CHAPTER THREE:

ONE ON ONE!

1

On the first day of school the manor is buzzing with energy. Micah and Angela, having been up since sunrise, skit around the house arranging their notes for the back to back meetings they have at their appointed jobs. Micah hunches over the table with a bagel half falling out of his mouth, writing quick notes in the corner of some medical intern review he's processing, when he hears heavy footfalls from upstairs.

"And they're up." Micah mutters.

Angela purses her lips. "And they're late ." She raises her voice, "hurry up ladies! It doesn't look good to be late on the first day!"

Glimmer shouts back, "Catra won't get out of the bathroom!", with her toothbrush hanging out the side of her mouth.

Catra opens the door in record time. "All yours."

Glimmer chokes, "what are you wearing?"

"This?" Catra does a mock spin. "As if I'd be caught dead in a preppy school girl uniform." The school colors aren't bad (red and black) but she can do without the skirt and Heather Chandler-like blazer. To avoid looking like an average cookie cutter student at BMA Catra made sure to swap the starchy blazer for a sleek black leather jacket to wear over her white dress shirt while forgoing the obnoxious black tie. She'd chucked the plaid skirt as well and swapped it for her best pair of black skinny jeans (and by best, she means the only ones without holes).

"I hate how it works for you…"

"I know right." Catra grins. "I could help you out with yours if you want."

Glimmer considers it. "...I can't, the Headmistress is a real pain and has no favorites."

"Five minutes ladies!"

Glimmer shoves her way to the sink to rinse. "Mom always freaks on the first day. Come on."

Catra snags her brown shoulder bag before hustling down the spiral stairs with Glimmer close behind. The breakfast on the stove is tempting but Angela's steady glare stops them. "Home cooked breakfast is for people who wake up on time."

" Home cooked ," Glimmer says as she routinely takes an apple from the open fruit basket on the kitchen granite countertop "when's the last time I heard that."

Micah clears his throat. "Doesn't matter who made it."

"Catra." Angela does a double take. "What happened to your uniform?"

"Looks great right?"

"There is a specific dress code—"

Glimmer asks, "dad which car are you letting Catra and I take?"

"Why am I driving?"

Glimmer scoffs at Catra saying, "as if I'm riding to school with the Headmistress when you have a license. Dad, which car?"

"The BMW."

Glimmer whines, "that old thing?"

"Wow. You sound like such a rich kid right now."

"Take that back!"

"It's true," Catra sings as she swipes the BMW keys from off the rack. She slips out the front door with Glimmer on her heels.

"Take it back!"

Angela stutters, "Catra, wait, you can't wear that! I'm the Headmistress, you're living here, people are going to expect you to be dressed according to the rules—"

"What? Sorry, I can't hear you over the wonderful sound of nature!"

Angela huffs at the closing door. "Can you believe this?"

Micah pointedly looks at the newspaper. Living with Angela and Glimmer for a handful of years he has learned not to get involved in squabbles like this. When Angela finally makes her way out the door after thirty more minutes of getting ready, and muttering about jeans and leather jackets , Micah drops the newspaper.

He sighs. "This is gonna be a long semester."

2

BMA is a castle compared to Horde High. Catra drives up a winding pathway surrounded by a canopy of trees before she sees the BMA sign, shiny and pristine just like its students, and realizes this is the trail leading to the front entrance. She's never felt this small before; like a fish in a large pond. The Horde was always packed tight, sure, but at least she knew most of the people who she bumped shoulders with.

When Catra walks into BMA the halls are wide, enough room that if she stretches out her arms they'll never reach the crisply painted walls. Glimmer glides down the bright corridors with purpose while Catra grips at her shoulder bag to keep herself from spiraling. Glimmer's going on about all the rooms they pass, they've just gone by the cooking room, but she's talking so fast and it's too much too soon and she thinks she might—

"Hey." Glimmer says softly. She stopped walking so she could stare at Catra with those knowing eyes. They've had months of oversharing—living across the hall from someone will allow you to know a lot about them (even things Catra wished she'd never found out, like how Glimmer has weird dreams if she drinks chocolate milk before bed). "It's a lot, but I promise you it'll get better. You have me and Bow, and everyone else can't wait to meet you."

Catra lets out a breath. "...it smells like fresh paint."

"Yeah, they put a fresh coat on every year before classes start back up."

They start walking and Catra starts talking.

