Chapter 5: Twenty Nine

Movement out of the corner of her eye caught Adora's attention and she turned just in time to see a familiar purple dress and full head of white hair disappear into the trees. "But that might be changing very quickly," Adora said while pointing to where Madame Razz disappeared just seconds before. "Come on."

"This is a conversation only you can have, She-Ra," Okeer rumbled, "But we'll see you soon."

She turned around and hastily bowed to both Okeer and Lord Bulruk before saying, "Thank you both for the help. We'll figure out what's going on and put the forest at ease."

"Go with great courage, Adora, Princess of Power," Okeer said with a slight bow, "And you as well, Princess Catra."

She nodded to him and turned her attention to Catra, who was finishing up a polite bow. "You coming?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Always," Adora said while lacing their fingers together and gently pulling her along.

It wasn't hard to follow Razz as she was chatting with either herself or someone that Adora couldn't see. Most likely herself. And it was quite a heated conversation. Unable to hear the details, she whispered to Catra, "What's she arguing about?"

"She's arguing with herself about which kind of pie is best. It seems like exploding berry pies are in the lead."

"Would you say that exploding berry pies are-," she paused for dramatic effect, "-taking the cake?"

"Adora, I'm turning around if you make another 'joke'. And I hesitate to even call it that."

"You'll get lost in the woods to avoid my jokes? Such a drama queen."

"Drama princess, thank you very much," Catra said, causing Adora to laugh louder than she intended.

"Adora, dearie, is that you?" Razz said from just ahead of them.

"It's me, Razz. Me and Catra." She followed Razz's voice and maneuvered them around a particularly dense grove of shrubbery. After getting through it, they ended up almost face-to-face with Razz.

"Adora!" Razz greeted before pulling her into a hug. After a few seconds, Razz stepped back and adjusted her glasses while looking Adora up and down. "You're much older than the last time we talked."

Geez, she'd been getting a lot of old comments lately. Maybe her age was starting to catch up with her? She probably needed to moisturize more. "We only talked a few...Nevermind. Are you doing alright? The Whispering Woods ha-"

"And you brought Yvonne?" Razz threw her hands around Catra's neck, pulling her down into a hug. Catra gave Adora a wide-eyed look while keeping her hands firmly at her sides. "I never thought I'd see the two of you together. Now come along, we need to collect some Sun Tongue." She turned from Catra and set-off with quick, short strides.

Adora hung back with Catra, who was slow to follow. Usually she wasn't so reluctant to go along with either Razz or any She-Ra related adventure. But before she could ask what was wrong, Catra said, "Who's Yvonne?"

"I don't know. I've never heard that name before. But, uh, linear timelines aren't really Razz's thing so don't worry about it too much." Catra's tail swished around and her ears flattened sideways. Instead of looking at Adora, she stared straight ahead. "What's wrong?" Adora said.

"How's our Adora treating you, Yvonne?" Razz called.

Catra shot her a look and Adora shrugged. Who knew what was going on in Razz's world. "Talk later?" Adora suggested.

Catra nodded and sped up to catch-up with Razz. "She's treating me well. Don't tell her I said this but I'm rather fond of her. Maybe not so fond of some of her jokes though…"

"Ah, yes. Our Adora's a good one. So brave and kind. She had the sword during a tough time, you know?"

"A tough time?" Catra said, "What do you mean by that? Do you mean Horde Prime?"

"No, no. You know this," Razz said with a slight shake of head, "Your hands are empty. Why aren't you picking Sun Tongue?"

"Sun Tongue, right," Catra muttered. She bent over and yanked a flower out of the ground, roots and all. Her tail lashed back and forth, but she remained silent. She was a patient person, a skill further developed as both a diplomat and mother. But the last few days had been...taxing. So who could blame her for being a bit frustrated by Razz's vague answers? Not that Adora expected a confrontation or anything but now was probably a good time to divert conversation.

"We heard you debating about which pie is the best," Adora said, "And I think you chose a winner with exploding berry pies. I gotta say, they seem pretty tasty."

"Yes, dearie, but don't eat one."

"Why?"

"You'll explode."

"I...I don't know what I expected," Adora admitted. One look at Catra and they both burst out laughing, causing Razz to turn around with a quizzical look.

"What's so funny?"

"The berries are literally called exploding berries and I still asked why I shouldn't eat them. So that's kind of ironic, don't you think?" Razz's blank face told her everything she needed to know about her explanation. "Anyways, what are we collecting these flowers for? More pies?"

"Goodness, no. I'm making tea," Razz said. "And we've found a nice patch of them. Right over here, Yvonne." Adora turned with them and the Crystal Castle came into view. It stood less than a hundred yards away and glinted in the early afternoon's sun.

