Chapter 5

part 2

An hour earlier…

Storm had been forced to wake up from his rarely wonderful sleep due to the gnawing hunger in his stomach. He groaned in annoyance as he uncurled himself,stretched his cramped body then shook the grass and dirt off his body.

Might as well try and get some food he thought,though the idea really didn't sit well with him. He sniffed the air,caught the scent of a few rabbits and went to search for them. He soon found four rabbits but only managed to catch three of them.

As he was devouring into them,he caught the scent of something completely different within the forest. It was something new and definitely didn't belong in the forest. He raised his head. from his half eaten rabbit and sniffed the air.

It was coming from the north of the forest.

He rapidly finished his second rabbit,licked the blood off his mouth before running north,sniffing the air every once in a while to make sure he was staying on the right track. After some time he heard someone yell,"Adora!"

Seems like I'm getting closer to them he thought. He came to a full stop and thought of the best approach to this. If these intruders are dangerous or a threat,I need to approach undetected.

He decided to use the trees.

He leaped towards one of the trees near him,retracting his claws midair,then began gouging handholds into its bark until he was on top one of the branches. He then leaped nimbly from branch to branch,trying to be as silent as possible. Finally after some time,he heard the intruders say,"Adora,Adora wake up!" He stopped leaping and leaned forward,trying to see the intruders below,but could only see a red jacket and blonde fur. "Catra,w-what happened?"the intruders said. "You fell out of the ship while trying to avoid hitting that tree."

"You mean the tree you nearly drove us in!"one of them said. Storm shook his head. These intruders are strange to say the least he thought. However,they don't sound dangerous. Then again,it's better to be safe than sorry. Then his ear twitched as he heard the sound of a low purr come from the intruders.

Yep,definitely strange intruders Storm thought.

After a few moments,he heard one of them say,"Well,it's not here so let's go." Now is the time! He slowly made his body go into an attack stance as he turned,watching the intruders leave through the little openings through the clustered leaves and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Unfortunately,one of his claws scraped against the tree branch.

He froze just as the intruders stopped walking and one of them turned their heads to look up.

He tried to see the intruder but all he saw was brown fur. Eventually,the intruder turned away and they kept walking. He tensed his back legs then launched from the branch down below just as one of the intruders collided into him! The intruder grabbed him and threw him into a tree. He hissed at the flare of pain that hit him. How did that intruder hear me! he thought in incredulous. "Who the hell are you and wh-" He heaved himself up looked at the intruders,ready to tear them to shreds,then stopped as he saw the intruders.

One of them was a tall and muscular creature with pale fur and bright blue eyes. He had never seen a creature like her in his entire life.

The other intruder beside her,however,was the one who caught his attention.

She was tall,though a head shorter than the other creature and him,and slender with tanned fur,an unruly mane of spiked fur behind her head,tabby stripes on her arms,a headpiece around her face and two different colored eyes. The one on the left was yellow and the one on the right was turquoise.

She looked exactly like him.

She is exactly like me he corrected himself.

When everything seems lost two of the same kind will cross the prophecy echoed in his mind. He looked back at the female. She is here. The prophecy is true. My race will be saved at last! He wanted nothing more than to scream in pure joy but under the situation,it wouldn't be right. The female slowly got on all fours and,almost hesitantly,walked over to him. He made himself stay still as she continued to walk over him before stopping a centimeter away from him. Upon further searching,he was able to see the light freckles on her cheeks.

The prophecy shall finally be fulfilled he thought to himself satisfied. And the best part is that it was easier than he intentionally thought it would be.

Catra did not trust this cat-person one bit. Especially after how he tried to attack her and Adora,she wanted to teach him a lesson. "Catra?"Adora asked worriedly,taking a step closer to Catra who hadn't moved for a while. Catra saw the male's eyes flicker to Adora and his tail lash and knew he was going to try something.

She hissed at the cat-person as she placed herself protectively in front Adora. The male looked at Adora then at her with confusion clearly on his face. "Well,this is certainly not the greeting I expected."he said. Catra's jaw literally dropped as she heard the male speak.

"You...you can talk?"she heard Adora asked in surprise. "Yes I can speak. What did you think?"the male replied,greatly offended by that. Adora seemed to catch the tone in his voice. "I'm sorry,it's just...we've never seen another person like you before."she clarified. "What do you mean a person like me?"he asked curiously. Adora opened her mouth to reply when Catra interrupted her. "Who are you and why the hell are you here?"she demanded. The male looked at her for a moment before answering.

"My name is Storm,prince and future king of the Pantheras. As for why I am here,that is a long story that I don't particularly want to share with strangers." Catra looked at Storm suspiciously.