"At the Hord we'd only get our walls painted when someone defaced them with spray cans or tossed rotten eggs on them as a senior prank. It happened every last Friday of each semester; the senior prank." Catra says, "do you know how bad fresh paint smells over rotten eggs on brick walls?"

Glimmer doesn't have to answer.

"It's not something you can forget." The fresh paint of BMA's walls reminds her of the rotten eggs until it's all she can smell.

"Glimmer! Over here!" Bow calls them over once they get to the cafeteria. They have thirty minutes before classes begin so they usually hang out until the first warning bell.

Glimmer squeals, leaping into his arms like she hasn't seen him two days ago. "Bow!"

"Hey Catra," he gasps "you're not wearing your uniform."

Catra shrugs. "Skirts aren't my thing."

Bow laughs nervously. "This is fine, maybe they'll let it slide because it's your first day."

"Let me slide? You're the one showing off your stomach."

Bow pointedly says, "anway, how crazy is this? We're sophomores now! I feel like I was just a freshman a couple days ago."

"Soon we'll be seniors," Glimmer gushes. "I can't wait for college."

Bow points behind him where a small group of more prep school teens are huddled together looking their way. They're whispering to themselves and glancing at Catra too many times for it to be a coincidence. Bow notices when Catra starts fidgeting. "That's just everyone, they're really excited to meet you."

"Are they."

"Yeah," Bow doesn't pick up on the sarcasm but Glimmer mouths ' be nice' . "Mermista is on the swim team, not the same as track but she knows a few people on the track team she can introduce you to before you start training." He guides her over to the watchful crowd. "Guys, this is Catra. Catra this is Mermista, Perfuma, Sea Hawk, and—"

"Catra?"

A fresh sun shower. Adora smells like rain and dirt. When they were little before Adora became popular and outspoken she'd follow Catra everywhere. Catra got up and just ran a lot no matter the weather; rain, snow, or sleet, people would always see Catra running and Adora chasing after her.

Adora smells like the rain on the night of October when Catra snuck out to run during one of her worst nightmares; Adora smells like the dirt caked on the bottom of their converse when they took one of the shortcuts in the park; Adora smells like their childhood no matter how tainted.

Catra wonders what she smells like. The gunpowder from the glock she used for one of her mothers dealings? Or is it the apple pie that tasted god awful but made with love from Angela?

Bow nods, "yeah this is Catra. She's from the Horde, she living with—"

"Yep," she cuts him off, "that's me."

"The Horde? I heard that place is pretty hard core." Mermista says with a nod. "Sea Hawk didn't you start a fire over there once?"

Sea Hawk laughs awkwardly when a couple of the faculty look their way. "Of course not…"

"Catra," a tall blonde with more freckles than her grabs at her hands. "It's so nice to meet you. Glimmer told us about you but she was stingy on the details. You have a very nice aurora."

Catra's ear twitches. "Uh, thank you?"

Glimmer senses Catra's a second away from snapping so she gently pries Perfuma away from her. "Let's give her some space guys."

Adora stays back with that stupid suprised look on her face. She can see the surprise lifting, how Adora's reaching out her hand, when the bell rings and gives Catra an escape. She slips out her schedule and pulls Glimmer with her. "Hey, be a good student body president and help me get to my class."

Glimmer frowns. "I'm not the student body president."

"Part of the student council welcoming committee?"

"...shut up and let me see the schedule."

Catra's neck burns as Adora stares a hole into it but she doesn't turn back—she marches on into the wide halls of BMA. But the smell of paint isn't strong enough to block out the lingering rain and dirt. Catra prefers the stench of rotten eggs.

3

Catra has lunch and English with Glimmer so when the afternoon hits she's pretty much on her own. Glimmer has her other classes on the other side of the building so she gets Bow to show Catra to the rest of them. After she gets out of Advanced Calculus (why did she try and better herself by taking an upper level course?), Bow is dutifully waiting for her outside the door with a grin.

"Careful, your face might get stuck."

Bow snorts. "That bad, huh?"

"I don't even need this class, I'm already ahead with my math courses so I could skip taking one and save it for next semester."

"But you don't want a heavy workload with track."

"I hate when you're right."

Bow bumps shoulders with her. "You're almost done, we just have gym and then we can head to Moon's and get some milkshakes. Once track starts your afternoons are gonna be gone so you have to enjoy them."

"You play any sports?"

"I have a lot of brothers who do. They go to public school though."

Catra frowns. "You didn't want to join them?"

