Chapter 4

Adora

Why does this forest have to look like a little kid's nightmare she thought as Swift Wind trotted through the forest that she guessed Entrapta and Bow had passed through.

She had no idea if this had been the path Bow and Entrapta took and had to hope that Swift Wind was leading her in the right direction. You would think that with Bow having a map he wouldn't get lost Adora thought to herself. She wondered,though,where Bow and Entrapta were considering how long the forest seemed to go on for and there seemed to be only one way through it.

Despite the dark,gloomy forest and its frightening atmosphere,she was determined to get her friends back home safely and even a bit hopeful that after she rescued them the village would see that she had a place with them. That they would no longer see her as the orphan girl but as one of their own.

She then heard Swift Wind snort loudly,breaking her train of thought. "What is it,Swift Wind?"she asked him. That's when she noticed that he had stopped moving. She glanced over his side and saw that they had reached the edge of a cliffside. Swift Wind pawed at the ground anxiously and snorted. "Is that where they went?"Adora asked him softly. He neighed in response. She got off Swift Wind and walked over to the edge to look over the cliff.

The cliff went straight down then sloped upward near the bottom and was a long drop down. While it didn't look long enough where,if you fell,you would die but you would definitely be bruised,sore and,if unlucky,get a few broken bones. She looked back at Swift Wind. "Did Bow and Entrapta go down there?"Adora asked. He snorted but his head bobbed up and down in a nodding motion.

Well there's no way I'm dropping down there she thought. Maybe there's a path that leads down there.

She turned around and began to walk back the way she came,looking amidst the trees and bushes for a pathway that led to the bottom of the cliff. After about five minutes of searching she started to get frustrated. I'm starting to think I might just have to jump down.

Just then,she pushed two bushes apart and saw a stone pathway behind them. Her frustration instantly vanished as she pushed through the bushes to check the pathway. It seemed that it sloped down and around in a spiral formation and was just wide enough for two people to walk side by side. However,it seemed very rocky and one misstep could cause a fatal fall.

She turned back and headed back to Swift Wind who was watching the forest behind him nervously. "It's ok boy. We'll be ok."she told him softly." She grabbed the reins and guided him back into the forest towards the stone pathway. Leading the way,she cautiously walked down the pathway while making sure Swift Wind didn't take a misstep and fell. It felt like hours had passed before Adora and Swift Wind finally made it to the end of the pathway.

Letting out a breath she hadn't known she was holding,she looked ahead,noticing they were surrounded by forest and there was only one path through the trees.

If Bow and Entrapta landed where I am,they have to have gone this way.

She got up onto Swift Wind and said,"Go boy."before she flicked the reins. Swift Wind snorted as he went into a full on gallop,the trees and falling snow just a blur as he ran. It felt like seconds before Adora saw something looming in the distance. She narrowed her eyes and realised that what she was seeing was a castle!

What in the name of Etheria is a castle doing there?

A large,metal gate came into view and she lightly pulled on the reins,slowing his gallop to a fast trot then stopped him completely before the gate. She slowly got off him and walked up to the gate. She could see the patches of rust on the gates and even bits of the bars on it completely broken off. She placed her hand on one of the ok bars and pushed the gate open,wincing at the loud croaking noise that echoed through the air.

She walked through the gate,with Swift Wind in tow,then turned to face him. "Stay here Swift Wind."she told him. Swift Wind looked around at the castle and snorted as he pawed at the ground. Stopping him from going wild,she softly placed her hand on his snout and looked him directly in the eye. "Hey,hey. It's alright,i'll be ok."she whispered. He stopped pawing at the ground and visibly relaxing as he nuzzled her softly.

Letting out a small chuckle she patted his snout gently then turned and looked at the castle. She could see the stones were crumbling due to,what see assumed,how long the castle was here. It casted a shadow over her and Swift Wind as it towered into the dark sky. Pushing away the fear from her thoughts,she walked across the castle's yard towards the door,stopping directly before it. Bow,Entrapta,please be here she thought hopefully.

Steeling her courage,she pushed the castle door open and walked inside.

Catra

She didn't know what she was going to do with the two humans. She stood in the shadows of the dark dungeon watching the boy,Bow,as he was curled in a ball mumbling to himself while the girl,Entrapta,paced in the cell looking at it with interest.

Something is odd about that girl Catra thought.

She could just leave them in the cell to starve and slowly wither away,fitting as they trespassed onto her land. But that would mean that she would have to deal with them until they died and she didn't have the patience for it. Another option was to interrogate them for answers. After all she thought. If they are from a village she needed to know how they found her castle,if anyone would be looking for them and,for her own amusement,potential things she could destroy in the future.

They were in the best state for her to question and easily get answers from them and if there were people looking for them,she didn't want more people knowing where she was. Dealing with these two will have already taken up my patience she thought to herself in annoyance. Stepping from the shadows,she banged her fist against the bars. Bow and Entrapta both jumped at the abrupt noise and upon seeing her,both their faces paled in terror.