"How the fuck did we get the Crystal Castle so quickly?" Catra said, "We were hours and hours east of it."

"One word: Magic," Adora said. Catra looked up the length of the building before returning her furrowed gaze back to Adora. "Razz always does this. We go on some nonsensical quest that somehow leads me to what I need. There's a method to the madness."

"Ya, I remember you telling me this before. But why do you need the Crystal Castle? Haven't you had enough psychological torture to last a lifetime?"

"Things are much different with Mara in charge. With Light Hope gone, the castle has become more of a-"

"Sanctum?" Catra guessed.

"Sanctum, yes. Heh, I like that. It makes the castle sound classy."

"Imagine it," Razz half muttered, "Mara, Adora, and Yvonne all together." She bent down to pick a couple more flowers.

Adora waited to see if Razz was going to add anything else but she seemed engrossed in examining the flower. She said to Catra, "I think Mara wants to talk. And you're welcome to come. I bet she wouldn't send spiders after you. Probably."

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You just mumbled, 'Probably,' under your breath," Catra said, "That doesn't make me feel better about going into that cursed castle."

"Ya, truth be told, I don't actually know how Mara and the castle would react to someone who isn't She-Ra. But if it makes you feel better, I can't imagine that Mara would do anything to harm you. Or anyone for that matter."

"As comforting as that sounds, I think I'll just take my chances with Madame Razz," Catra said before adding, "I'll wait out here until you're ready to go."

Adora threaded her single flower into Catra's hair and tucked it into the spot right next to her ear. She stepped back to survey her handiwork. "Now that's a look. Gorgeous and ready to help Madame Razz. My perfect woman." Catra blushed and she felt a surge of satisfaction. Anytime she could make her wife blush was a win. "You're blushing so hard right now. It's cute."

"Just go and talk to your ghost friend."

"I'm going, I'm going." Adora turned around and headed for the Crystal Castle's entrance. After it sustained significant damage from acid rain during the war, she'd repaired the castle under the direction of Mara. In the years since, vines almost completely covered the sides and crawled all the way to the top. Such growth was almost unheard of until she'd released Etheria's magic.

Defeating Prime and putting a stop to the Heart of Etheria Project felt monumental for so many reasons but one of the most unexpected, yet lasting, effects was how Etheria itself reacted. Not only did it thrive in a way she'd never experienced but it also reconnected to She-Ra, to Adora, in a way that was lacking before. The long line of She-Ra shattered into a thousand different people and experiences when the First Ones tried to use her for their weapon. The forced separation between herself and previous She-Ras so strong that Adora hadn't realized for many years the extent of their missing connection. Only when the Heart was destroyed and the planet liberated had She-Ra's past forms flowed through her and she became the bearer of a legacy that was truly living.

The door opened with a mechanical hiss and she walked down into the structure. Despite Light Hope being long gone and Mara now controlling the castle, it never shook its unsettling vibe. The hallways were still too long, the rooms too high, and the angles too sharp. Clearly, it'd been made with the intention that many people would be living or working in it. When it was just her wandering the castle's lonely passages, the weight of what should've been crushed what actually was.

"Mara?" She called. Her voice echoed off the walls which only accentuated its vast emptiness.

"Adora." She turned around to find Mara only a few feet away, shimmering in a dusky pink glow.

"Mara, it's been too long. How are you?"

Mara's lips quivered into the ghost of a smile, something she did everytime Adora asked how she was. Maybe she should stop asking. "Did Razz bring you here?" Mara said. She looked so young. She was young. A realization flashed through Adora-she'd lived to Mara's age and then some. Here she was, living and breathing while Mara was perpetually twenty nine. Where she'd been for the previous thousand years was a mystery but she was certainly here now, tending to the castle like a good shepherd. Still, she hadn't aged. For almost thirty years now, and maybe longer, Mara was stuck in time.

It was weird knowing that she'd outlived her predecessor. It didn't feel right. And it certainly wasn't natural. To her, Mara was older and wiser. She acted as Adora's mentor, her connection to past She-Ras. Yet, Adora's twenty-ninth birthday had come and gone and then her thirtieth and then her thirty-first and so on. And Mara hadn't even lived to see her thirties let alone her forties. It wasn't fair.

"Adora?"

"Ya, sorry. I spaced out. But yes, Razz brought me here. Well, less brought me here to see you and more to pick flowers for tea."

Mara smiled and let out a beautiful, ringing laugh. "Good old Razz. And she was right to bring you here. I need to speak with you about what's happening beyond Etheria."