"BMA is the only school with an archery program and advanced engineering. I couldn't turn it down."

Catra nods, "yeah, I get what you mean."

They stop when they get to the locker rooms. "I'll see you on the other side?"

Catra groans. "Scale of one to shitty how bad is the gym class here? I don't have to take any fitness test do I?"

Bow laughs. "No, gym is the only curriculum we lack in. Coach Huntara only cares about the softball and basketball team so she just lets everyone else walk the baseline or chill in the bleachers."

It sounds like a great way to end a long day so Catra doesn't make a fuss as she heads into the locker room. Catra's locker is 318, finally on the top; she has always gotten the butt end of the bottom lockers. It especially sucks when someones getting their shit out of the locker above her.

Catra dumps her school bag in her locker and carefully hangs her leather jacket on the hook. She's fishing out her gym clothes, a loose black tee and some gray sweatpants, when an awkward cough interrupts her.

Catra stares a second too long before saying, "you've got to be kidding me."

"...my locker is right beneath yours. Can I just get my bag?" Adora mutters.

"Be my guest." Catra steps away and makes haste of her homemade uniform and changes into her gym clothes. The locker room is relatively crowded where they're changing in the back row but the crowd clears up pretty quick; most of the girls crowd the bathroom to gossip—the less confident ones changing in the stalls.

Adora kneels to lace up her basketball shoes. She checks to make sure no one else is around. "What are you doing here?"

Catra frowns. "I go here asshole. I didn't sneak in if that's what you're thinking."

"No," Adora has the nerve to look guilty. "I didn't mean it like that. I mean how are you here? The only way you get into BMA is if you're exceptional."

"And I'm not?"

Adora shakes her head so fast Catra's worried it might sip off. "I didn't—"

Catra slams her locker shut. "I drove here. That's all you need to know."

"Hey come on, you know it's not like that," Adora huffs. She's looking up at Catra with her eyebrows pinched. Catra can't stand it—she's drowning in rain and dirt—so she darts away. Adora complains, "hey—Catra! Wait!"

Catra runs and Adora follows. It's an old game, Catra hasn't played in a while, but she thinks she loses Adora in the crowd. But Adora has a home court advantage. She pops out from seemingly nowhere and walks alongside Catra as if Catra hadn't spent days over the summer waiting for Adora to reach out to her.

"I just want to talk."

"A little too late don't you think?"

A sharp whistle saves Catra from this painful conversation. Coach Huntara is a stocky woman with sharp eyes and a slanted grin. She cocks her arm up on the basketball beneath the pit of her arm as she surveys her class for the year. "Alright I've only got two rules. What happens in gym class stays in gym class. And number two, don't bother me."

Catra likes her already.

Huntara nods at Adora. "Ponytail, catch." She does a solid chest pass that makes Adora lose her footing a bit. "Alright, I'll be in my office, try not to kill each other." She blows her whistle to commence the start of class before locking herself up in her office as promised.

Catra decides to walk the baseline to get her legs shaken out for the workout she'll have with Micah later today. "Do you have to walk so loud?"

"I don't walk loud." She can hear the pout in Adora's voice. "You always say that."

"Because it's true. Everything you do is loud."

Adora comes up beside her. "No way. I'd get up every morning to look over game plays and I'd never wake you."

Catra rolls her eyes. "Of course you woke me up I just didn't tell you so you wouldn't feel—"

"Hey guys!" Bow jogs up to them. "Adora, I didn't know you had gym this period."

Adora nods. "I had to switch things around and this works out better. But Glimmer wasn't too happy when I had to switch out of the art class I had with her. Now we only have lunch and Spanish."

Catra's lunch schedule doesn't align with Bow or Glimmer's so to avoid the awkward loner sitting at a random table routine, she spends lunch in the library. She prefers it over the loud cafeteria.

Bow mentions, "Catra's actually really good at art. She does this cool abstract stuff but likes to mess around and draw random doodles—"

"On desks," Adora smiles, wistful. "...yeah, I remember."

Bow frowns. "You do? I don't remember telling you that but I guess you just have a solid memory. Those crossword puzzles with Razz must be paying off."

Adora asks, "is that why you're here? For the art program?"

"She's here on a track scholarship."

Catra hisses, "Bow!"

"What? It's awesome, you should tell people about it."

Adora gapes. "Track ?"

"What of it?"