He's with the princesses! Now that she thought of it,it made sense. The fact that she never saw him before,the attempted surprise attack and his prince title,though she didn't believe he was a prince. Not taking her eyes off the male,Catra spoke quietly to Adora. "Adora,we should take him to the Horde for questioning. He could be an ally and spy of the princesses." "I'm with you there."Adora agreed.

Catra narrowed her eyes at Storm. "Storm,we need you to come with us."she said. "Whatever for?"Storm asked her. "I don't particularly want to share that with a stranger."Catra replied with a sly grin on her face. A sly female,this one Storm thought and couldn't help but laugh at that. "Touche. Very well then,lead the way."he said. Catra nodded. She produced a string of rope from the pocket in her pants then strolled over to Storm. "Hands behind your back."she ordered. Storm rolled his eyes,seemingly annoyed and regretting saying yes,but complied. Once he was securely tied up they all walked to the ship,Catra staying close to Storm while Adora lead the way.

The flight to the Horde was quiet,not uncomfortable by any means,but everyone had stuff on their minds.

Catra especially.

Her head was still wrapping around the idea that there was another cat-person in the world.

Someone just like me.

Catra never told anyone,not even Adora,but she had always felt lonely knowing that she was the only cat-person in the Horde or even in Etheria. "You are the last of your kind,"Shadow Weaver had told her once when she was younger. "And good riddance too. Having one of you is already bad enough." Jokes on you Shadow Weaver I'm not the last of my kind. She couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she saw another cat-person.

Though if he works with the princesses that'll be nothing to boast about. He didn't seem like the type that would work with the princesses but if Shadow Weaver taught them one thing well it was that looks can be deceiving. Ten minutes later,they made it back to the Horde. Two guards at the door greeted them as they got out of the ship. "Guards."Adora greeted formally. "Cadet Catra,Force Captain Adora."they greeted back. "Force Captain Shadow Weaver has been searching the entire Fright Zone looking for you Adora."

Catra rolled her eyes hearing that. Of course she'd be searching for Adora but not me. She looked over at Adora. She had her face expressionless but Catra could see the flare of anger that told her that Adora caught the meaning of what the guard had said though all she did was nod. "We are here so there's no reason for her to worry. Please get Shadow Weaver. We have someone she may be interested in seeing."she ordered. The guards nodded and quickly walked inside the Fright Zone. "So...this is your home?"Storm asked them. Catra turned to see him looking everywhere with a mixed expression of confusion and disgust that made Catra's anger flare instantly.

"Yeah prince boy,this is our home. Some people aren't able to live in a fancy palace or wherever you nobles live."Catra snapped. Storm looked at her,shocked by her instant anger,before he realised his mistake. "I am sorry Catra. I didn't mean to offend you."he said,forcing sincerity into his apology. He knew that if he wanted to get Catra as his mate,then he'll have to become more polite and appealing to her.

"I'm sure you are."Catra replied dryly. The other creature sighed before turning to him. "I appreciate your apology Storm as does Catra."the creature named Adora said while pointedly glaring at Catra. "She has a funny way of showing her appreciation."Storm commented. Catra whirled her head at Storm and hissed angrily. "She does,"Adora agreed. "But once you get to know her better,she's really just a softie." "Call me a softie again Adora and I swear I'll claw out your eyes."Catra threatened with a low growl.

"Is that a challenge Catra?"Adora asked,a gleam appearing in her eyes. Catra couldn't help but smile deviously. "Yes that was a challenge Adora."she replied as she brought her face inches from Adora's and brandished her claws. Even from where Storm was,he could see that the two were like two storm clouds about to collide,eyes alight with electricity. It reminded him of his friendship with Lightning of how he and him would always challenge one another. "Do you two think that fighting in front of your prisoner is a smart idea?"he asked them with a small chuckle.

It seemed that him speaking broke whatever staring contest they had as Adora quickly turned away from Catra,face red,while Catra looked at him with narrowed eyes. She opened her mouth to tell him something when someone said,"Where have you two been and why is there a Horde battleship behind you?"

He looked ahead to see some other creature.

It was tall with a red and dark maroon dress with bits of pink,long,black hair that was flowing behind her like a sinister shadow,gray sickeningly thin and pointed fingers and a red mask over her face. All it took was one look at the creature and Storm instantly disliked it.

"I took one so I could train myself on how to drive it and Catra tried to stop me but I didn't listen so she came with me."Adora said looking dead into Shadow Weaver's face. So not true Catra thought to herself. Adora just lied straight to Shadow Weaver's masked face and didn't even flinch or waver. I guess I should start giving her more credit. It made her feel inexplicably touched that Adora would risk lying to Shadow Weaver just to protect her. The thought was enough to make Catra nearly purr before their mentor. Shadow Weaver looked closely at Adora,searching to see any lies behind her words,but found none.