"Is it about the portals? The two groups? Lord Bulruk showed me a vision. I saw one group trying to activate a portal in a forest and another in what I think was a castle-also trying to open a portal."

"Yes, it's about that," Mara said, "Adora, you should know that the people you saw aren't just anyone. They call themselves Eternians but you know them as First Ones."

Holy shit. She wandered backwards until something solid hit the back of her legs and she plopped down onto a metal beam. "First Ones? So I'm not the last one?" What did that mean? Were her parents out there? Siblings?

"Far from it. And there's more you need to know," Mara said. More? What else was she missing? "Back before I moved Etheria into Despondos, the planet of Eternia was Etheria's sister planet. They were close enough that Etheria was our first destination when we mastered spaceflight. We built several colonies there and eventually claimed the whole planet. But when you moved us back into the wider universe, Eternia was gone."

"Gone? Did it go somewhere like Despondos?"

"I don't know. That seems like the only reasonable answer but I don't have any more information than that."

"Mara, what else do you know? Do they intend to invade? Or are they looking for peace?"

Mara sat next to her and turned to face her. When Adora tried to put a comforting hand on her shoulder, her arm just passed through air. "Eternia is our native planet," Mara explained, "The portal that Light Hope opened and then brought you through was a portal to Eternia."

"That's where I'm from? Where my family is from?"

"Yes. And as for your previous question regarding their intentions, I have nothing to offer but a warning. They tried to use me and then you for evil purposes. They might try again. Do not trust them."

"Both groups? Or just one? Or are they the same group?"

Mara stood and offered her a warm smile. "Good luck, Adora. I know you'll do the right thing. But do me a favor and listen to your heart as well as your head."

"I will."

"Good. And remember to take care of yourself." With that, Mara faded away and she was left alone.

While exiting the Crystal Castle, her thoughts churned with reckless abandon. How did Eternia move and where did it move? What were First Ones like? What were her parents like? And were they still alive? And what did these two groups want from Etheria?

"Whoa, hey. You look like you've seen a ghost," Catra said while walking up, her basket full of flowers. The sight of Catra, her Catra, with a flower in her hair and a basket filled to the brim was enough to distract Adora. "Okay, maybe that was the wrong phrase to use considering Mara and everything. But you do look pale. Everything okay?"

"Catra, you look like a Princess right now. Like a real Princess."

"Last time I checked, I am a real Princess so that kinda makes sense."

"If I took a picture and showed it to your teenage self, she would absolutely flip. I have never, ever seen you looking so...in tune with nature."

"First of all, my younger self can fuck right off about this particular topic. And secondly, maybe I've absorbed some of the grand speeches you give to the kids about nature. And perhaps I've come to appreciate it more." Adora opened her mouth, ready to dive into the specifics of this change of heart but was silenced when Catra put a finger against her lips. "But this is all besides the point. What did Mara have to say?"

"You are not gonna believe what she said."

"Try me."

"Those people I saw in the vision? They're First Ones but they call themselves Eternians because they're from a planet named Eternia. And that's where I'm from, too. I was born there. Can you believe that? We finally know where I came from. And Eternia used to be here. I mean, somewhere close to Etheria in the solar system. But now it's gone and Mara's not sure where it went. And anyways, back to the vision. She said to-"

"Hold on, hold on, you're going way too fast. Just start with what she said about the First Ones being Eternians," Catra said.

Adora took a deep breath and restarted. "Okay, so you know the people we know as First Ones? My people, I guess? They call themselves Eternians and they're from a planet called Eternia. That's their, our, native planet. And not only are my people from there, but I was also born there. When Light Hope took me-"

"Stole you," Catra corrected.

"Ya, when Light Hope stole me and took me through the portal, apparently the portal was opened to Eternia. My parents lived there. Maybe still live there?" Adora said while shaking her head, "I can hardly believe that after fifty years, we know where I came from."

"A good kind of disbelief or a bad one?"

"Good? I think? I've always wanted to know but accepted I'd never find out. And I just wasn't expecting to find out today, you know? Portals, yes. Why the forest is so upset, definitely. But my homeworld? Never saw that info coming."

"I think most people would be in shock if they were in your position. All that information about yourself coming out of the blue is a big surprise, to say the least. But if you're happy with what you found out, then I'm happy," Catra said while wrapping her tail around one of Adora's wrists.

"I guess I am. I don't know. I just keep thinking about my family. Well, my other family. Who were my parents? Are they still alive after all this time? Did they miss me?"

"If they have even half a brain, they miss you," Catra said with a smile, "So Mara didn't say anything specific about your parents or siblings?"

"No, just that I was born on Eternia. But that's it."