Adora shakes away her awe and grins. Her eyebrows are doing that thing where they pinch in—it pulls at Catra's stomach. She's sure the feeling is going to consume her; acting on instinct, Catra reverts back to her old lessons. She snatches the ball from Adora's hand. "And what about you? Still chasing fantasies about swords and talking horses?"

"Swift Wind is real! Right Bow? You've seen him."

"...I believe that you believe he can talk."

"He's just shy around new people. But he talks!"

Catra mutters, "at least someone does."

"Catra—"

"It's fine. I'm over it."

"There was a lot—"

"Going on?" Catra thinks about the events of her summer and laughs. "You're not the only one...but the difference between you and me is that I actually show up. I don't break promises."

Adora flinches. She glances at Bow who's the confused third party stuck in their little affair. "Can we talk about this?"

"No. You can't just decide when you want me around." Catra shoves the ball back into Adora's hand.

"Let's play then." Adora says after a tense moment. "If I win you have to talk to me."

Catra gives, "and what do I get?"

"What do you want?"

"...a rain check."

Bow stutters, "hey wait a second…"

But there's nothing stopping Adora when she nods in agreement. They get to an empty court and Adora checks the ball to Catra. "First to five wins. Every basket counts as one, no three pointers or twos."

"I know the rules Adora."

"And you break them anyway."

Catra chuckles at that. "Your ball first."

The game starts off simple but nothing is ever simple for them and it picks up when Adora scores the first basket, a quick jump shot in Catra's face; she takes advantage of the extra height. When Adora scores another easy jumper she clips Catra's shoulder, "is that all you've got? If I didn't know any better I'd say you've gotten soft."

Going soft was a term coined by the Horde for people who lost their edge. Back then, when they were kids, they'd see people get decked in the face for calling someone soft. There was nothing soft about the Horde—it's a grotesque place, or at least that's the way Catra used to see it. Maybe that's how Adora saw it too and maybe it's why it was so easy for her to leave everything behind. But Catra knows the people who live in the Horde: Kyle, Lonnie, DT, Rogelio, they're worth it and there's no way Catra's leaving them behind.

Catra steps up her game, can see the way Adora flinches at the steaming look Catra must be radiating. Adora tries to get another shot in but Catra ups her defense, plats her feet and shuffles wherever Adora goes—left, right, left, right, up, block—until she steals the ball. Catra touches the half court line before she runs past Adora and goes up for an easy lay up.

Adora grabs the forgone ball and meets her back at the top of the court. She checks the ball back over and nervously laughs, "okay, you're not soft."

Catra says, "you don't have the right to even think about using that word." It trips Adora up and allows Catra to cross her up before taking a jump shot. When it goes in she thinks she hears a chant from somewhere in the gym but she's too focused on Adora. Adora and that stupid surprised look on her face.

"I'm from the Horde too. Just because I left doesn't mean I don't care, you left too, so you have to understand. How are we different?"

"I'm nothing like you." Catra snaps. "I actually give a shit about them. You just turned your back on us like it was nothing, we tried to reach out to you for weeks but we got nothing ...so don't expect me to just ignore everything you've done just because I go to some prep school with you." Catra runs a hand through her bangs and barks out a hoarse laugh. "You always do this. Whenever we'd fight—whenever it was your fault you'd act like nothing happened. Like you didn't do anything wrong."

Adora frowns. "I didn't think you wanted to talk, you never talked to me about anything. You just let things build up until you were screaming at me. I'd try to talk to you but you'd just blow me off or leave to go for a jog so I didn't see the point of trying."

"Don't act all innocent. I know you don't care about—"

"I do care!" Adora's voice cracks at the seams but it doesn't deter Catra.

"Then where were you?" Catra's nails dig into the stiff rubber of the ball but it'll take more than that to chip her claws. "Where were you when Kyle got rejected from a foster family because Weaver made up some bull shit about him being trouble just to keep him around for the checks? Where were you when Lonnie couldn't go to the hospital when she tripped down the stairs and Weaver didn't want her to draw attention? Or when DT almost died from pills? Or when I—"

Adora shakes her head, her face white. "Catra...what happened to you?"

Catra laughs rough and cold just like the Horde taught her. She slams the ball back into Adora's shaky hands and backs away to get back on defense. She's so frazzled she almost forgets it's supposed to be her ball. "Wouldn't you like to know. I bet it just kills you not being able to fix everything, huh."

"Catra."