"Well,I'm glad you're taking the initiative to learn something new. Though next time do ask first."she said sternly. Adora nodded,breathing a small breath of relief. Only then did Shadow Weaver look in his direction.

Her eyes narrowed as she asked coldly,"Who is this?" Adora turned to the prisoner. "He was in the Whispering Woods and tried to attack us by surprise. He would've been able to if Catra didn't detect him first."she said,side glancing at Catra with a small smile who smiled back. Shadow Weaver glanced at Catra for a long moment,watching her closely,before she nodded curtly.

"Well done cadet."she said dryly. Catra could practically hear pain in Shadow Weaver's voice at having to congratulate her,or say anything good to her really,and that was enough to make Catra smirk. "It was nothing I couldn't handle."she said smugly. She knew that she was pressing her luck but at the moment she couldn't care.

Shadow Weaver narrowed her eyes at Catra but said nothing. She turned her attention back to Storm and regarded him for a long moment before she spoke. "You will follow me to our leader. Cadets,head to your dorms."she ordered. The two cadets nodded,knowing that they shouldn't push their luck any further,and walked off into the Fright Zone.

Catra turned her head back to Storm as she regarded him with curiosity. He must've noticed she was watching him since he turned his head to her and gave her a smile,fangs appearing over his bottom lip. She forced her face to look annoyed then turned away as she walked off.

This place looks more of a prison than a home Storm thought to himself as he and the creature,Shadow Weaver,walked into the building.

It was dark,so dark that if he didn't have the ability to see in the dark he would have certainly tripped a couple of times,gave off an eerie sort of feeling to it and so quiet that he could hear the thump of his own footsteps. Nothing about the place seemed inviting or warm in the slightest. How in the world can anyone live here he thought to himself. Once he got that female as his mate the very first thing he would do would be taking her away from this place. He decided that it was time to get some information about the female. Since he was a prisoner however he knew that he couldn't speak without his captor's permission.

I have to get a sense of this creature.

"Excuse me ma'am?"he said. "Silence prisoner!"Shadow Weaver ordered. "You have no right to speak!" Well,she's certainly not the easily persuaded type he told himself. Gonna need a new approach. He flattened his ears against his head and hissed. "Is this the way you treat your guests?"he asked. She whirled around and shoved her face right in front of his. "You better watch your tongue,you insolent fool. You should know not to test people for are superior to you. I can do things to you that will leave you begging for mercy."she said darkly.

She dare threaten me! he thought in outrage. He wanted nothing more than to rip that mask off her face and tear her to shreds. The nerve this creature has. Nonetheless,the response she chose gave brought him closer to a read on her. Doing one final test,he lowered his head and forced his body to give off a meek demeanor. "You are right. I am truly sorry if I offended you."he said meekly. It disgusted him to do this but he knew it was necessary.

He glanced up to see the creature looking down at him closely. "I'm glad you learned your place."she said smugly and he had to force himself from growling at her. At least that display made me get a reading on her. She was definitely that arrogant,self-centered "I-have-the-powers-so-I'm-more-important-than-you" type of person. Luckily,he knew all too well how to deal with creatures similar to her.

He never got to ask about Catra as they continued walking down the dark,silent halls for a few moments before they made a turn and stopped before two doors. Shadow Weaver stepped towards the door and,without looking back,said,"Do not speak unless asked to." You will not tell me what to do he wanted to say but he forced himself to say,"Yes ma'am."

She knocked twice on the door and they immediately slide open. She moved back and roughly pushed him forward. "Walk."she ordered. She lashed his tail but obeyed her. Hopefully this other person is shot as obnoxious as Shadow Weaver Storm thought wistfully. "Lord Hordak?"he heard Shadow Weaver call. "What do you want now,Shadow Weaver?"a deep,low voice sounded. "Force Captain Adora found this...thing in Whispering Woods as he tried to attack her."Shadow Weaver said. Storm's pupils expanded as he tried to see the person in the darkness.

Upon a platform sitting on a throne was,Storm assumed,was Lord Hordak.

Hordak looked at him for a while then slowly got up from his throne. He was tall and muscular with white skinned,skull-like face,bat-like ears,blood red eyes and blue hair combed back. He was wearing some grey armor that had a red gem inside the arm braces,black clothing that had two wings on the front of it and a large red cape that also had a hood. His appearance alone was menacing and intimidating.

Even if I had never met this creature before,I would be able to tell he is of royalty Storm thought. Knowing how to properly greet someone of royalty he lowered his head respectfully. "Rise."he heard Lord Hordak say. He raised his head and saw the creature watched him closely. "Who are you and what is your name?"he asked Storm.

