"And I thought the Whispering Woods were bad," Crop Top whimpered. Catra rolled her eyes, but couldn't deny the fact that something had changed.

The Whispering Woods had an undercurrent of power that would occasionally make Catra's fur stand on end, it never struck her as outright hostile. The Beasts were dangerous, and there were a million other ways you could be killed if you weren't careful, but it would always have been your own fault. That had changed during their second day of marching towards what Catra hoped would be proof of the Horde's plans to ambush the Alliance. The trees were clumped closer together, letting almost none of the light from above reach them on the soggy forest floor; the air was thicker, harder to breathe, and heavy with the smell of decay; and Catra could tell that they were being watched. All in all, this section of the woods seemed decidedly more malevolent than what she was used to, and it had the rest of the group on edge.

"This is forbidden land in my kingdom," Hair Net said, scanning their surroundings. "The spiders don't take kindly to intruders."

"Spiders?" Sparkles croaked.

Hair Net nodded. "According to legend, the spiders here are the ones who gave my ancestor his powers after he protected their eggs from predators," she explained, flicking her wrist and creating a small web of light. "But they became jealous of his weaving and betrayed him, forcing my people out of the woods and corrupting it."

Catra barely kept herself from scoffing. That sounded exactly like the kind of stories they would tell in the Horde to make them think that they were the 'bringers of peace and order'. There were webs strewn about over their heads, connecting the trees and almost blanketing them. A casual swipe of her spear had proven that, though almost as thin as a hair, they were exceptionally tough, and Catra could hear the anxious clicking of mandibles just waiting for them to wander into one of them.

"Would explain all the eyes following us since we got here," she remarked, smirking as Crop Top yelped while Adora shivered and moved closer to her.

"We'll be fine," Adora said, her voice impressively steady considering Catra could smell her fear. "We just need to stick together."

They continued walking, the surrounding trees getting thicker until it might as well have been the dead of night. Adora moved closer to her friends and the gem at the base of her sword began glowing, creating a sphere of light just large enough for them to see the ground beneath their feet. Catra took the lead, as she could at least make out the outlines of trees around them, but her ears were on a constant swivel as she listened to the skittering and clicking that came from all around them. The deeper they ventured, the louder the noise became, until, eventually, Catra could make out something like words amongst the noise.

"Intruders!"

"Prey!"

"Kill them!"

"Not yet!"

Her heart was racing as she lost count of the dark, skittering forms dashing around them, but she swallowed her fear and faced forward, raising her head. "We're just passing through!" She called out. "We don't want any trouble!"

"Trouble?"

"No trouble!"

"Food!"

Catra tensed while the others prepared themselves for battle, but the spiders never approached. Instead a terrible hissing screech echoed all around them.

"The dark one!"

"It is the Weaver!"

"Get them!"

"Take them to Mother!"

"Mother will know what to do!"

Dozens of massive, hairy shapes flitted around them, and Catra grunted as she was tackled by one. Two long, prickly sticks grabbed her and started to spin her around and around as a thick, sticky substance coiled around her. Panic filled her chest, and she could feel the fire reacting to her fear, so she clamped her mouth shut and forced herself to take a deep breath, ignoring the others' shouting as they too were wrapped up in a coccoon of web. She maintained her steady breathing as she was hauled over the back of the spider that had captured her, and gently released one of her claws, slowly sawing it back and forth against her bonds. The web was remarkably tough, and she had barely made any progress when the spider carrying her suddenly started crawling straight down. Her eyes adjusted well enough to the lack of light for her to see they were in some sort of massive pit. Webs the the size of pipes crisscrossed in and out of sight, filled with spiders of all sizes scurrying back and forth. She couldn't see very far, but judging on what she heard, she wouldn't have been surprised if this pit was easily the same size as Bright Moon castle, as the spider kept carrying them down and down.

"Where are you taking us?" Adora demanded, and Catra could hear her still squirming against her bonds.

"Let us go!" Sparkles shouted, and Catra briefly wondered why she hadn't teleported out. There must have been some sort of limiting factor that was keeping her from escaping.