"Hmmm, too bad she doesn't know more. Or wouldn't tell you more. But what else did she say?"

"Right. So, Eternia used to be Etheria's sister planet. Whatever that means. Mara said they were close enough that when the Eternians learned spaceflight, they went to Etheria and colonized it. But when I dragged us out of Despondos, Eternia was gone. And Mara doesn't know where."

"I don't like the sounds of that."

"It gets worse," Adora said, "She said that she doesn't know the intentions of the people I saw but that I shouldn't trust them. She said that they used both her and me for wrongdoing and they could try again."

"Interesting," Catra said while drumming her fingers against her chin, "I think you might disagree with my interpretation of what she said but hear me out."

"Of course."

"Mara has been burned by the First Ones. And so have you. I'm not disputing that. But it doesn't sound like she actually knows what they want or what they intend to do. If given the chance, let's listen to them. There must be a reason why they want to leave Eternia and we should try to figure that out. So, I guess I'm advocating for a middle-of-the-road approach. We'll keep in mind what they're capable of but we won't prematurely dismiss them either."

"Spoken like a true diplomat," Adora said, "And I agree. Maybe for more selfish reasons but I agree."

"Selfish reasons?"

"I really wanna meet my parents and siblings, if I have any. Can't do that if we ignore the Eternians."

"True," Catra said before looking around, "Where's Razz? She was right here."

Adora looked around and yelled, "Razz? Madame Razz?" After a few more shouts, there was still no sign of her. "Probably went to go make that tea," Adora said with a shrug.

"You're not worried about her?"

"Oh, Spirits no. Razz can take care of herself, believe me."

"If you say so."

"I do," Adora said, "Now come on, let's go. We need to be back in time to fetch the kids."

"What should I do with all these flowers?" Catra said while lifting her basket up.

"We can take 'em back to the castle and see if the healers or cooks can use them."

"That's a good idea," Catra said, "How long is the walk to Bright Moon Castle? Forty-five minutes? Should we take Swift Wind back?"

"If you don't mind, I'd rather walk. I want to see how the Whispering Woods are feeling now that I've spoken to Mara and have a better understanding about what's bothering it. And besides, this has been fun. I'm not sure I want it to end just yet."

"Fun? What's been fun about this?"

"I've spent most of the day with my favorite person," Adora said while turning and walking down the slightly overgrown path that would take them to their cottage and then the castle. "I don't know about you, but I'd definitely call that fun."

"Favorite person, huh? What would Bow and Glimmer think about that?"

"I'll give you a kiss if you don't tell."

"These kisses are starting to add up. If you don't start paying up soon, I'll be inclined to think that you can't repay your debts. And as Lord Commander, I can't imagine that'll be good for your reputation."

Adora stopped and turned to face Catra with her hands on her hips. "Well, I can't have my reputation tarnished." She stepped forward, put her hands on either side of Catra's face, and moved in to press her lips against Catra's. She ran her tongue over Catra's bottom lip and then licked into her mouth once she opened it. Everything about her felt right-the way her mouth moved against Adora's, how her body swayed against hers. It was nothing new but she treasured it all the same.

Adora broke the kiss and placed a few kisses along her jawline. She stepped back and loosely gripped Catra's shoulders. "So what do you think? Is my reputation saved?"

Catra tapped her chin with one finger and said, "Hmmm, I don't know. I think I'll need another just to make sure."

Adora grinned and turned around to start walking again. "Now you're just digging for attention."

"When it comes to you? Always."

She stopped again and took both of Catra's much smaller hands into hers. She wanted, no she needed to make sure that Catra knew how much Adora, well, adored her. She leaned down and kissed her again, this time faster but with the same feeling behind it. When they separated, Adora whispered, "Well, you don't have to try so hard because you always have it. My attention, that is."

"Good to know," Catra whispered back before planting a peck on her lips.

They began walking, this time hand-in-hand. "You know," Catra began, "We should go on more of these forest expeditions. Alone."

Adora squeezed her hand three times and said, "Preferably when we're facing an existential threat and during work hours."

"I'm glad we agree."

They continued on, chatting the whole way. When they were about halfway back to their cottage, the forest shifted in mere seconds. With every step, it grew darker and darker. The line of sunlight that'd previously covered the ground retreated as shadows took its place. It was midafternoon and yet the sky turned so black it seemed like they were on the edge of nightfall. A clap of thunder sounded in the distance and a cold breeze picked up enough that it sliced through her armour and cut to the bone.

"I didn't know thunderstorms were in the forecast," Catra said while rubbing her crossed arms.

"They're not."

