Codependency

Part 16 // lost, kicked puppy

"Uh... Did you already kill the bad guys?" Swiftwind asked, looking a little disappointed.

"No, no bad guys here." Adora told him briskly. "I'm not in any danger. Catra isn't here- and I'm busy, but I'm totally safe, okay? So you need to go back to Brightmoon and tell Glimmer and Bow that I'm fine."

"Tell that to Glimmer. She insisted that you must be in terrible danger!" Swiftwind explained.

"You can tell Glimmer yourself that I'm not in any danger." Adora told him firmly. "Tell her that I'm doing something important, and that I don't know when I'll be back- but she can't come looking for me!"

"Hmm..." Swiftwind's ears fluttered, making Adora nervous. "I reeeally think you should come back to Brightmoon with me. Glimmer and Bow won't be happy to see me come back without you."

Adora shook her head stubbornly. She wanted him gone so he didn't probe any deeper into the village and find Catra.
"No, Swiftwind. I'm sorry, but I'm doing something that might actually save lives."

Swiftwind's wings drooped for a second before he folded them into his sides.
"Okie-dokie. You know how to get a hold of me if you get into trouble."

Swiftwind lowered his head, letting his horn point at Adora's chest. Adora reached out and rested her palm on his nose, then let her hand drop back to her side. Swiftwind raised his head and shook out his mane before spreading his wings again.

"Tell them I'll be alright, and I'll keep in touch." Adora told Swiftwind fondly as the alicorn sprung into the air with a massive flap of his colorful wings.

"Got it! Give em' hell, Adora!" Swiftwind called as he circled overhead once, then flew off over past the tops of the trees. "Tell Razz I said hi!"

Imagine trying to 'give Catra hell'. Adora thought with a twisted amusement. She's hell incarnate. No one can hurt her more than I have.

Adora waited until her sense of Swiftwind faded significantly before she went back to the cottage where she'd left Catra asleep. She stepped inside, feeling a momentary panic as strong claws grabbed her and shoved her to the wall beside the doorframe. Catra was glowering at Adora with her fangs bared.

"I woke up and you weren't here!" Catra snarled in Adora's face, her eyes blazing furiously.

Adora brought up her hands to rest on Catra's arms in a soothing gesture. She instantly felt guilty for letting Catra wake up alone, probably leaving Catra to believe Adora had abandoned her again. She wondered if she should have just woken Catra up and briefly explained the situation, but Catra had really needed the sleep.

"Did you see Swiftwind? He came looking for me and I couldn't let him find us together." Adora explained calmly.

Catra narrowed her eyes crossly.
"That weird talking horse? I saw him..."
Her grip loosened slightly on Adora's shoulders.

"I'm here." Adora reassured the magicat. "And we should talk, if you're awake enough."

Catra glared at Adora for an uncomfortably long time before backing off a pace. Her eyes softened, giving Adora a glimpse of her real emotions. Catra was terrified and confused, and probably starving.

"Sit down." Adora told Catra, taking the disheveled girl's wrists and guiding her to sit on the floor. They sat across from eachother, Adora crossing her legs and Catra sitting with her own knees tucked under her chest.

"Where do you want to go?" Adora asked as they settled.

Catra looked uncomprehendingly at Adora, her ears tilted down in distress.
She gave a shrug.