Act I: Turning Darkness to Light; Chapter I; Beneath Etheria

A Squad of Horde Cadets makes a mistake. A group of Magicats attacks The Horde. The Queen speaks with a Horde Cadet. A Princess returns to her people.


| Over a Decade Later |


Outskirts of The Whispering Woods

Catra loved the wind as it flowed through her mane and ruffled her fur. It soothed something in her, like her need to be up high. But nothing compared to the tug she felt in her chest that pulled towards The Woods everytime they came near. It was euphoric, like a need, like how she felt when she and Adora slept. There was a peace that called her to the woods, even though she knew very well what happened to Horde Soldiers who wandered into them. At least twelve missing Cadets and not to mention the number of squads lost to it. The stories said that the forest ate them, that they wandered for days or weeks before they succumbed to exposure or were killed by whatever predators or monsters roamed the undergrowth. Her heterochromatic eyes swept over the deep brown barked lush dark green trees.

"No." Catra turned and caught Lonnie's gaze on her. Her happiness evaporated and her brows furrowed as her lips pulled tight.

"I didn't say anything Lon."

"You didn't have to, you want to go into The Woods. Like always." The brown haired girl crossed her arms over her chest and cocked an eyebrow at Catra. The feline woman let her entire face go flat, before her lips pulled up at the corners.

"At least I want to do something, Miss 'Of course Shadow Weaver'." Lonnie glared at Catra. "Aren't we out here to do something fun before we're all soldiers? That was the point right?"

"That doesn't mean we need to risk our lives Catra! The Whispering Woods are dangerous." Lonnie threw her arm out towards the trees. "Just because you have some weird thing with them doesn't mean the rest of us should trust you."

"Let's take a vote!" Catra growled loudly enough to draw the others' attention. The green skinned reptile rose and glanced at the two of them. A shorter blonde boy looked up from the pad in his hands.

"I-I agree with Lonnie. N-not t-t-that I do-don't trust y-you Ca-Catra!" Stammered the boy, Catra rolled her eyes at Kyle. The kid had no spine, honestly she had no idea why he was a soldier.

Beside him the green skinned reptile hissed and growled something that sounded vaguely like forest. Catra's smile got wider, it was a tie, which meant Adora would get to decide. She knew there was a reason she liked Rogelio.

The blonde girl at the bow of the skiff, clad in her red jacket and grey pants turned to her squad. Lonnie still glared at Catra, as the feline looked like she'd just gotten the grey ration bars. Rogelio and Kyle seemed to be glancing between the two girls, Kyle with a quiver in his shoulders.

"What happened now?"

"Catra wants to take us into The Whispering Woods. It's dangerous, we shouldn't risk it." Lonnie uncrossed her arms and stepped away from the control yoke. Adora glanced between them all.

"Five minutes Catra," The brunette fist pumped and the yoke swung fast. Adora yelped and grabbed the railing. She didn't catch it when Lonnie stepped back near the control yoke, really she should have seen the fight between the two coming.

"Five minutes is up Catra, take us out." Brown eyes caught gold and blue. Catra's hand stayed steady on the yoke.

"Oh come on Lonnie, just a little longer, I mean look at everyone." Catra waved a hand to the rest of the squad. Sure enough even Kyle had abandoned his pad and they all looked about and glanced through the woods. There hadn't even been a tree in their way since they'd entered, like they were flying down a roadway. Lonnie's face scrunched together as she leaned close and whispered into Catra's ear.

"I'm not going to risk Adora getting another punishment because you wanted to disobey protocol." Catra's ears pinned to the back of her head and she bared her teeth at the other girl.

"No one cares about Adora like I do. No one knows what those do to her better than me." Catra's fur riled as her tail lashed behind her. Lonnie's lips pulled tight.

"I don't get you Catra, just go back alright? You're so much better than this! Don't be so selfish." Catra hissed. Lonnie grabbed at the yoke, but Catra tore it from Lonnie's grasp.

The skiff began to swing wildly as the pair fought. Adora spun her eyes wide just as she opened her mouth the rear of the skiff caught a tree and the whole world pitched upside down and then went dark.

