Catra stirred from her sleep to the strange calming sensation of a clawed hand gliding through her unruly mane hair. Despite the peculiar situation she found herself in she didn't have any urge to move, In fact she had never felt so relaxed. It wasn't until she caught herself purring from the act that she forced her eyes open to see what in the name of Etheria was going on.

When Catra opened her eyes she found the Magicat queen standing over her running her hand through her mane with a soft smile.

"What happened?" Catra murmured, still not really wanting to move. She couldn't believe she could ever feel so relaxed by someone who wasn't Adora.

"You fainted." Cyra explained not stopping the strokes of her hand. "My apologies, I was just so shocked to see you that I...didn't stop to think how you would react my Cyra III."

At this Catra did get up and put her guard back on. "Yeah no sorry you got the wrong cat girl, my name is Catra not Siera or whatever you said."

"Catra? Really?" The queen reiterated with a deadpan expression. "By the founders who in their right mind named you so blatantly.

"HEY I happen to LIKE my name." Catra hissed deflecting the actual question. "And it's no less on the nose then the princesses and archer boy."

"Fair enough.." Cyra relented to the sad truth of Etherian naming practices. "But you ARE my daughter Catra..a mother never forgets her kitten's scent."

In truth the woman's scent was familiar to Catra but she couldn't place it. There was no way this Cyra could be her mom if she was the. That would make her a… Catra shuddered and willed herself not to go any further on that train of thought. "I get it... You lost your kid, and you are tricking yourself Into thinking that by some miracle she came back home. Sorry to disappoint but I'm not the girl you are looking for."

Cyra did not buy this deflection for a moment, "come now Catra try to remember. Remember your life before the Horde."

"I CAN'T!" Catra snarled, getting more defensive with each passing moment. "The earliest thing I remember is being named. So drop it."

Cyra looked ready to prod again but was stopped by Marluth. " She is still recovering, Queen Cyra." the healer interjected. "And I sense a lot of dark magic tangled up inside her..

"They used dark magic on you.." Cyra clenched her fists in rage at the implications of such practices."

Catra was still trying to comprehend what exactly was going on with all this strange care the queen kept showing her. She had explained she isn't this woman's daughter why would she still be so protective.

"Give her some time to heal then she will be set to see the castle." Marluth stated. This seemed to appease the queen who took some calming breaths before setting off. Catra yawned and layed down to once again sleep the ordeal of meeting the queen having exhausted her greatly.

Catra found herself as a child again being held against someone's chest a muffled but familiar song emanating around her. She felt a gentle warmth. That feeling is abruptly turned to a cruel coldness as she next found herself standing in a war scarred wooded area. The sounds of battle ringing in the distance and the smell of soot and ash assaulted her nose. She was running trying to escape something or someone. She ran and clawed her way through the wooded area, the crackling roar and heat of flames now overtaking the sounds of combat.

She could feel her heartbeat pulsing on her head as she ran. She looked back to see if whatever she was trying to escape from had caught up to her. Not looking at her footing the young magicat tripped over a root and fell forward and tumbled into a roll leaving her prone on the ground. She had to get up; she needed to get away. These thoughts were shouting in her head but her body would not respond. All Catra could do was stare as the dark silhouette of a towering creature grabbed at her.

Catra awoke with a scream sitting up in a rigid motion and breathing heavily taking in her surroundings. She was still in the clinic on her bedroll, "Another nightmare." she sighed and gripped tightly onto the sheets.

Nightmares were not uncommon for Catra. Growing up under Shadow Weaver's "care" had left the girl with a vast number of night terrors from the cruel tortures inflicted upon her. But this one was different.

This nightmare was one that had haunted Catra for years. All through her childhood she had gotten this nightmare at least once or twice a month,and it had become more and more frequent ever since Adora had abandoned her. This was the first time however the nightmare began pleasantly before devolving back into the usual chase scene. Catra did not get anytime to dwell on the meaning of the alteration as a loud knock on the door drew her attention.

"Catra!" Suddenly the door slammed open and a worried Scorpia barged her way into the room wrapping her pincers around the startled Magicat." I heard you scream is everything alright!?" Scorpia did not look too bad. To Catra's relief only a few cuts here and there, a bandage or two, and some chipped chitin was all the damage the Scorpioni princess had suffered

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Catra replied through shallow breaths. She was blushing, annoyed by the breach of personal space l, however though she would not admit it, on the inside she was grateful to have someone so caring here for her.

"Have you gone MAD!?" The voice of Marluth shouted at them. "Put her down this instant!"

Scorpia begrudgingly let go of Catra letting her plop down back onto the bedroll. Marluth rushed over to reexamine Catra's bandages. "Okay nothing looks to have reopened.." Marluth sighed the panic in his voice fading." I can understand your desire to comfort your friend but she is still recovering, you must be gentler with your hugging."