She took a step and then another but something compelled her to stop. A sickly feeling bloomed in her stomach and every cell screamed to get away. Her heart swung upwards in tempo and she wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Why'd you stop?" Catra asked. She looked completely oblivious as she shivered and stopped by Adora's side.

"Do you hear anything?"

Catra's ears swiveled around for a few moments before she shook her head. "No. What's wrong?"

She was right, there was no sound. Minutes before they'd been traveling along to the songs of the Whispering Woods but now there was nothing. Even the wind failed to shriek through the trees. What was out there? She scanned the surrounding area as the sensation of being watched made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. But she still couldn't see anything. Or maybe...it had to be an optical illusion but it seemed like the trees were moving closer.

"Do you hear anything? Any birds or animals?"

"No?"

Adora turned to face her and said, "And that's a problem. We need to get off the ground. Now." Where could they go? Whatever was around was going to outrun them. No doubt. She could probably take it but what about Catra? Maybe they'd have more of a chance in a tree. "Go and climb that tree. Get as high as you can. I'll be right behind you."

"Adora, what-"

"Catra, go now." Her eyes widened but she said no more as she jogged to the tree and started climbing. Thank the Spirits she was an excellent climber. Adora followed behind, quickly shifting into her She-Ra form and gripping the Sword of Protection in her right hand. She changed it into a grappling hook and tossed it at a branch about halfway up the tree. It twirled around the branch and the anchor dug into its bark. Adora began climbing hand over fist when she heard a guttural growl come from behind some trees and bushes about a hundred feet away. "Whatever you hear, don't come down!" She yelled up.

Instead of climbing more, she stayed in the same spot and waited. The branches surrounding the place where the growl came from began shaking and out stepped a grey wolf about the size of Swift Wind. It was significantly smaller than King Okeer but that was no comfort. One side of its face was, for lack of a better term, obliterated. Its left eye hung out of its socket from a rope-like piece of flesh and its fur and skin were rubbed off from its muzzle to its ear. Uneven patches of skin were here and there but that side was mostly ripped down to the bone. Like the boar, its mouth dripped with blood and it panted heavily. Its legs shook so badly it was a miracle it still stood.

"Holy shit!" Catra said from somewhere above her.

Adora dropped to the ground and recalled her sword. Truth be told, she expected worse. She'd be able to take the wolf, no problem. "What happened to you?" Adora said, "Did you do this to yourself?" She assumed a wide stance and held her sword in both hands.

Instead of answering, the wolf lurched forward while raising its hackles. It drew its lips back, revealing the extent of its razor-sharp teeth. It paused and let out a howl so halting and off-pitch that some instinctive pull urged her to drop her sword and flee for her life. She didn't but her thoughts started to bleed away, threatening to be replaced by panic. She grabbed onto her retreating logic and forced herself to stand still. Fear was fine, running was not.

After finishing his howl, the wolf lowered its head and continued its advance. She didn't want to kill it but she would. It would have to be fast. In fact, she could do the same thing she did to the boar and send her spear through it. But she had to at least try to help it. The last thing Etheria wanted her to do was start killing its animals without first searching for alternatives. If she could get a hand on it, she could try and heal it. Right. That's what she'd do.

Adora walked forward, sword raised. As soon as she was close enough, she'd slip around it and put a hand on its side. Hopefully far away from its snapping maw. When she stood only a few feet away, she shifted her weight forward and prepared to leap to its side.

A low-growl to her left-side made her stop dead in her tracks. Another gray wolf emerged from the forest, equally as large as the first. Claw marks ran from its mouth to its tail causing fiery-red slices that leaked yellow-ish pus. Clumps of fur were missing from its pelt, showing patches of flaky and inflamed skin. It too was panting and a wet, rattling sound came from it with every exhale. One of its ears was missing and its eyes were pitch black and locked on hers. Unlike the other wolf, it was steady on its feet and able to rapidly close the gap between them.

Alright. So, two wolves. Harder, for sure. But she could manage.

Both wolves lunged for her at the same time and she rolled backwards. Teeth snapped close to her head and fur lightly skimmed her side. Close. She sprung to her feet and slashed her sword through the air, hoping to discourage another attack. The wolves avoided the bite of her blade but they pressed forward.

The original wolf was the weakest. It tottered on its feet and had trouble focusing its eyes on her. If she could kill it first, she could direct her attention to the other. Killing certainly wasn't ideal but neither was being killed. She bolted to the side in an attempt to both get away from a joint attack and to isolate the weaker wolf. She made it to the dirty, matted side of her target and plunged her sword deep into the side of its chest. Its ribs splintered under the force of her thrust and her sword sunk to its hilt. Adora pulled it back out and leaped backwards to avoid it whipping around on her.