Catra smiled,making sure to show her pointed fangs,before speaking. "Well,well. This is certainly a surprise. Two little lambs find themselves lost in the forest and never realised that they'd entered the lair of the beast. Little did they know that the beast wasn't keen on taking visitors!"she snarled. Bow practically jumped from the cell bars and scooted to the opposite side while Entrapta took a step back. She could see the fear fading from Entrapta's eyes to be replaced with curiosity as she watched Catra.

Something is wrong with that one Catra thought to herself.

"Please don't hurt us!"Bow pleaded,his voice cracking due to the intense fear he was feeling. "We didn't mean any harm!" Catra narrowed her eyes at him. "If you truly didn't mean any harm and are true to your word,then you won't mind answering a few of my questions."she said,making sure to soften her tone to ease the boy but not too much to let him know she wanted an answer soon. He nodded. "Good. Now,how did you find this castle?"she asked him. "W-we were s-simply going to a science fair and we happened t-to get lost,"Bow said hurriedly,often stuttering and tripping over his words.

"Then a pack of wolves began chasing us and we came across this castle. We only meant to take shelter for a while!" Catra let a small,sinister smile creep across her face. "Well,it seems that got your wish on that now didn't you?"she said. She then dropped the face and soft tone in her voice as she said,"Judging by your looks,you two seem like you're from some sort of village. But the question is,where is that village?" She saw Bow open his mouth to answer her question but then a look of thoughtfulness crossed his face and he didn't say a word. Catra had to give the boy some credit. She knew he hadn't answered her question because he most likely assumed that if he told her where his village was,he could potentially be putting his home in danger.

She looked at Entrapta and saw that she wasn't going to answer her question either. Maybe they aren't as stupid as I thought.

However,she wasn't in the mood for their heroism. She clutched the bars in her hands and pushed her face close to them. "I'm not going to ask again. Where is your village?"she snarled,dropping the soft tone immediately. Both Bow and Eantrapta looked scared and conflicted. Silence flooded the dungeon and just as Catra was about to lose her patience,she heard someone call out,"Bow,Entrata!" Her ears perked. She sideglanced at them and felt her curiosity perk when seeing the recognition in their eyes. "Adora?"she heard Entrapta whisper.

That's when it clicked in.

That was the name I heard before I came across these two she thought. And it seems that they know her. She smiled to herself.

This is going to be good.

"So you two know this person?"Catra asked them. Neither of them answered but the fear in their eyes answered her enough. "Well if you do know her,you better prepare your goodbyes because this will be the last time you see her." "No!"Bow said,keeping his voice quiet. He seemingly forgot his fear as he launched at the cell bars and held them tightly in his hands. "Please don't hurt her!"Entrapta pleaded,keeping her voice low as well. Catra was momentarily shocked at hearing the distress in the girl's plea. Even when Catra had threatened them upon their arrival,the girl didn't sound as scared as she did now.

Not only do they know this trespasser but apparently really care for her.

"Hey now,I'm not a complete monster. I'll let you guys say your goodbyes before I...set an example. In fact,"she added,looking at them and smiling coldly. "I'll even lead her to you both." With that she ran off,ignoring the two's pleas as she looked for the intruder. Silent but swift,she listened attentively for the intruder.

Of course,she didn't exactly make it hard for her as she called,"Bow,Entrapta," from time to time. She had reached the upper part of the castle where she could overlook the central stairs and the bottom floor when she saw the intruder enter into the room where she captured her prisoners.

It was a young,almost shockingly so,female. She was tall and pale with long,blond hair and was wearing a long,black cloak. Catra sniffed the air,to see if anyone else was with this intruder or Adora as her prisoners called her,but only the girl's scent was in the air.

This makes things easier for me she told herself.

She brandished her claws then placed it onto the railing and dragged them slowly across it,making a loud shrill noise. It worked. The girl came out of the room and looked around the castle. "Bow? Entrapta?"she called out,slowly making her way to the central stairs. Catra stalked back near the top of the stairs,making sure to stay within the shadows,as she did the same thing again.

Once again,she saw Adora snap her head in the direction and walked over to her,this time walking faster,as she hurried towards the source of the noise. Catra continued the same method,backtracking a safe distance from the girl then dragging her claws across stone,until she neared the two's cell. She looked at Bow and Entrapta with a cold smile and said,"Say your last goodbye."before she vanished into the darkness and waited for Adora to appear before them. "Bow? Entrapta? Can you hear me?"Catra heard Adora call out. "Adora!"Entrapta yelled out. "Entrapta?"Adora answered back before she finally appeared into the dungeon.

She saw Adora's face contort to horror when she saw Bow and Entrapta in the cell. "Bow,Entrapta! Who did this to you?"she asked as she ran up to their cell and kneeled in front of them. "Adora! You need to turn back now!"Bow said in a panic as he looked around most likely for her. "Turn back?"Adora said in confusion. "Bow,I came here to get you and Entrapta back to the village." "Adora,listen to us!"Entrapta said as she grabbed Adora's hand through the bars. "You need to get out of here. There's this beast that put us in here! If you don't leave now,she'll hurt you!"