The blonde blinked and ran a hand through her hair. Her fingers massaged her scalp for any contusions, blood, or bumps. She was thankful she hadn't listened to Shadow Weaver and forced her squad and herself to take that medic's seminar. Pain throbbed through her skull, and bounced agonisingly inside her head. Her lips pulled back and revealed her teeth as she shifted and what felt like fire settled in ribs. She bit down hard as the taste of copper filled her mouth and something warm leaked down her lip. She forced herself into a sitting position as her gaze surveyed the darkened woods. She managed to get a foot on the ground and looked for any signs of the skiff or her team. All she saw was a hole in the bush she'd flown through. The fire at her abdomen grew but the blonde pushed it off, she needed to check on her team.

"Sound off!" Her mouth fumbled over the words and she knew she'd spit at least a bit of blood from her bitten lip.

"Why'd we let Catra drive again?" Lonnie's hiss echoed from through the bush. Nearly unintelligible growls and grunts followed suit. Rogelio was still kicking. "Rogelio says he lost some scales and bruised his tailbone!"

"Argh… I feel like I got ran over by a tank!" Kyle shouted. There was a beat of silence, and the blonde never noticed she was holding a breath.

"So, anybody get that tree's info? Lonnie?." Catra groaned. The blonde released her pent up breath and her heart started beating again at the feline's voice. She caught Lonnie's muttered 'shut up' as she stood. A glow caught her eye, a glow from behind her. She turned her eyes affixed to a bright light that shone from around a tree. "Adora? Hey where are you?"

"I see a light, I'm gonna go towards it." Adora took another step, her gaze almost around the tree.

"Don't go towards the light!" Was followed quickly by shouts of 'Kyle!' and 'Adora!'

"It's not that kind of light." The blonde answered with a flat expression on her face. Then she saw it. Some kind of broadsword stuck into a nest of vines, moss, and a fallen tree. The green growth has started to slowly curl its way up to the hilt. The blade looked like some kind of crystal that was partially blue, its hilt and cross guard were golden with a glimmering blue gem set into the centre of the swirling design. It looked like nothing Adora has ever seen before, even more importantly it was familiar in a way, like the in her bones kind of way.

Her side twinged as she got close and she put an arm around it. Her free hand reached out, her fingers almost upon it when a branch snapped behind her. Adora spun as Lonnie, Rogelio, and Catra entered the clearing.

"What are you doing Adora?" Catra's ears flickered and she cocked her shoulder as she settled a hand on her hip. The bemused curl to her lips was more than enough to make Adora's face flush, the blonde never really knew how to deal with the brownish black haired girl when she was like this. Adora turned and motioned to the sword.

"Look at this cool sword I found, it might be something we can use against the Princesses." There was a huff of annoyance from Lonnie, her dark brown cornrows and chocolate skin still had a smattering of twigs, leaves, and green stains. Her arms were crossed over her chest.

"It's just an old sword Adora, now come on, let's get the skiff working so we can get back before Shadow Weaver finds out and puts us in solitary." Rogelio nodded at Lonnie's words. Catra went to step forward; she'd already noticed how Adora favoured her left side. Catra had words on her lips as the idiot pushed forward and grabbed the sword.

Light flared and all three of the cadets covered their eyes. When the light died down Adora's body was splayed out across the ground, the sword held tightly in her fisted hand, her knuckles white and the muscles in her arm tensed. Catra's eyes narrowed to slits, her ears shot to alert and her tail puffed. Her claws slipped free, Lonnie and Rogelio both took up defensive stances.

The woods had gone silent, so silent that not even the chirp of birds could be heard by Catra's ears. A low hiss escaped her lips as her fur stood on and made her look bigger. The feline girl stepped close. Adora was out like a light but her knuckles were white, her fingers still wrapped around the sword. Her footsteps were light as feathers. She reached the unconscious blonde, her fingers brushed a fallen strand of hair out of the way before they landed on her throat. A steady set of thumps thrummed in Catra's fingers and she released a quiet breath. She turned to the other two, each looked as pent up as she had, they hadn't caught the tension as it fled her shoulders and body.

"She's okay." Catra fought to keep her voice even. There was a waver not even Shadow Weaver would have missed. The other two shared a look. "Get her up, we'll get her back to the skiff. Kyle, get that scrap pile ready. We're leaving!"