"Let's just finish the stupid game. I don't like to talk about things, remember? All I like to do is bottle them up and scream." Catra snatches the ball, "next point wins." She's done talking.

Catra dribbles between her leg and bounces off her foot to race for the basket. She just wants this game to be over so she can go back to ignoring Adora the way it should be; she doesn't deserve to have Catra in her life. She's not a toy Adora gets to play with and put away when she's bored.

Running high on emotions she's almost blind to Adora in her side view. Catra slams down onto the floor of the gym when Adora bumps her while trying to steal the ball. A loud smack echoes in the gym; several gasps, hushed and loud, follow. Catra cradles her leg, she looks around and sees a crowd of students standing along the baseline. Had they been watching the whole time? That's so embarrassing.

"Catra!" Glimmer shoves through the crowd and kneels beside her to inspect her ankle. "Are you okay? Can you walk?"

"Glimmer? You don't have this class."

"Can you walk?"

Catra leans against Glimmer's shoulder as she's assisted off the ground. Catra tests her leg without letting go of Glimmer's shoulder. She takes a few cautious steps before letting go. "Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry about it."

"You're here on an athletic scholarship! You need to be careful."

Catra rolls her eyes. "Alright, I said I'm sorry. Don't make such a fuss."

"Too late for that," Glimmer mutters to herself. Catra looks up at the crowd again. She spots a group of girls clad in their preppy skirts that pass as uniforms here— they're not in this class she realizes. Another quick survey and she notices a lot of people are here, some who probably snuck in after getting a text from their friends about the girl from the Horde going up against She Ra.

"I told you She Ra would take her out."

"Are you crazy? She's like a foot shorter than her and she was able to land some shots. And she's fast ."

"I heard she's from the Horde."

"That place over the tracks? Isn't that a really scary neighborhood?"

Glimmer flicks at Catra's ear with a scowl, "so much for not making a scene."

"It's not my fault!" Catra's about to start one of her rants when squeaky shoes against the gym floor brings every to a shush. The crowd parts as Coach Huntara comes out from her office with a scowl.

Huntara groans, "great, now I have to fill out an incident report."

Adora shuffles over to her coach and speaks to her in a hushed whisper. Catra's ears flick in their direction so she can catch the conversation. "...don't blame Catra, it was my fault, I asked her to go against me. I take full responsibility."

Catra's nails bite into her palms. She steps forward with a snarl. "I don't need you protecting me, I'll accept whatever punishment there is." It can't be worse than what they do to them at Horde High.

Hunatara mutters, "stupid lovers quarrel."

"What ?"

"Here's what's happening kids. I usually don't care what goes on but because several of you posted this incident all over social media, now the Headmistress has to get involved. And because you broke one of my simple rules, next class you'll all be running laps." A chorus of groans follows. "Yeah, I know, you'll actually have to exercise in gym class...this is what happens when you break my rules. Ponytail, Cat ears—"

Catra scoffs.

"To the Headmistresses office, now."

4

"You've caused a riot?"

Catra sinks into the comfy chair in Angela's office. "It wasn't a riot."

"The students were placing bets!"

Catra perks up. "Who'd the majority vote for?"

Angela glares at her.

"...kidding."

"Catra," Angela rubs her temple and goes to sit at the big chair behind her polished copper desk. "This is your first day and you've already violated several of the school policy bylaws. Dress code violation, vandalism of school property, engaging in illegal gambling—"

Catra huffs, "I have the right to not want to wear a skirt and it wasn't complete vandalism...I was able to get most of the ink off the desk. And it's not my fault they started placing bets, how is that my fault?"

Adora clears her throat. "I'm so sorry Headmistress, I know it doesn't make up for everything that's happened but...I do value this school and what it stands for. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't be a part of what's building here."

Catra rolls her eyes. "Suck up."

"Am not."

"Are to."

Adora shoves her so Catra shoves back. Soon they're pushing at each other and getting involved in a heated wrestling match.

"Enough!" Angela shouts and it breaks them apart. "Do I have to separate you two?"

"Yes," Catra all but begs.

"Well too bad, I'm sentencing you to clean up duty. Catra I know you have track after school and Adora you also have your extracurriculars but they don't start until later in the semester so you two will be free to clean up the gym after school starting tomorrow. Coach Huntara will be overseeing your punishment."

Catra groans. "For how long?"

"How ever long it takes for you two to get along. Now, the day is over and I have a lot of paperwork to fill out thanks to you two. And Catra," she meets her eyes "we'll talk about this more when we get home."