Catra silently stalked towards the girl as she spoke. "A beast? Entrapta,there's no way in the castle,"Adora said dismissively as she got up and looked carefully at the cell. "Come on,help me find a way to open the cell." "Adora forget the cell! Get out of here now before it's too late!"Bow said frantically. Getting tired of the whole facade,Catra went on her hind legs and spoke. "Unfortunately,it's already too late for you."

She saw Adora whirl around,her face a mix of shock and confusion,as Bow and Entrapta face's were marked in horror. Catra knew they could only see her yellow and blue eyes as the rest of her was shrouded by darkness. "Adora run!"Bow yelled. "Who are you?"Adora asked. "The master of this castle."Catra answered coldly. "Are you the one who locked my friends in this cell?"the girl asked. "Yes,"Catra growled as she took a step closer to the girl. "If you haven't noticed,I don't take kindly to trespassers or intruders." "I've come to take them home. Just let them go and we won't bother you again."Adora replied.

"No!"Catra roared. "They have trespassed on my territory! In my castle! Now they must deal with the punishment!" "Please,there must be something I can do for you to let them free."the girl begged. "There's nothing you can do for them,they are my prisoners. And as I don't like intruders,I'll have to make an example out of you."Catra snarled. She raised her paw,claws unsheathed,as she prepared to slash at the girl. "Wait!"Adora cried,holding her hand out.

Just give up already Catra though but paused,waiting to hear what pathetic rambling the girl would say or beg to spare her life. "Take me instead."Adora said.

Catra's eyes flew wide open in shock.

Did she just...sacrifice herself for those two? It didn't make sense to her at all. Sure,this girl was friends with the two but Catra had learned that friendships didn't stop people from leaving their friend behind to suffer through their pains.

To give up their own freedom for the sake of others.

"You...would take their place?"she asked the girl. "Adora no! You don't know what you're getting yourself into!"Bow protested,slamming his hands against the bars. The girl ignored them as she stared directly at Catra. "If I stay here,will you let them go?" Catra stayed silent as she thought.

Should I let them free or just keep the two and kill the girl? She knew that if she took the girl's deal then Bow and Entrapta would go to their village and bring more people to her home to get Adora back. Where as if she simply kept the two and killed the girl,no one could bother her. Suddenly,she remembered her old friends and the curse that wretched enchantress put upon her and the only way to undo it was by trusting someone and getting their trust in return.

Maybe this girl can be the one to make me break it Catra thought.

"Yes,"Catra said almost hesitantly,in case she decided against her decision. "But only on two conditions." "Adora don't do this!"Entrapta begged. "What are your conditions?"she asked. "You must give me your word that you must stay here forever and if I let them go,they must not make anyone else come here or in my territory to bring you back."Catra said.

Adora opened her mouth to say something but seemed to stop herself as a thoughtful expression crossed her face. Moments afterward,she looked back at Catra. "I want to see who you are." Catra had half a mind to snarl at her but decided to comply. Slowly,she placed her leg into the ray of light before fully stepping into it and standing to her full height.

The girl gasped as she took a hurried step away from her. Catra expected her to take back her deal with the immense fear on her face but she soon closed her eyes for a few seconds then turned to face Bow and Entrapta. "I need you both to swear to me that you'll never come back here or bring anyone else to look for me." "Adora you know we can't promise something like that!"Bow said. "Bow's right. You'll be in constant danger."Entrapta agreed.

"Then how about this,"Catra said,getting annoyed with the whole exchange. "If you two or anyone of your villagers come into my territory to look for her,they die." Bow and Entrapta looked at each other for a long while,having a silent discussion from their stare,before they sighed heavily and the boy looked at her. "No one will come into your territory to look for Adora. You have our word." Catra smirked before turning to look at Adora,waiting for her answer. The girl looked at Catra and said,"You have my word to stay here."

"Done."Catra growled. She walked past Adora and forcefully opened the cell door then grabbed the two by their shirts and dragged them. "Adora! Don't do this!"they cried out but Catra tuned out their noises as she dragged them out of her castle towards the gate.

She saw a horse waiting outside the gates and was relieved that they would be out of her way faster. Before she let them go,she lifted them up until they were eye level with her. "If I even suspect that you two or anyone from your village came into my territory,I will find your village and slaughter everyone you love."she growled coldly then tossed them at the horse and watched as they hurriedly got onto the horse.

Once they were ready to go,they both looked back at the castle for a split moment for turning ahead and rode off. Catra watched them until they were no longer in her sight before turning around and headed back into the castle to deal with the girl.

Author's note: I know I haven't posted in a while but as I said before,updates will be very slow nowadays. Plus,I was crying and sobbing after watching season 5 of She-ra XD. I mean come on,that ending couldn't have been better. Anyway,I hope you all enjoy and stay safe.