforts have to be you?

“stop.”

Adora’s smile falters, her eyebrows creasing; “Stop what?” she asks, confused. Catra gets up, turning her back on her former enemy, digging her claws into her upper arms.

“UGH! Pretending that you like me now. I’ll- I’ll never be a part of your rebellion and I didn’t leave because of you or your dumb friends or anyone else!”

Adora’s smile is soft and a little sad. She carefully gets up and retrieves her sword where it lay. Feeling Catra’s eyes on her back as she approaches the door, she turns to meet her gaze. “I know.” It was almost a whisper, but she knew Catra could hear. That’s why I’m so proud. She gives Catra another smile before walking out.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The whole encounter had left Adora feeling ...warm? She could still feel where Catra had been gripping her wrists and where her… Adora’s face heats up and she clears her throat to herself. Turning the next corner still lost in thought, she walks face-first into a large body. Something clammers to the floor.

“Oh my goodness! Are you okay?” Scorpia asks with concern, grabbing her collide-ee by the shoulders before stepping back. Her face flashes through emotions: genuine concern puppy brows up, eyes wide recognition, one brow up confusion, then anxiety, processing, brief anger, and sadness as she realizes the one scenario that could have led to Adora walking out relatively unscathed and of her own free will. Quickly, she slaps an attempt at her neutral-happy look on her face before wearily stammering: “Oh. Oh hey Adora! Long time no see, you look… less floppy than last time.”

“Scorpia! Wow hey hi, I didn’t realize that you were out here too.” Adora shakes her head then suddenly drops into a defensive stance. “Are you still with the Horde??”

“Me?! Oh gosh no, I came with Catra to find the First Ones tech that Hordak wanted but then we were having so much fun we decided to stay.” Adora looks stunned. 

“That’s… that’s great, Scorpia. And thank you, for looking out for her.” Scorpia smiles and nods, glad that her efforts hadn't gone unrecognized - even if it was from her sort-of rival. “Oh! You dropped your-” Adora bends down to pick up whatever had fallen earlier. Upon a closer look, it was a headpiece. Dark metal with a smooth band to clip into her mane, their insignia centered on the front: a set of fangs centered over a claw, surrounded by a whip. “This is beautiful.” Adora breathes as she stares at it for a minute before handing it back to Scorpia.

Scratching behind her head with a giant claw, Scorpia chuckles. “Haha yeah, figured she’d need a new one.”

“You’re a really great friend Scorpia.” Adora tries to smile as she fights off old memories. Voices could be heard around the corner, snapping her back to the moment, and she whips her head around nervously.

“Oh! Right, bandits don’t take nicely to princesses.” Scorpia quickly rummages through one of the boxes littering the hallway, and presents Adora with a jacket. “Here! We made a bunch of new ones when Catra took over, but this’ll work.” It’s a light denim with a half-finished logo on the back, just the fangs colored and the rest outlined. Adora quickly slips it on. “Wait!” Scorpia grabs the jacket’s arms and rips them off with one big pull. “There.”

Adora grins. “Thank you Scorpia, I owe you one!” Waving over her shoulder, she disappears running down the hallway. 

Scorpia looks down at the headpiece in her claws. She smiles, then turns the corner to Catra’s room.