Catra avoids the look Adora sends her when they're on their way out. She manages to slip away through the crowd before Adora can ask any questions.

5

The drive back to the house is quiet, it surprises Catra because she was sure Glimmer would want to know every detail of what happened today but instead she just looks off at the passing trees. When they get to the house it's empty; Angela is still at the school and Micah is at the hospital helping out. Glimmer grabs a carton of ice cream and two spoons and silently goes up to Catra's room. They sit on the bed like that for a long time; just sharing the ice cream and fighting through the brain freezes. The silence doesn't last for long.

"Bow texted me about the fight you had with Adora so I headed to the gym to see what was going on." Glimmer looks up. "She knew you before Bow finished introducing you to everyone. Didn't she?"

Catra nods.

"Why didn't you want Adora knowing you live here? Are we really that awful?" It's a joke but Glimmer's voice shakes at the last minute.

Catra abandons the ice cream and flips on her back to stare up at the ceiling. "I love it here...I just...Adora and I were like you and Bow. The best of friends. The first memory I have is of her. When she left we kept in touch for a while but then she ghosted everyone—me. She left us behind and that sucks."

Glimmer says "...Adora hasn't had it easy on her part either—hear me out—there's a lot about this school that you don't understand yet. There are people who want to take this magic from us and it's our job to protect it. Adora's a special case, I won't say much because it's not my place but...she doesn't have a choice."

Catra scoffs. "Everyone has a choice."

"Life isn't black and white, you know that." Glimmer claps her hands. "But anyway...let's get off this dreary topic and talk about something a lot more fun. I'm throwing a party."

"Uh, last time we went to a party it didn't end so well."

"This is different, mom and dad planned it weeks ago. It's really Mermista's birthday party but we're having it on my yacht so technically…"

"You guys have a yacht?"

"Yeah," Glimmer smiles. "So we have to go shopping tomorrow, the party is this weekend."

"Why am I just hearing about this actually no, I'm not going, I hate water."

"Mermista wanted to meet you first, she loves you by the way—adores the bad girl thing you have going on—and the yacht won't even be moving. We'll be at the dock. Come on it'll be so much fun!"

Catra groans. "I don't have a choice do I?"

"Everyone has a choice."

"Don't use my own words—fine! Whatever I'll go."

Glimmer squeals. "You won't regret it, I promise!"

Somehow Catra doubts it.

6

On the other side of the tracks in Horde territory Erma plans for an uprising. She walks around inspecting the shipments a couple of her guys brought in this morning when Elahji, her right hand, comes up beside her. "You better have good news EJ."

He lowers his voice, these woods have ears in high and low places. "The crowd is getting restless, Erma. They're starting to doubt that you're the one who can take us back from this fall from grace."

"What's the major concern?" One step at a time her mother always said.

"Catra...they don't trust she's useful to us anymore and the more time she spends in enemy territory…"

"I got it."

"You need to set an example. Just, don't overdo it this time."

Erma brushes past him and stops at the clearing where there's a high rise in the ground, it lets her overlook them all. She whistles sharp through her teeth and calls them to attention. "Listen up you lot. The plan is proceeding perfectly, there's no suggestion box so keep your comments to yourself. Just get the shipments I send out. Do your jobs, nothing more and nothing less will be tolerated."

"What about the kid?"

Erma snaps, "leave her to me."

"We need to cut her loose." A new guy, Eddie, who doesn't know how the game works says "she's living with the queen . If they haven't brainwashed her already then they're sure as hell about to. You need to set an—"

The revolver pulls in a split second and in the next Eddie is dropping to the floor knees first. The gun shot spooks the birds and goons alike; if the men could they'd be flying for the hills too but fear keeps them in place. Erma lowers her glock and looks down at Eddie's lifeless eyes as if she's shopping for flowers in a store. She turns back to the rest of her crew when the sight begins to bore.

"Let me repeat myself because it seems like none of you seem to understand." Erma slips her glock into the belt of her jeans without looking away from her crew. "Leave Catra alone. She's with the princesses because that's where I want her to be."

Elahji speaks for them all. "Of course, Erma."

She takes one last look until she's satisfied. "Good. Roll out at sunset to get the entail on this crystal cave, if it's the real deal then this war is ours. Don't disappoint me." Erma skulks away without a look back, she steps over Eddie's warm corpse on her way out—he's nothing but dirt and soot beneath her heels.