Lonnie and Rogelio had no issue shouldering Adora between the two of them, though Catra couldn't help but notice Lonnie's forehead beading with sweat soon after. The three moved as one, Catra had a point, her narrowed pupils scanned their surroundings, she even glanced backwards at intermittent intervals. Lonnie and Rogelio took care to watch their flanks as they pushed through the bush.

The skiff wasn't as much of a wreck as Catra had first thought. There was no major damage to its hull and its struts were all still attached. In fact the whole thing looked no worse for wear than when they squad had procured it earlier that evening. However the feline girl stopped short, her fist held closed. Catra crouched low as her teammates took their leader behind the closest cover. Catra's ears flicked in answer to a sound neither Rogelio or Lonnie could hear. She motioned them forwards. The four Horde cadets quickly took the skiff and Catra rushed for the onboard weapons locker. She pulled three batons and passed them out.

"I don't hear Kyle, or anything. The whole place is silent." Her teammates nodded and took the weapons. "Defensive formation Beta 3."

All three cadets put their backs to each other, their leader at the centre of the formation.

"Kyle if this is your idea of a prank come out and I won't talk Shadow Weaver into giving you latrine duty for the next week!" Lonnie growled, she twirled the stun baton, a whine escaped the machine. Rogelio growled and snarled, but still there wasn't an answer. Catra struggled to keep her claws sheathed; she lost.

"Kyle by the stars if you don't come out in the next-" A crack echoed through the forest and Catra focused in on it. There was a low growl, right above her head. Catra didn't hear a rustle of fabric or the scratching sound of scale on scale. Her head shot up only for a pair of padded feet to appear right in sight. The feline girl slammed back first into the ground as the attacker vaulted off her. She hissed.

Lonnie and Rogelio spun on the sound and swung their active stun batons. Green lightning burned through the air. The flashing bursts of electricity arced along the swing but met nothing. The near shadowed creature had entered the air again. It spun in a circle, its feet wide. The strikes hit Rogelio and Lonnie, neither having good enough nightvision. Catra forced herself up as the attacker caught Lonnie's head in its hand. A single heavy shove sent the cadet heading for the skiff's deck. Rogelio tried to advance, swinging his own claws, but again met thin air. A foot caught Rogelio's legs and sent the reptilian to the deck on top of Lonnie. Before Catra could intervene a puff of smoke exploded with a white flash in front of her teammates' faces. Their eyes sunk closed.

The feline girl hissed and stepped in front of Adora. Stun baton in one hand and claws out on the other. Her attacker turned towards her as she pressed her only advantage, surprise. She flicked the activate switch and javelin threw the weapon. Her opponent batted the weapon away, as expected. It left them open to Catra's as she swung downwards. Her claws struck metal, but unlike every metal she'd ever hit before, her claws didn't carve right through it. A heavy hand moved faster than she could and struck her in the head. The world tilted and Catra collapsed onto the deck. She tried to get up as pain reverberated in her head, but the flash followed by another puff of smoke and her eyes slipped closed.


Royal Palace, Halfmoon, beneath The Whispering Woods

A large six foot tall black furred Magicat, his shoulders broad enough to catch in thinner doorways paced alongside another of his kind. His muscles bunched, so tightly that his fur seemed stretched over the corded flesh. A scar descended through one of his golden eyes and one of the tips of his ears appeared to have been cut off. He was clad in metal and leather armour that did nothing to hide the power of his physique. His lips twisted into a snarl as his eyes hardened like amber.

"I do not see the point my Queen. Even if she is one of us she wears the uniform of our enemy. We should exile the whole lot of them to The Wastes or execute them before they awaken." His voice rumbled through his throat deep and thick as he kept his gaze ahead. The Queen, with light tan fur and a black mane that was carefully styled and braided around her gold and red face guard and crown. At the centre of it, where it rested against her forehead, a glowing orange crystal. Her ears twitched, their golden piercings jingled, her tail lashed out once before she got control of it and turned on her heel, faced directly towards the larger Magicat.

"I did not ask your opinion." She paused and narrowed her eyes on him. "Even you know better to question me so blatantly."