The webs muffled most of it, but Catra could smell the fear and panic, not just from her companions, but the other spiders too. Something about their group terrified the spiders, and, judging by the fact that there were only two of them that could ostensibly be called "dark one", she guessed it had something to do with Netossa.

Setting aside the deep, primal reaction she felt at the smell of Adora's fear, Catra closed her eyes once more and focused on the fire burning inside of her. She fed all her fear and aggression to it, letting the flame build and fill her body with strength while staying calm. When she opened her eyes, they had returned to moving horizontally, and she could just make out a massive dome made of silvery webs towering over them.

"Mother!" The spider carrying her called out. "Mother, we need you!"

*(OoO)*

Adora tried valiantly to fight against her mounting panic as she and the others were captured and restrained by the spiders. The webs surrounding her were too tight and too strong for her to move her arms, and she couldn't cut out of them if she tried. She had considered transforming into She-ra, but a quick shake of Catra's head told her not to. Focusing on Catra for that moment lessened some of the fear she was feeling and she resolved to save her energy as the spiders carried her and her friends down into some giant hole in the ground.

She didn't know what she had been expecting when the spider carrying Catra had cried out for its mother, but it had not been for a series of dim greenish-blue lights to appear, floating around the air like soap bubbles and illuminating the massive dome in which they had found themselves. Even with the meager lights, Adora couldn't quite see all the way to the opposite wall, but she could see that they were surrounded by hundreds of spiders, the biggest of which could have looked She-ra in the eye, scurrying around and crawling over themselves as their big, dark eyes glittered like jewels. The clicking and hissing coming from them pressed down on Adora, making her chest tighten with fear as she desperately tried to think of a way out. Glimmer might have been able to teleport them, but she was just as tightly constricted as the rest of them, and wouldn't be able to grab them all and get out - especially when she didn't know how far down they were, and couldn't see where she was going. Bow might have had something in his quiver, but the spiders had descended on them before he could even reach for his weapon; the only reason she had hers in hand was because it had been their only source of light, and even if she did cut her way out and escape, there was no way she could save them all before the spiders hurt them, let alone fight off the others that were staring at them hungrily.

The clicking stopped and the spiders surrounding them froze, as two massive, strangely shaped pillars rose out of the ground. Further back, still concealed in shadow, a shape rose between them, and Adora felt cold with dread.

"What have you brought me, my children?" The shape asked in a soft, musical voice. It moved further into the light, and Adora could gaped as it turned out to be a woman unlike any she had ever seen.

Her hair was almost darker than the shadows from which she had emerged, while her skin was such a pure white she almost seemed to reflect the light from the strange orbs floating around their heads back at them. A dark purple robe with silver designs embroidered all over it hung open by its sleeves from her thin arms, leaving her flat, toned stomach and large, round breasts exposed before closing to cover her legs and the base of what seemed like a massive throne. With titanic effort, Adora wrenched her eyes up to her face, watching the way her soft, plump lips smiled, crinkling a small, straight nose. Where she expected a pair of eyes to be examining them, she found three - the two largest positioned where a human's would be, with the other four spread out above them. All six black orbs examined them, and Adora felt a shiver of fear.

"Intruders, Mother!" The spider carrying Glimmer chirped, its mandibles clicking with every word.

"My, it certainly has been a long time since anyone was foolish enough to wander here," the woman tittered. "And who might you be?"

"I am Princess Glimmer of Bright Moon, Commander of the Princess Alliance," Glimmer declared. Adora was proud of how steady her friend's voice was. "I demand that you release us at once!"

The woman raised a hand to cover her mouth as she giggled. "Oh, how quaint. It speaks!"

"Mother!" The spider carrying Netossa simpered, scuttering unevenly in place. "This one is a Weaver."

"Are you certain, my dear?" The woman asked. The spider bobbed up and down as if nodding before bringing Netossa closer. It wasn't until she had reached out to cup Netossa cheek that Adora registered just how large this woman was - she was clearly still seated, but she was likely taller than She-ra judging by how her hand almost engulfed the side of Netossa's head. "My, I would have thought we killed the last of your bloodline, Little Weaver. Tell me, what is your name?"