Scorpia nodded and shuffled back a bit giving Catra some space. "Well if you are feeling okay Wildcat I'll just go make sure Entrapta is doing okay. " And with a nod from Catra Scorpia left the room leaving Catra alone with the healer once again.

"Now that you are up I do have a few questions for you if you would be so kind." Marluth said as he started to write in a notebook.

"Didn't I already give what I knew about the Horde to the general guy?" Catra asked. She rolled her eyes not really being one who liked having to repeat herself.

"Oh no, this is not about the Horde's military strength and weaknesses." Marluth answered." I simply wish to make an assessment of how you are feeling at the moment."

Marluth began questioning Catra about where she felt pain, and if any movements were either difficult or caused discomfort. After some poking and prodding of certain joints Marluth finished his notes and clicked his pen shut.

"You are a remarkably quick healer Catra." Marluth stated as he poured over his note. "After a crash like that most magicats would be out for a week at minimum. Yet somehow you have managed to recover quick enough that I would predict a full recovery by the end of the day. Catra can you think of anything that could have stimulated your body to heal with such efficiency and speed?"

Catra grew silent at the healers diagnosis. It was great that she would be on her feet again and soon she hated being confined. On the other hand she knew full well why her body recovered like it did….Shadow Weaver.

It was no secret that Shadow Weaver hated her, Catra knew the witch despised her from as early as she could remember. Any time she would mess up, talk back,or do anything the parasite considered insubordinate Shadow Weaver would take here away from seeing eyes and torture her.

While the bitch delighted in causing Catra misery and pain, she was also under orders from Hordak not to waste resources, and that was all Shadow Weaver saw Catra as, A resource to be exploited. To that end the hag developed some elixir and forced it down Catra's throat. The elixir allowed Catra's body to rapidly heal from any injury inflicted upon her at an alarming rate allowed Shadow Weaver to punish her more frequently and for no one to suspect to what extremes of pain Catra was forced to endure.

"Any information you have regarding why your healing factor is so high would be very beneficial to understanding the best way to treat you." Marluth explained trying to get Catra to feel that she could speak. It took some coexing but not much as Catra began to divulge everything, Marluth began to look I'll as the girl recounted all the ways she was abused throughout her childhood.

"By the founders….." the healer looked about ready to throw up. "How could a being bring themselves to inflict such atrocities.."

"My working theory is she was a soulless husk who needs misery to sustain her existence." Catra snarked to deflect some of the pain. After a few more tests Marluth gave Catra his approval to leave the clinic and would call for someone to escort her and her friends to the castle.

Catra left the clinic and her jaw dropped. Before her was a large city the likes of which she had never seen before. The buildings all looked to be made of worked stone and lumber, and all of the streets were illuminated by the glow of prismatic crystals.

"It's an amazing sight isn't it?" Catra heard Scorpia ask from behind. The Scorpioni walked up to a railguard and looked over the city." No crashing metal, no fluorescent lights, this place feels so peaceful."

"Super peaceful." Catra looked to her other side to see Entrapta walking around on her hair looking uninjured save for a small bandage on her forehead. "Personally I LOVE the sound and smell of machine building stuff. The serene silence here is quaint."

Catra smiled, taking in the sounds and smells too quiet and precise for her friends to hear. She could swear she had felt this way before but could not place it, the closest feeling to this was how she felt when sleeping and the foot of Adora's bunk focusing on her heartbeat and breathing until she herself would be lulled to sleep. It just felt right.

It wasn't long until Catra's ears picked up on the sound of someone running towards them. "Guessing you are our guide?" She asked, turning to the new arrival.

The magicat was a girl with bright orange fur with black stripes on her arms and back, her hair was black and cut right below the cheeks. "Yep, the names Tiegan." The girl replied in a familiar voice and with a salute. "Welcome to Halfmoon. I have been instructed to bring you to our king and queen." Catra gestured for Tiegan to lead on and followed her with Scorpia and Entrapta in tow.

The walk to the castle was a lot more eventful the Catra had hoped it would be. With every building they passed her friends would get captivated by the sights thus making a scene. Which attracted attention from the locals, which caused them to see Catra, which caused them all to whisper ABOUT her, which annoyed Catra greatly. After about the 4th time it happened Catra was ready to lose it when the castle came into sight.

"And here we are." Tiegan stated the obvious. "The royal family will be with you shortly". And with that the tiger girl ran off as the castle doors opened.

A tall lion-like Magicat with brown fur and bright blonde hair and striking gold eyes looked upon the three. "Welcome I am King Leondus D'rilluth of Halfmoon please come in my wife and I would like to treat you all to a nice traditional Halfmoon dinner." The man said with a smile addressing the three.