"Murmurs have reached The Houses." A hiss escaped her lips. "I fear that if quick action is not taken…"

"I will not be forced onto a path, not one I have not chosen myself!" C'yra spun on the larger Magicat. Her chest heaved, but she closed her eyes. A single breath pulled into her lungs and blasted outwards. Her ruffled fur smoothed out and she raised a stony glare to the Captain of her Royal Guard. "Da'reth, prepare to inform The Council of Houses and The Senatorial Speakers I will have an announcement as to actions to take once i have learned more about the situation. You will as well gather me every member of the Army and Guard units who could have leaked this information. They will stand at Parade Rest from dawn until I choose to address them."

"My Queen-"

"I have made my decision Captain!" C'yra hissed at him. Da'reth took a short step back, and bowed his head. "The Cadets will not be harmed, they will not be exiled, and you will not act against them. They are honoured guests of this kingdom, of me. You will retire and leave your guards here alone. You will muster the forces I have ordered. That is all I ask of you in this moment. Is. That. Understood?"

"As my Queen commands." He bowed and strode back the way they'd come. The Queen's eyes never left his form until he'd disappeared from sight. She bit down her own hiss and took care to smooth out her fur. Da'reth means well, but the fall of the surface cities made him biassed. She'd be lying if she didn't admit she was as well. With a deep breath she centred herself and pushed the other thoughts away.

The Queen stepped through the tan stone doorway. The room was built of similar stone with carpet with designs of ancient Magicat tradition rolled out over it. On the walls hung tapestries of Halfmoon's history. Bright red curtains were drawn over the locked window, blocking light from The Tiger's Eye at the top of the cavern. Her eyes crawled over towards the four posted bed. The tan furred and dark striped Magicat kitten with a deep brownish-black mane and her grey ear tufts stared back at her with a pair of mismatched eyes. One a pale blue, and the other a bright golden. On the Kitten's head was the bold red faceguard. The Queen held back her words, but her eyes widened.

"You're awake?" It was supposed to be a statement. The Kitten simply raised an eyebrow at her. Then her lips pulled back and her teeth glinted in the low light of the room.

"Where are my friends?" The hiss escaped the Kitten as her fingers flexed and her claws slid out. The Queen schooled her expression and raised an eyebrow in return.

"I do not believe you are in a position to make demands, Kitten. Now if you answer my questions I shall consider letting you see your friends." A snort echoed from the Kitten and her lips curled up just slightly, her fangs on display. The Queen furrowed her eyebrows on the room's occupant. "What is a Magicat doing out here in a Horde Uniform?"

"What else would I be in?" The Kitten shot back. The Queen pressed her lips into a thin line. The Kitten broke her gaze away. "I'm a Horde Cadet, that's why I'm wearing a Horde Uniform. What's a Magicat?"

"Only a Cadet? What is a squad of Cadets doing out here under the command of a Force Captain?" The Queen narrowed her eyes on The Kitten, this would determine what had to be done, whatever that may be.

"No, you answer me. What's a… Magicat?" C'yra paused as her eyebrows pulled together. The kitten certainly looked like her, same coloured base fur, though her stripes were darker. The hair was lighter, but it wasn't uncommon for that to happen. What truly showed C'yra all she needed was The Kitten's eyes. Only members of Clan D'riluth had such mismatched eyes.

"A Magicat is what you, myself, and almost all others who live here are. We are one of the first races of Etheria. Why only a squad of Cadets?" The Kitten grimaced.

"We were celebrating our promotion tomorrow, it was supposed to be a joyride. Where are my friends, Rebel? Where is Adora?" C'yra felt her fur ruffle, once she'd been a rebel, a proud fighter. A phantom pain lanced over the right side of her face… she was a rebel no more.

"We are not rebels, we are survivors. Is Adora the blonde one?" The Kitten's face didn't move, but her ears twitched upwards and her tail lashed for just a second. C'yra hid her smirk.

"Yes." The Kitten narrowed her eyes, and bared her fangs again.

"She is currently undergoing medical treatment, perhaps I'll let you see her if you finish answering my questions." A nod. "How has a Magicat survived on her own this long?"

"The Squad watches each other's backs."