"It's generally polite to introduce yourself first, before asking someone else their name," Netossa replied bravely. Adora cringed wondering why everyone seemed determined to anger the crazy lady who was clearly controlling the spiders that wanted to eat them. The woman didn't seem offended, and merely smiled as if Netossa were a cute animal or something.

"Very well, far be it from me to seem rude. I am Weavess, Queen of the Spiders. Now, my guests, I should very much like to know whom it is I have invited into my humble little home."

"I am Netossa, Princess of Cast Arch, General of the Princess Alliance. With me are Bow, Catra, Glimmer, and Adora - also known as She-ra, Princess of Power."

Netossa looked particularly smug as the spiders started spitting and hissing at the mention of She-ra, and Weavess removed her hand from her face as she looked at Adora contemplatively.

"So, not only do I have a little Weaver crawling about my home, but the 'mighty She-ra' is here too. How... fortuitous."

"The people of my kingdom have long known to stay out of your lands," Netossa said in as diplomatic a tone as she could. "We were only passing through on our way to accomplish a mission to help in our fight against the Horde."

"Ah, yes, the Horde," Weavess mumbled, more to herself than anything else. "Yet more intruders upon our sacred soil. Though, I do see that you count a Bastet among your numbers." The spider carrying Catra moved forward and Weavess smiled down at her. "Tell me, kitten, what are you doing outside the safety of your of your island and your tunnels?"

Catra's eyes widened, but she quickly took a deep breath and steadied herself. "I wasn't aware there were others like me. I was raised inside the Horde."

Weavess' smile grew and she reached down to stroke Catra's face, making something in Adora snap. "Don't touch her!"

Adora's spider crawled forward as well and Weavess' looked at her with hunger. "So, this is the chosen vessel? I wonder, which of you will bend to the other?"

Golden anger surged through Adora's veins and she felt herself stiffen. "I have no time for your games, Insect. Release us now, and we will not destroy you on our way out."

Just as quickly as it came, the anger was gone and Adora was left wide-eyed in disbelief at the words that had come out of her mouth while Catra simply groaned and dropped her head. Weavess, however, tilted her head back and laughed gaily. "Oh, how adorable. I could almost pity you, girl. As it stands, however, that goddess trapped inside you will be of no use to you here."

"Please," Netossa begged. "We did not mean to trespass -"

"But the fact of the matter is that you did, Little Weaver. You humans, with your stolen power and disregard for the Old Ways. You who would subject one of the Higher Ones - entitled oaf though she may be - who meddle with things you couldn't possibly understand. You, who are descended from the Egg Smasher himself -"

"Wait!" Catra cried, but Weavess simply looked down at her with something that might have been pity.

"I am sorry, Bastet. Know this, however, while my children will feast upon these humans, your body will be returned to your people intact. It is a small thing, but you deserve to be among your pride."

"Look, I fall asleep every night to the thought of putting these annoying idiots in their place," Catra said, ignoring the indignant squawk that Bow made as she suddenly tore through the webs around her and shed them like a blanket, kicking off the spider that had been carrying her and landing on the ground with ease. "And I totally get hating She-ra, she's self-righteous, brutal, and a hypocrite. But you just told me there are other people out there like me, so I can't go dying today. In fact, if you weren't trying to kill me, I might actually thank you."

Weavess watched Catra closely, shifting in her seat. "Are you a prisoner of these humans, little Bastet?"

Catra shrugged. "Sort of? More like an involuntary volunteer."

"Your people helped shape our den," Weavess explained. "When the Egg Smasher came and stole our power, they sang to the earth and trees to help create our new home. If you really are determined to return to your people and escape theses... humans, then I may be willing to assist you."

Catra's eyes widened and she looked between Weavess and them for more than a minute in silence. Adora prepared herself for the inevitable heartbreak - Catra had always wished to find others like her. She already hated the Alliance, why wouldn't she just cut and run? She locked eyes with Catra and tried to let her know silently that it was okay. Adora had abandoned her, so it would only be fair for Catra to do the same. Instead of acceptance, however, Catra's expression became angry.