Never in all her life had she heard a wolf scream but there was a first time for everything. The scream was so primal, so tortured that she almost immediately regretted hurting it. Blood gushed from its side and it started coughing as soon as it stopped screaming. Maybe she could still heal it. If she could injure them, she could get close enough to help.

The wolf collapsed on its side, panting and coughing. Its eyes unfocused and staring at the ground. Not exactly accepting of the situation but far from fighting for its life. The other paid it no attention. It simply walked around the other's wheezing body and charged forward. She dove to the side, avoiding its gnashing teeth.

A howl from the other side of the clearing caught her attention and she turned to find four other wolves trotting towards them. Bits of flesh and fur hung down off them and they had the same beady, hateful expression as the others. Six wolves? With more on the way? She couldn't win this fight easily. Especially without a plan.

Adora sprinted to the tree that Catra was in and jumped up to the lowest branch that could support her weight. She started to pull herself up when a pain tore through her right calf. One of the new wolves hung from her leg by its teeth. She hadn't heard it coming. Hadn't seen it. It was so heavy that its teeth dragged downwards through her muscle, causing an explosion of agony to radiate outwards. The jagged cuts ran several inches down and only stopped once the wolf hit the bones in her ankle. It thrashed its head from side-to-side. Searing, white-hot pain shot up her and her vision blurred so much she could barely see the branch right in front of her face.

"Adora!" She focused her eyes as best she could and saw Catra leaping from branch-to-branch, getting closer. Spirits, no. If a wolf got ahold of her, they'd shred her to pieces.

"Stay there. I got this." Adora let go with one hand and summoned her sword. She shifted it into a spear, aimed in the general direction of the wolf, and threw. It soared through the air for only a second before hitting the wolf square in its chest. With a yelp, it let go and fell towards the ground. Its legs flailed uselessly in the air as it plunged downwards. A black shape caught the wolf by its neck right before it hit the ground. She blinked a few times and rubbed her free hand across her eyes. When she refocused, King Okeer carried the smaller wolf in his jaws. It squirmed around but stopped at the same time she heard a sickening crunch. He dropped its body and it flopped to the ground, its neck twisted at a wrong angle and eyes wide open. Rika and Samson came racing out of the woods along with about a dozen other wolves, all in good health.

Adora climbed up, unable to see properly but still hearing the violence behind her; screams and growls echoed through the forest. She climbed up to where Catra perched and scrambled to sit next to her. She closed her eyes and let her magic heal her calf until the pain withered away into a whisper. Her side pressed against Catra and she could feel her shaking. One look and it was obvious why. The whole clearing was soaked with blood and the wolves were shredded. One wolf she vaguely recognized staggered and then fell, a rip in its side spilling out with intestines.

She didn't know where to look. Teeth flashed and new wounds poured blood. Claws scratched and shredded, sending some whimpering away. But it was over soon. If there was anything good about this, it was over soon. The five wolves, and their injured sixth, were simply no match for the healthy and numerous pack led by Okeer.

"She-Ra! Princess Catra!" Okeer shouted as he made his way to the base of their tree. "You cannot stay here. The woods are not safe for you."

"We're coming!" She turned to look at Catra only to find that she was already climbing down. Adora followed and they were soon back on solid ground.

"We shall take you to the edge of the forest," Okeer said. One of his ears was split. "And do not come back until peace is restored. We cannot protect you forever in the Whispering Woods."

"Your Majesty, do you have any idea what happened here?" Catra said. Nobody else would be able to tell but her voice lacked its usual strength. Adora placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping to steady her.

"A deep sickness is running through Etheria. It is driving some to lose their minds and start killing. These six were all members of our pack. Our brothers and sisters. But they were consumed by hate. Killing them was a mercy."

"Is this sickness caused by those people I saw trying to open the portals?" Adora said, "Because that doesn't make any sense. They're just people."

"I do not know if it's them or something else not from our world. But whatever it is, Etheria has seen into their hearts and become sickened. Now, come. We must get you out of here."

"Wait, let me heal your people first," Adora said, "We owe you that at the very least."

"Very well."

Adora started with the wolf most grievously injured, the one with its intestines hanging out, and worked her way up to Okeer. After healing each individual, they either bowed or nuzzled against her in thanks. They offered her kind words and promises to defend the Whispering Woods to the best of their ability. Catra stuck to her side, watching and occasionally offering a comforting word or two.

After she was done healing, Okeer said, "For this great kindness, I owe you. Shiri and Fahar would be dead without you."

"We would've been in deep trouble if you and your pack hadn't shown up, so let's call it even."