"Do you really expect me to believe that five Horde Cadets managed to steal a Skiff and joyride into The Whispering Woods, especially to its heart?" The Kitten's ears jerked and her face scrunched together.

"No. I was the one driving, we only went in for about five minutes, no way we're near the heart of the woods." C'yra moved her eye onto the Kitten, oh this was definitely an interesting turn of events.

"Well you're near the centre of the woods now. So either you're lying to me… or Etheria has decided you needed to be here." A booming laugh echoed from the Kitten.

"Yeah right! Like a planet can do something like that." C'yra glanced at her and waited for the laughter to abate. It took a little bit longer than she'd expected before it died out half-heartedly. "Wait… you're serious? What is this? Some kind of magic? Is that what the sword did to Adora?"

"Yes." C'yra paused, so she knew about the sword, even if she didn't know what it was. "Etheria is governed by magic, it's no surprise that it could have brought you and your friends to me. Just as it could have delivered a Horde soldier platoon to the middle of nowhere. The Whispering Woods protects us, and it does so how it sees fit."

"Then why does it call to me?" Whispered the Kitten, anyone else might not have heard it without being next to her.

"Because you are a Magicat, and this forest is our natural habitat." The Kitten's eyes shot upwards to meet C'yra's. Each was blown wide, her pupils dilated to nearly full circles. "Tell me your name."

"I'm Catra."

"I am C'yra." C'yra made no move to bridge the gap between them. Whatever wanderlust had filled Catra's eyes died out. Her tail lashed and her ears pinned to the back of her head.

"I want to see my friends. I want to see Adora."

"I'm sorry, once they're all awake I can arrange something. Adora is still being treated though." A hiss blasted from Catra's mouth. C'yra raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. "Adora is being cared for by the best of our healers and she needs time, you'll have to wait."

C'yra stepped back and grabbed the knob on the door.

"You really think you can keep me in here?" Catra had turned to face her. The smirk playing on her lips looked downright dangerous.

"I have dealt with far more dangerous creatures than you Kitten." The door clicked. Catra leaped from the bed. She planted her feet and hands right on C'yra's chest. The force sent The Queen backwards into the door. It opened wide, and Catra shoved off and landed in the hall on all fours. She shot C'yra a smile and shot down the hallway.

Catra's nose scrunched, her nostrils flared. She drew in all the scents, and she bared her teeth as she caught the 'scent-less' Horde soap only Adora was straight laced enough to use everyday. She pumped her legs and tore down the hall. Her claws dug into the stone, it gave her better purchase, and even more speed.

A triplet of guards in metal and leather armour with bright red and gold appeared in front of her. The scent led to the left, she could take a few guards. Catra twisted and shot her tail out. The closest guard sidestepped to avoid the tail, and caught Catra's foot to her gut in reward. The young feline pushed off and arm barred the second guard. The third thrust with their spear but Catra rolled over it and went into a handspring. She stuck her tongue out as she looked back and loped to the left on all fours. Catra noted that Queen C'yra kept up with her, but was still quite a bit behind her.

Catra raced down the halls and followed the winding scent that Adora had left. It led her to a dead-end hallway, two guards in black and gold posted on either side of the door. The two guards dropped into a fighting stance, their bladed spears levelled with Catra. The world seemed to hum, Catra's pupils shrank to slits, the air burned as a bolt of golden light blasted from the ends of both spears. Catra leapt, the magical energy scorched the ground where she'd been and her fingers wrapped around the base of the spear's blade. She pulled and the guard came forward with it. Catra's foot cracked against the guard's head before she spun the liberated weapon around. The haft caught the second guard in the shin. The guard's gaze didn't falter from Catra as she vaulted into the air. Her claws came down and smashed with the guard's armour. She dropped low and curled her tail around the guard's spear as she punched twice into their gut. A growl escaped the guard's throat and Catra dropped low. She caught the guard's ankle and shoved. A yell burst from her enemy's lips as planted her free foot against their stomach and launched them down the hall, the spear pulled from their grasp.