Storm straightened his body and lifted his head high before speaking. "My name is Storm and I am the prince and future king of the Pantheras."he said. "The Pantheras?"Lord Hordak said puzzled. "Who in Etheria are those?" Storm looked at the Hordak in shock. How has he never heard of the Pantheras he thought to himself. "Lord Hordak,with all due respect,I think we should interrogate him to get information about the Rebellion."Shadow Weaver said.

Now Storm's confusion and curiosity was too much to keep quiet. "The Rebellion?"he asked confused. "Silence prisoner! You will speak when Lord Hordak permits you too."Shadow Weaver ordered. Storm ignored her as he looked straight at Hordak who was watching him with interest and confusion.

Finally,he lifted his head up and looked at Shadow Weaver. "Leave us Force Captain. I want to question the prisoner alone."he ordered with a small smile. Shadow Weaver nodded before turning and leaving them alone. As soon as she left the room,Hordak turned his intimidating gaze to him. "Do you work with the Rebellion?"he asked. "I do not know of this rebellion."Storm answered. "You better not be lying to me Storm."Hordak warned. "Lord Hordak,I am not even from this place. Everything here is foreign to me."Storm told him.

Hordak took a step closer towards him,probably trying to intimidating him,but he only stood up straighter in defiance. Storm knew that Hordak most likely didn't believe a word he was saying but he did nothing at the moment. After what seemed like forever, he said,"I believe you." Storm's eyes widened in shock. "What?"he asked dumbfounded. "I said I believe you."Hordak repeated. Storm could only watched him in shock. He didn't think Hordak would believe him that quickly let alone at all. Then again,I have nothing to lie about he told himself.

He made his face neutral then spoke.

"That's good since I have nothing to hide. But what made you know I was telling you the truth?"he asked. "Well,the fact that you never heard of the Rebellion or of us,I'm guessing,is a clear sign. After all,I'm not from here either."Hordak told him. "You're not?"Storm asked. "No. I simply arrived here from a plane crash and well I decided to live here."Hordak explained.

Storm simply nodded taking in the information.

Hordak lowered his head towards him and narrowed his eyes. "My question is,why are you here if you've never heard of the Horde,the Rebellion or of this planet for that matter?" Storm opened his mouth to answer then hesitated. He didn't know Hordak well enough to say information that could be used against his race but he didn't want to lie encase Hordak found out and make a potential ally an enemy. After a few moments of thinking he just went with,"I am here to find a mate."

Hordak's face scrunched up in puzzlement so Storm tried explaining in a simpler way. "I am looking for a female to partner with." Realization seemed to finally click in as Storm saw the confusion on Hordak's face faded away. "Let me guess,you want Catra to be your...mate?" Storm nodded.

Hordak leaned away from Storm and looked at the doors rigid and quiet,seemingly lost in a trance. He stood like that for so long that Storm thought the completely forgot what they were talking about. At last,he looked back down at Storm. "I would like to give Catra to you as your mate but she is a valuable and skilled soldier to me. I need soldiers like her to win this war." Storm guessed his face was showing confusion because Hordak added,"My army is currently at war with the Rebellion. I'm afraid your arrival was at the worst time possible."

I should've known that this was simply too easy Storm thought annoyed.

He,however,needed Catra to complete the prophecy and save his race. He couldn't let her slip from his grasp. Not when she was right here. "What if I help you with this war?"Storm said making sure not to sound too desperate. Hordak looked at him with neutral expression so he added,"I'll help you to win this war against the Rebellion in exchange to have Catra as my mate." Hordak stroked his chin in thought for a few long moments before speaking.

"Even if you help me with this war,you're only one person. What can you possible do that my whole army cannot?"he asked. "Well,for starters,only a few of your Horde soldiers know i'm here and no one from this Rebellion knows I'm here. I can use that to our advantage to gain some information from them."Storm explained. "But when they do find out you're working for us,what then?"Hordak pressed. "If that happens,you'll have enough information to know what they're planning and...I can see if I can bring my people to help with this war."Storm said.

Hordak's eyes flew open in surprise.

Storm was reluctant to put his already dying people in a situation like this but decided a few dead people would be worth if he could save the rest of his race. "So is it a deal?"he asked Hordak,extending his hand towards him. Hordak looked at Storm for a second then smiled and clasped his hand with Storm's. "It's a deal."he replied. They shook their hands firmly then let go of each other.

"Now,"Hordak said. "Why don't you tell me of your people and homeland?"

Author's note: Sorry it took so long for me to upload this chapter but with school and the length of this chapter it took longer than usual. Nonetheless,hope you enjoy