"You have no idea how tempting that is, Spider-Lady," she muttered, shoulders slumping as she reached behind her back and drew her short spear. "But the blonde idiot with the goddess in her head is mine, and I can't just leave her lying around. Unfortunately, she'd also pout and moan non-stop if I left her stupid friends here, even if I really want to. You seem really cool, though, and, for once, I don't want to fight you or your kids, but I will if I have to."

Weavess smiled sadly and shook her head. "Your people are known for their bravery, Bastet, and I suppose I should commend you for yours. But look around you, my children surround us, and the smallest drop of their venom will kill you. How do you plan on fighting your way out with a single spear."

"Oh, the spear's not for fighting," Catra replied. She grinned, but to Adora it was more akin to baring her teeth. "I took it out to make a statement and cut the others loose."

"Your foolishness grows wearisome, Bastet," Weavess said dryly. She waved her hands and the spider holding Adora dropped her. She grunted as she landed on the strangely elastic ground, realising belatedly that it was made of webbing as well, meaning they weren't even at the bottom of the massive pit they had been taken to. With a quick snick she suddenly found herself freed from the webbing surrounding her and hurried to her feet as Bow, Glimmer, and Netossa were freed as well. For a moment, Adora allowed herself to feel a small spark of hope, until Weavess spoke as well. "Now allow me to make a statement of my own."

The pillars that were now behind them shook and a loud rumbling filled the air. Further back in the room, almost hidden by the shadows, more and more pillars rose out of the ground before a massive shape rose under Weavess' throne, lifting her high above them. The spiders clicked and hissed excitedly as they skittered out of the way as the shape moved forward and Adora felt her throat constrict as she realised what it was she was looking at.

Weavess had not been seated atop any throne, her lower body had simply been obscured, for the most part. The pillars behind Adora rattled and unfolded into two long, chitonous legs, as thick around as her waist. Six other legs assisted in lifting the gargantuan thorax up and Adora felt sick as more of the strange lights appeared and revealed the smooth, gleaming, black spider body attached to the bottom of Weavess' torso where her waist should have been.

"So, how exactly does the whole mating thing work?" Catra drawled, seemingly unimpressed. Adora wanted to scream at her, but was also thankful that at least one of them wasn't paralyzed with fear. "Is there, like, a giant spider-guy, or..."

"Your insolence is no longer charming, Bastet," Weavess hissed. "My chiton is harder than the strongest armor, my venom will melt your bones..."

"That's nice," Catra interrupted, waving a hand. She smirked, and Adora watched in awe as sparks followed the motion. The air started to get warmer, and Adora could hear the panicked shrieking of the other spiders as some of the webbing started to glow. "Thing is, Sparkles over here can teleport, so when I burn the ground out from beneath our feet, you and the kiddies are gonna take a little tumble, and she's gonna zap us right outta here."

One of the spiders screeched with rage and lunged for Bow, only to be incinerated in a flash of light, leaving little behind but ashes and a putrid smell in the air. Weavess shrieked in agony and rage, but Catra looked like she hadn't even noticed.

"Traitor!" She hissed. "You, who hear the song of Etheria would slaughter my child for these interlopers and thieves!"

"It's like I said," Catra repeated. "I don't really care about them." She jerked a thumb towards Adora. "But that one's mine, so I'm getting her and her pathetic friends out of here. I don't wanna kill you or your kids, but get in my way and I will reduce everything you love to ashes."

A/N: Not a super long chapter, as this was mostly filler to do a bit of world building. Catra's powers are out in the open once more, and I wanted a chance to really show that above everything else, she prioritizes Adora's safety and happiness. She's not evil, per se, but she has no regards for whatever lines she has to cross to accomplish her goals. To everyone else, this will look like some sort of defining moment of redemption, but Catra really couldn't care less. Would she like to know about her people? Sure. But she's used to putting her wants and needs before Adora's anyway, so it wasn't a big deal to do it again.

Anyway, hope y'all had some great holidays. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

TTFN