The young feline burst into the room and her eyes went wide. The room was warm and lit by orange flickering flames encased in glass fixtures. There was a decent sized bed on the far left, but between the bed and her was a large stone tub that seemed hewn from obsidian. The water glimmered blue while the markings and etchings in the stone glew with golden light. Adora's pale blonde hair and face was out of the water. Set at the end of the tub, stabbed directly into the obsidian was the sword Adora had grabbed. Catra started another step forward, but slowly set her foot back in its former spot. There was another feline at the head of the tub, his fur was orange and greying at the edges. His ears had swivelled towards Catra, but he didn't look up from his focus on Adora's face. Each of his hands was on either side of Adora's head and played with golden circles of writing that had tendrils connecting the floating sigils to Adora's temples.

Catra's ears shot around at the sound of steps, and she looked back to see C'yra behind her. There was something about The Queen's expression; maybe it was the slight downturn on her lips, or the warm fire that seemed to burn in her eyes, or perhaps it was the way her pupils were almost full circles. It made Catra loosen and drop the stolen weapon to the tile. The Queen turned the same gaze onto Catra, and suddenly Catra's skin crawled and she wanted to hide behind the tub to be out of sight. The older feline's hand settled on Catra's shoulder.

"W-will she be alright?" Catra cursed the way her voice broke, water pooled at the corner of her eyes and she quickly brushed it away. The hand tightened softly, and Catra raised her gaze back to C'yra's. The warmth in those gold and blue eyes spoke of a thing Catra had always desired, home.

"She'll get better, at some point. I think it best to explain her situation once I have all of you here. I will go speak with the other cadets. You may stay here as long as you promise not to try and escape, interrupt her healing, or attack anymore of my guards." C'yra turned and left the kitten in the room, looking far smaller than she had seemed fighting her guards.


Royal Apartments, Royal Palace, Halfmoon, beneath The Whispering Woods

C'yra lied. It was late and she was well aware the sleeping pellets should keep the other three Cadets out of it until morning. She'd speak to them then. The sword, the blonde, and a heterochromatic Magicat. By the Stars her life had suddenly become much more complicated again. It felt like only yesterday she'd held C'yra III for the first time, her little kitten. Now the teenaged girl who is currently sharing a room with her other most interesting house guest was nothing like that little kitten. The door slid open with practically no sound. She could smell the remnants of fish and bread, there was a faint hint of two other scents that pervaded the entryway and rolled in from the open doorways. If asked C'yra could tell you exactly how to navigate the whole apartment with her good eye blindfolded. Still her feet stopped beside a display on her left. A toy drew her attention, it was made of soft plus material and had four limbs and a tail. It was supposed to look like a tan tiger, instead it was blackened and grey, coated in ash and half burned. The tail was nothing but a nub at the end of it, and one of the ears was missing.

It was the only thing recovered from Little Cy'ra's room. She lowered her head and nuzzled the little toy, the faint scent that had once been soaked in its soft form was the very same she'd just left. Her shoulders shuddered and water pooled at the edge of her good eye. She faltered backwards, her steps pressed her back against the wall. The sob that escaped her throat burned, hot tears trailed down her fur as her muscles went numb. She lost the fight against gravity and slid down the wall to the floor, her knees tucked close to her chest as tears and sobs spilled from her.

"Cycy? Babe? I got L'ucille down for night. That emergency you were called for got so late I had your dinner sent back to the kitchen to be reheated once you'd come back… C'yra?" Whispered padding moved to the door on the same side of the wall as C'yra. The hinges creaked ever so slightly, and a Magicat woman turned to find C'yra on the ground, toy clutched in her claws… crying. The white furred, black striped, and ice blue eyed Magicat rushed over and wrapped her arms around C'yra. She raked her claws through C'yra's hair, softly pulling the braids free, while her other hand ran up and down the other woman's back. "It's alright. I know it's hard. But there's hope… we never found a body."

"She's alive." Choked C'yra in between her sobs. The woman cocked an ear as she looked down at C'yra and found the Queen smiling through her tear stained fur. "She's alive Mel'ody. My little Cy. My Kitten."