"Deal. Now, let us go," Okeer said, "If I find out anymore, I will go to the edge of the forest, near Warcester. Keep watch. We can meet up there to discuss."

As promised, the wolves took them to the outskirts of the woods, near their cottage, and left with friendly, parting words. She watched the pack slink back into the cover of the trees until she couldn't see them anymore. How had they known to come for them? Perhaps she'd never know.

Catra walked side-by-side with her and interlaced their fingers as they moved away from the Whispering Woods and towards their cottage. Even with the contact, they were silent as they got closer to home. For the second time in only a few days, the almost unbelievable violence she'd witnessed left her feeling like she lived in a parallel reality where killing was the norm.

"So, that was pretty fucking horrible," Catra finally said.

"Ya, it was."

"Was the boar like that?"

"No. It was worse," Adora answered, "Imagine that but instead of me being targeted and cornered, it was Finn."

Catra didn't say anything. Instead, she sat down on the porch steps facing the barn. Adora sat next to her and put an arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. Catra rested her head against her shoulder and Adora nestled her cheek against the top of her wife's head.

"I feel like I'm gonna throw up," Catra said. Despite her words, she made no move to stand-up.

"I'll hold your hair if you do."

"How are you so calm?"

"Because I've seen this before and I've sorta gotten the shock out of my system," Adora said, "Remember how shook up I was? I'm not saying I feel okay about it but I saw something similar with the boar. That kinda helps, I guess."

"Have...Have you ever seen anything get its stomach sliced open like that? With intestines spilling out? Because I haven't."

She had. Twice before. Once when she was pursuing a wanted criminal, the criminal fell from a tree and onto a fence post, tearing her belly open right in front of Adora. Adora healed her quickly so the pained screams didn't last for long, but she could still see her innards spilling out like it was yesterday. The other happened on a planet called Kebara. She was helping to restore order to a city after a coup attempt and accidentally caught a soldier in the stomach with her sword. He was no match for her and she cut his belly so deeply he held his intestines in with both arms. She'd healed him as well. "I have, unfortunately. But they were both accidents. I've never seen it done deliberately."

"Really?"

"Ya, they were both accidents."

"No, I mean you've really seen that happen?"

"Yes. And both were awful but they lacked the same...intent," Adora said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, someone fell on a fence post. And that was no one's fault. And when I accidentally did it to a soldier, well, it was an accident."

"You've done that to someone?" Catra asked. Whether or not she intended to do so, she curled her upper lip and wrinkled her nose. This was why she'd never told anyone about it.

"Yes. But I healed him right away and everything was okay."

"Stars," Catra said while burying her face in her hands. Adora rubbed her back in circles and stared at the distant treeline. She really hadn't meant to hurt the poor guy. Sometimes it was easy to forget that she was literally head and shoulders above everyone when it came to fighting, and things got out of hand. But still, she'd almost killed him.

"I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Me? You're sorry that I had to see that? I'm sorry you had to fight them and-and get hurt like that. I should've done more. Could've done more."

"No, Catra, you really couldn't have. I don't think I could've even fought them off. And if you'd gotten hurt…" She shook her head and pushed away the onslaught of imagery threatening to send her spiraling. "Point is, we made it out okay."

"Barely," Catra said while raising her head. She didn't look at Adora. "How's your leg?"

"My leg? Oh, right, my leg. It's fine. It's a bit sore but nothing I can't handle."

"That's good," Catra said. After a while, she asked, "How'd you know something was stalking us?"

"The forest is always talking," Adora said, "I just have to remember to listen. Like when the forest goes silent. You know something is wrong."

"Something is definitely wrong. I can pretty much fucking confirm that. I...I don't have the words. They were trying to kill each other. They were trying to kill you. Some of them were barely alive. And if they're anything like the boar, they probably did at least some of that damage to themselves."

"I think you're right about that. But I don't have any answers. I mean, if we have it all figured out when it comes to the Eternians, then why are the Whispering Woods still acting like this?" Adora said, "It doesn't make sense."

"We missed something. That's the only explanation I can come up with. Or the woods aren't as smart as we think."

"What do you mean not as smart as we think?"

"We're assuming that the woods understand our plans to hear out the Eternians," Catra said, "But what if all it senses is these newcomers and doesn't understand that we have a strategy to deal with them? It is a fucking forest afterall. Maybe it's level of abstraction and nuance isn't quite up there with us."

"I don't believe that for a second. Those woods know more than any one of us. As does the whole planet."

Catra patted her knee and leaned back against her shoulder. With a sigh, she said, "Ya, I don't believe that either, actually. So we missed something. But what?"

