The rains had finally ceased. The rust and junk glistened under the somber orange sky and the fresh wet floors shined under the pitter-patter of their small steps. For Adora, they were more akin to small hops. She bounced gleefully, but made sure to not land on any of the magnificent puddles that had now populated the once barren junkyard floor. Catra, on the other hand, moved slowly and methodically. The moist dirt on the sole of her feet made her wince with every step. The thought of accidentally slipping and getting wet sent shivers down her hunched spine. The only reason she was out on such a damp day was because Adora had asked her to. After all, she could not say no to Adora.
Adora suddenly stopped in front of a puddle and called out to Catra. The latter pressed on to join her friend, still cautious of her wet surroundings. They both kneeled down next to the peaceful puddle.
"Isn't it pretty?" Said Adora, staring at their orange-tinted reflections.
"I guess, but the dumb one looks like you and the annoyed one looks like me." Catra jabbed.
"No", Adora claimed, "The blond one isn't me, and the cute one isn't you!"
"Then… Who are they?"
"They're people from another world!"
Catra was dumbfounded.
"Did the rain damage your brain? Please tell me you're not brain-damaged. Shadow Weaver will not be happy…"
The thought of Shadow Weaver's wrath made every hair on Catra's body curl up.
Adora brushed off the comment and started pointing towards all the puddles.
"Each one of these is a door to another world! They're called 'portals'. I heard Shadow Weaver talk about them!"
"So you spied on Shadow Weaver?" Catra snided.
"Did not! I just happened to hear her talk about it."
Adora gently flicked Catra's forehead, to which the latter stuck out her tongue.
They giggled.
Adora got up and took a few steps back, much to Catra's confusion. She then jumped into the previously pristine puddle, splashing water everywhere, splashing water on Catra.
"What are you doing!?" Hissed Catra, as she bounced backwards, recoiling from the cold and damp hail of bullets.
Despite her legs being completely soaked, Adora continued stomping.
"I'm trying to jump into the other world. The door opens whenever people from the other world need help!"
"Are you going insane!? You're getting water everywhere. You're getting water on me!"
Catra was not impressed by the spectacle in front of her. It was already a terrible day due to the rain and she was not expecting to have a cold shower. She was not amused.
"People need our help. They could be in danger! The princesses could be attacking them and we have to help and protect them! I have to help them. I need to protect them"
Adora continued onto the next puddle.
"What can you do, Adora?" Catra pleaded, slowly stepping back from the wet mess happening in front of her. "Leave it to the people who can actually help!"
Adora did not stop. She went to another puddle. Catra watched. She could not comprehend what was going through her best friend's head. Portals? People in need? Water? Yuck.
Adora yelped as she slipped, having lost her footing. She got back on her feet before Catra could react. She was covered in mud and sweat, but that did not deter her from her duty. People needed saving. She carried on with a look of determination, a frown that only she could muster.
A frown that meant nothing could stop her.
A frown that meant she would see her quest through to the end.
A frown that meant she would never give up.
A frown that Catra could not resist.
A frown that Catra loved.
Adora readied herself for her next leap, but before she could complete it, Catra pounced in.
"Guess I'll help before you mess everything up." Catra snickered.
Adora's eyes lit up. Her frown soon turned into a wide grin.
"I bet you I can find an open portal before you!" She giggled.
"You're on, dummy."
They jumped and jumped into every puddle they could see, splishing and splashing fragments of potential portals everywhere. The orange sky pierced through the hailing droplets creating multicoloured rays. Rainbows were a rare, but welcome sight in the Fright Zone.
The hours passed and the sky soon turned grey. Dusk would soon turn to night and the girls would have to return to the barracks. Until then, they lay on the ground, exhausted from their endeavour.
"Hey dummy", Catra exhaled, "None of your 'doors' worked."
"That's okay, it just means that no one needed our help today." Adora replied in between breaths.
She slowly sat up and turned her head to face Catra. No longer did a frown of determination sit on her face, but rather a smile of determination.
A smile that meant nothing could stop her.
A smile that meant she would see her quest through to the end.
A smile that meant she would never give up.
A smile that Catra could now not resist.
A smile that Catra now loved.
"Thank you for your help today, Catra. I hope you'll be there to help me next time too."
Catra leapt up onto her feet and reached her hand out to her sitting friend.
"While you're out there helping and protecting the people, who do you think is going to help and protect you?" Catra replied with a sly grin on her face.
Adora slowly grabbed her hand and did not let go.
"Yeah, I'm counting on you." She whispered.
Sore, tired, and soaked, the two girls sluggishly walked back to the barracks, hand in hand as the grim sun set over the Fright Zone.