As if to answer him Catra's belly decided right then would be the perfect time to growl earning her a smoker from Scorpia and a hearty laugh from the king. The three were quickly ushered into the castle and shown to the banquet hall. On the way Catra noticed the looks Leondus was giving her, he was subtle but it was clear that he was suffering the same delusion as Cyra.

When they sat down the Cyra was already there as was a small yellow ball of fluff looking right at Catra with the same cyan eyes as the queen. Before Catra could question the child the food was brought in and the aroma alone shut off all of Catra functions except eating. What followed was the royal family staring in awe and terror as Catra and Scorpia are like mad animals stuffing their faces with as much of the delicious fish vegetables and rolls as possible.

"Um, I take it the food in the Horde was not pleasant? Cyra asked as the kitten giggled in amusement.

Catra looked up from the nirvana that was fish and shook her head. " Lady we lived off of grey and brown protein bars they tasted like garbage ". Catra informed the queen as she stuffed her face with more of this delicious non bar shaped food.

Cyra blushes slightly taken aback by Catra's bluntness. Meanwhile Leondus and the kitten were suppressing laughs. "Well um.. could you tell us how it is you that two Force Captains and the Dryl princess managed to find their way to Halfmoon?" The queen asked, trying to save face.

Catra began to spin the tale of her and Scorpia's defection. She told of Shadow Weaver and how evil she was though she was tactful enough not to go into detail with a child present instead just hamming her up into a caricature of evil. "So after I tricked that B- I mean WITCH." Catra corrected herself after feeling a powerful glare from Cyra. "Into blowing up her boss's stuff I punched her in the face then we stole a skiff and after that one over charged the thrusters…. Smashed into a tree in front of the gate I guess.." Catra petered off.

"That sounded AWESOME!" The kitten shouted before her mother or father could talk to Catra. "You must be super strong to take down a monster like that all by yourself!" The girl's eyes were sparkling in admiration.

"Inside voice Kaita…" Cyra said wincing at the kittens outburst. "But you did indeed sound awesome." The queen said with a smirk causing Catra's face to heat up in slightly embarrassment.

"She really was amazing!" Scorpia added only furthering Catra's brightening blush. "She had this whole speech she was saying while fighting Shadow Weaver It STILL gives me chills."

"Ugh Scorp could you not.." Catra's ears flattened really not used to all this praise. She should love it but right now it just kept making her feel weird.

"And what of you Entrapta? Do you need any help returning to Dryl?" Leondus asked as if sensing Catra's embarrassment and throwing her a lifeline.

"Actually I am quite happy here." Entrapta smiled. "I am super curious about Magicat history and tech, And this city is located next to a First One's ruins! I can't wait to start experimenting!" Entrapta had already started doing calculations and was lost to the world.

Leondus steached and arose from his seat. "Thank you for accepting my invitation." He said, giving a polite bow. "But I must return to the throne room no doubt I have another squabble to break up." The king rolled his eyes and was ready to return to work. "And you are free to stay here tonight the staff will direct you to your rooms." He added as though he had forgotten to bring it up.

Cyra smiled and got up from her seat as well. "This was wonderful but I must get this kitten to bed. She has had a long day" Cyra picked up a squirming Kaita in both of her arms and leaned the child over her shoulder.

"What moooom I'm not *yawn* sleepy!" Kaita weakly argued her eyelids starting to droop after the filling meal. Catra wouldn't say it but she found the young princess to be adorable when trying to lie.

"Now now missy." The queen chuckled. "You need your sleep." Cyra then began to sing a soft melody to the child as she carried Kaita to her room, a soft song that could never have been heard in the Horde.

"You are my Sunshine, my little Sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you, please don't take my Sunshine away.~"

Instantly Catra froze. She knew that song. She had heard it somewhere before. Her mind brought her back to the nightmare, but this time everything was crystal clear.

She saw her 4 year old self cuddle into Cyra's arms as she began that melody once more. The warmth Catra felt now was far greater than before, and she knew the truth, the truth she wouldn't accept. She was indeed Cyra's daughter. She was a princess.

The nightmare no…. Memory had changed once again. Catra was playing outside the city when there was a loud explosion. The smell of smoke and sounds of battle and screaming rang throughout the land the Horde had attacked Halfmoon. She remembered Magicats clad in armor ordering her to run as they held off the invaders, she remembered running as fast as she could but getting lost on the way back home. But above all else.. she remembered being hunted.

Catra could see herself running trying to avoid a creature made of darkness that hounded her unwilling to give up it's pursuit. The creature got closer and closer until Catra saw her past self trip and tumbled to the ground only to look up and see the monster grab her. The dark beast form altered to something more horrifying and grotesque. What had captured Catra was none other than Shadow Weaver.