"What new information do we know? Two groups of Eternians are hoping to open a portal to Etheria. That's the only thing that's changed when you think about it. It's always known that I'm a First One. It's always known that I was born on Eternia. I moved us back to the solar system thirty years ago so it should know by now that Eternia is gone. So the only change is these two groups. Why is that upsetting to Etheria?" Adora thought for a second before an idea started to form in her mind. "We're not ready for them. We're underestimating them or we have the wrong idea about hearing them out."

"You wanna shoot first and ask questions later?" Catra said, "I can't imagine a scenario where it's a good idea to blast them out of the damn sky just because Etheria doesn't like them."

"I see what you're saying. We need restraint but not naivety."

"Exactly."

"They could use me again-manipulate me into doing something horrible," Adora said.

"Then don't let them. You have more experience. You know the games these power hungry assholes play. And so do I. The minute I sense they're trying to use you, I'll tell them where they can fuck off to."

Adora laughed and scratched Catra's ear. "My tireless defender."

"Someone's gotta do it."

"But we, I, must not be doing enough right now. That's still pretty much the plan we had from the start. Let them through and hear them out," Adora said. What if they knew about her and had plans to immediately subdue her and attack Etheria? What if they were opening a portal just to conquer them? The possibilities were endless and it was her duty to be ready for all of them. "We're just not ready for the worst case scenario. I mean, what if they intend to kidnap me and lay claim to Etheria. Or worse. I think we're being way too lenient right now. We can still hear them out and be ready militarily."

"You're absolutely right."

Adora stood up and pulled Catra up with her. She held Catra's hands and swiped her thumb over her knuckles. More to soothe herself than her wife. "They could come through at any minute and we're just sitting targets. We need to get back to the castle and I need to ramp up our defensive posture."

"Then let's go."

Swift Wind, called in by their sacred bond, landed a few minutes later and they took off, leaving their cottage far behind. Catra sat in front of her and the pair leaned into his gallop as they rode hard for Bright Moon Castle. Swift Wind ate up the ground with his pounding hooves and they arrived in mere minutes. A few guards roamed outside the castle and farmers worked the nearby fields but that was it. It sucked that she had to ruin its tranquility but doing nothing was far worse.

Usually she'd leave Swift Wind either at the stable or simply dismount when they got close to the entrance, but it'd be faster if she stayed aboard. Ramping up to Defensive Posture Alpha was going to take lots of communication and careful maneuvering. So she rode him up the castle's drawbridge and into the building, causing several guards to leap back in surprise when they trotted past.

They rode for the throne room-that's where Bow and Glimmer probably were. "Alright, Swifty," Adora said, "Just a gentle nudge to open the door and-"

He reared back and struck the doors, causing them to swing open so wildly they slammed against the wall. "Swift Wind and Co are here!" He announced with a flap of the wings. Every single person in the room stood up, eyes wide and mouths hanging open.

"Just kill me now," Catra muttered.

"What the fuck?" Glimmer said. She was the first to move and came around the conference table towards them.

"We, ummm." Adora coughed to clear her throat, "We need to talk. I need your permission to change our Defensive Posture."

Glimmer looked between her and Catra before nodding slowly. "Clear out, everyone. We'll finish this discussion later."

Advisors streamed past them until it was only herself, Glimmer, Bow, Catra, and Swift Wind left in the room. "Sorry for the, uuuhh, dramatic entrance. Swift Wind here-"

Glimmer held up one hand and said, "Don't worry about it. Now tell us what's going on."

"We need to switch to Defensive Posture Alpha and the sooner the better. Catra can tell you about the vision I had, and Mara, and the wolves. But tell me I can and I'll begin preparations."

"I don't know if that's a good idea before you explain what's going on."

They didn't have time for this. What if a portal opened in hours? In minutes? "Do you trust me?" Adora asked.

"Of course we do, it's just that-"

"Then let me do what needs to be done. And then I'll sit down and explain to you everything we know. But right now, time is of the essence."

Glimmer exchanged a look with Bow before saying, "Alright, Adora, move us to Defensive Posture Alpha." Adora nodded and helped Catra dismount. "One more thing before you go," Glimmer said, "When I sent a team to get the boar's body, it was missing. No sign of it apparently."

That couldn't be good. What happened to it? Who happened to it? "That's...that's not the news we needed to hear."

"No, it's not," Glimmer said, "Now go do what you have to do."

With that, Adora pushed the boar concern from her mind and whirled around on Swift Wind. The sound of hoofbeats clopping against the marble floor echoed around her as she rode for Planetary Command down in the War Department. First things first, they needed the PDS primed and ready.