The Queen of Halfmoon dissolved into more joyful tears, held in the arms of her wife. She tucked w close. The emergency… they must have found another Magicat… they found C'yra III.


| Fourteen Years Earlier |


Subterranean Caverns, Temple of The Tiger's Eye, Beneath The Whispering Woods

She shot up. The fabric shifted and the frame of the bed nearly buckled. Her claws came out and she wrapped her hands tight around the frame. She could feel bandages over half her face, and only one of her eyes would open. She glanced around the room. There are a number of cots. On each laid a Magicat, some were covered in bloody sheets. Some had armour and clothes stripped or cut off at the foot of their makeshift beds. Magicats of every type and colouring rushed from one point to another. She looked to her left and saw a black furred body she would have recognised anywhere.

"Da'reth?" Her throat felt like scratching paper, and sounded even worse. The black Magicat shifted, one of his golden eyes fell onto her. "Where is Cy? Where is my daughter?"

"I failed you." He turned back around. She didn't notice. Whatever meagre warmth the sheets had provided fled. Her skin felt cold, but her insides felt worse. It was like she'd been scooped out. Even the heat that usually pervaded her, was gone. Her mind stuck on a single phrase. Words Da'reth had never said to her before. The sound of the world around her faded into a ringing, and her eyes zoned out. Her daughter was gone. Her little C'yra. Her little kitten. Her Kit.

"Queen C'yra!" A hand shook her back to the present. C'yra jolted and spun towards a young woman in Maroon robes. A white sling held up her arm and bandages peaked through at her shoulder. Her white fur was stained crimson and her stark icy eyes were filled with… concern. "Queen C'yra you need to pull your flames back to you."

"What?" C'yra glanced down, the other feline was coated in an almost unnoticeable sheet of see-through ice. Why was she coated in ice? C'yra glanced further down and found her red flames licked across her fur hungrily. Scorch marks coated the floor. The other beds had been pushed away from her. Da'reth looked on with a broken expression. Slowly she focused, tried to pull the heat within, and after a long minute, it followed. She didn't feel warmer though. She still felt cold. The other feline's icy second skin faded into the air. "What?"

"You're magic reacted to your distress My Queen. Breathe with me." The white furred woman pressed her good hand against C'yra's chest. "One… Two… Three… In. One… Two… Three… Out. In. Out."

Slowly C'yra drew back to her senses and focused on this other Magicat.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Mel'ody My Queen. If you don't think you'll lose control my services are needed elsewhere." Mel'ody rose and started to move away.

"You're injured." Mel'ody paused and looked back at C'yra. She cocked her head and one ear raised higher than the other. She struggled to project a smile to C'yra.

"Everyone is injured My Queen. I wish you a speedy recovery." Mel'ody disappeared. C'yra turned to look at everyone else. Sure enough Mel'ody hadn't lied. Everywhere she looked there was someone undergoing treatment for their injuries. Even those assisting had their own bandages on.

"You. Come here." The Attendant in a brown tunic stopped and turned to her. "I need a member of my guard, the one you can find who's least injured."

"Yes My Queen." The Attendant rushed off at an even faster pace. Before long C'yra had someone in front of her. Their black and gold trimmed armour was smokey and scarred. Part of their ear had been removed and was covered in white cloth. Their spear was in hand, used as a crutch for their leg, a splint fashioned around it.

"As you ordered, My Queen." The injured Royal Guard stood tall. "I am here. Ar'ini at your service."

"How badly injured are you?"

"I can still guard you, My Queen. I can do my duty." C'yra carefully rose from the bed. Her legs felt weak and she didn't have much depth perception, missing an eye as she was. Ar'ini limped forward only for C'yra to wave her hand at him.

"I can stand. We need to go through, get a headcount of who is injured, missing,... and the number of dead." C'yra gulped, but dared not say another word. She could only hope that her daughter was among the missing, and not the dead.


A/N;

Who knows if this will see the light of day. This is a twist of Season 1 of She-Ra in two ways. First we see the Kingdom of Halfmoon capture Adora and the rest of her squad. The second is that Adora and Catra are far closer to the rest of the squad and bring them with them on their Skiff joyride through The Whispering Woods. I hope you all enjoy this, it just came to me and wouldn't leave me alone.

-Six Out!

Update List:

- SatSWC Act I Turning Darkness to Light (You are Here)

- Time Itself

- Imperial Academy

- Something new?