"Your people put up a good resistance child, far too good." The Memory spoke. "I may not be able to claim the kingdom but you shall make do as a consolation prize little princess. With you gone their hearts will shatter, and no longer pose a threat to the Horde. Not that you will know any of this." The witch then put her hand on the screaming and fighting Catra's face and the hand began to glow with dark insidious magic.

In an instant Catra was back in the present doing her damnedest not to throw up from the emotional whiplash she had just gone through. Shadow Weaver lied.. she thought and began to hyperventilate. She wasn't abandoned, she was stolen. She wasn't an animal, she was a magicat. And she wasn't a pet.. She was a princess. Shadow Weaver had taken her away from her family, her home, and took away her memories for petty revenge.

"Wildcat? Wildcat stay with us!" Catra heard Scorpia's voice but she was too shocked from the life changing memories to move.

"It appears she is having a panic attack! " Entrapta shouted. "Catra, focus on us okay? I need you to try and steady your breathing."

Catra did her best to follow Entrapta's instructions but the breathing was still difficult.

"Okay Catra now think of 5 you can see." Entrapta said using her hair to mat down Catra's risen fur.

Catra looked around trying to focus. "The..floor..the table..the chairs.. you..and Scorpia." Her breathing got a little easier.

"Now 4 things you can feel." The princess of Dryl continued.

Catra focused on her sense of touch and forgetting about other ones momentarily. "The ground.. my fur. Your hair, and my heartbeat." The panic again began to loosen its grip on Catra's body whatever magic Entrapta was doing with her she was all for it.

"We are halfway there Catra you are doing fine" Entrapta consoled her. "This time 3 things you can hear."

Okay this was an easy one for her. " Your voice, Scorpia's voice. And my voice.." Catra could feel herself calming down even more but her urge to cry was still persisting.

"Second to last Catra we are almost done.." Entrapta did not like seeing her new friend in a state and smiled seeing her calm down more. "Okay Catra 2 things you can smell."

Catra took a sniff. "The fish.. and the vegetables" she replied her heartbeat was far less restricted now and Catra felt like she could stand once again.

"Last one Catra 1 thing you can taste."

"The delicious food.." Catra said with a smile, feeling far better and breathed in deeply to catch her breath. "Thanks Entrapta..I really needed that." Catra hugged both the scientist and Scorpioni.

"How did you know what to do?" Scorpia asked Entrapta. Hugging them tightly afraid to let go.

*I read books on mental illness and a lot of them can result in panic attacks so I took the liberty to learn how to help in case anyone I'm around suffers from them." Entrapta states.

"Damn, well we were lucky with that.. thanks Trapta. " Catra smiled.

After a few minutes the hug was broken and the girls got themselves back to their normal selves.

"Catra if I may ask what brought that attack on you " Scorpia questioned though afraid of crossing a line.

"I remembered.." Catra said, still coming to terms with the information. "I remembered now I need to go talk to my mom.."

Scorpia gasped. "Wait, you mean you really are a."

"Yep." Catra sighed knowing Scorpia would absolutely be making a big deal about this. She followed the queen's scent. But not before hearing the loud squee from the Scorpion girl.

Cyra had just finished putting Kaita to bed when she spotted Catra coming towards her. "Cy-Catra? She caught herself not wanting to risk causing her eldest kitten to freak out over the name. She did not know what it was the Horde had done to her baby but she was sure that's if she had the power she would make it damn impossible for them to ever harm her or another child ever again "You really shouldn't be wandering the castle like this, the guards must be in a frenzy looking for you." She then noticed the redness in the young magicat's eyes. "Are you okay?"

Catra sobbed for a split second once again being overwhelmed by emotions but she wasn't a coward she would not run away from this, no matter how awkward it would become. And just like that she began a song.

"Th-the other night dear when I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms.. When I awoke dear I was mistaken so I hung my head and cried..~"

Catra released her raspy voice, small sobs could be heard from the bellowing tune but to Cyra it was nothing short of divine.

"My kitten. You remember! Queen Cyra gasped, wrapping her hands around Catra's own.

Catra nodded with a tearstained smile. Then both mother and daughter continued the song in tandem.

"You are my Sunshine my little Sunshine you make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you, please don't take my Sunshine away.~"

The song faded leaving the two to just gaze at each other, the nervous tension was thick enough to be cut with a knife . "Mom…" it was all Catra could say before she suddenly hugged Cyra with all of her strength and Cyra reciprocated. Both magicats hugged tight, not daring to let go and wept tears of loss, sorrow and joy all at once. For Princess Catra Cyra D'rilluth III had found her way home.