#the alternative

Every Horde soldier got their 20th birthday off in order to kill their nemesis. Catra knew she would have to follow the red string of fate from her right hand in order to find her enemy’s identity, but part of her also wondered where her left hand would lead her. The left hand string would show her who her true love was, her soulmate. Catra wasn’t really sure if a string would show up on the left wrist tomorrow, but part of her had a tad bit of hope.

It didn’t matter much anyways. She had the whole day to find out who her soulmate was because whatever idiot was her destined foe would be brought to a swift end by her. After the day was over the strings would disappear for her and she wouldn’t have to think about either one again. 

Catra stared at her blank wrist uncertain if a red string would appear on both of them tomorrow. It felt like sin for her to want love, to think that there could be someone made to love her. She knew she didn’t deserve love, but deep down she hoped there was someone out there that would make her cot less lonely. 

If she really did have a soulmate they would gladly join her in the horde and fight by her side. They would rule Etheria together someday. She would have someone to laugh with as the nights got dark. Her bed would feel warm once again. The thought made sleep come easy to her. She looked at her wrists one last time before closing her eyes.

When Catra awoke the first thing she saw in front of her were her wrists. She blinked slowly, registering the sight in front of her. She had a string on both wrists. She jumped out of bed hastily following the strings to find where they led to. Running out the room Catra was met with a giant mass as she ran into someone.

“Watch where you're going, Horde Soldier!” Catra spat out the words as she attempted to collect herself.

“Oh Sorry.” Scorpia stated while rubbing the back of her neck with her claw. 

“Of course it’s you.” Catra rolled her eyes at the sight in front of her. She continued walking towards the weapon room as Scorpia followed closely behind her. 

“Well, I was just wondering…” Scorpia trailed off. Catra couldn’t deal with her antics right now, she was on a mission. Why was Scorpia even bothering her today in the first place? The question floated around Catra’s mind for a bit before she landed on an answer, letting out a laugh at the thought.

“Wait, do you think we’re soul mates?” The laughter boomed off the walls now that Catra had spoken the thought out loud. She attempted to steady her breathing to calm down, but the idea was too much for Catra. What ended up settling her down was the idea that someone as naive as Scoripa managed to become a Force Captain before her. “Well sorry to disappoint, but you're not. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to wipe out the stupid person that is my revered enemy so I can go find my soulmate.”

“Hold on, do you want to find your soulmate?” Catra felt herself go stiff as she almost spoiled her perfect place though plan due to her own carelessness. 

Finally reaching the weapon’s closet a solution came to her. “Of course I want to know who they are, that way I can kill them myself. Don’t you remember what the Horde taught us? Having a soulmate makes you weak and vulnerable.”

“I guess I should be lucky I’m not yours then.” Scorpia mostly spoke to herself. 

Catra finally finding the weapon she was looking for let a smirk form on her lips. “Yes, you should.”

The trees went by in a blur as Catra swiftly piloted the skiff past them. So far the red strings seemed to be heading in the same direction, meaning Catra wouldn’t have to travel too far after getting rid of her destined opponent. The quickest way would be a surprise attack. While it wasn’t hornerable, she didn’t really care about honor, just wanted to get it over with. Hopefully then she’d have a chance at finding her soulmates before the strings fade.

The skiff was going at top speed. She loved going fast the way the world blurred around her made her feel in control. Catra always felt like the ground held her back, she was happy to be off it. There was a chance the skiff could go down or even crash. Every vehicle she could get into could crash though. It was worth it to feel alive for Catra. Would her soulmate think the same way?

Catra knows she shouldn’t, but she can’t help it as her mind wonders who the left string of love would lead her to. She hoped it was someone with a fighting spirit. Someone she could race around the Horde with. Maybe she wouldn’t mind losing the competition to them if she could watch their flowing blonde hair whirl around in the wind. When their eyes meet she’d see someone determined with strong beliefs looking back at her. Someone that made her feel strong in return.

Catra shook away the thoughts, there was no point in getting soft when she was about to enter battle. The fun would happen after, with all of Etheria being their playground. Their love would know no bounds, but for now she was on a mission. She looked straight ahead as she followed her strings through the forest. The wind whipped against her face as she pushed the skiff to go even faster.

Catra hid her skiff under some branches near the forest’s edge. Peeking out from the woods she got a better look at the kingdom that stood in front of her. She gave a dramatic sigh as she looked up at the giant waterfall and the castle that laid in front of it. It was Bright Moon. She tapped her foot impatiently, as she thought of a plan to get in. Nothing was ever easy in life for Catra. 

She looked through a compartment on the skiff searching for something to cover herself. It might raise some suspicions, but it was better than getting captured immediately from walking through the front gates. It gave her a chance and that was all she needed for now. She tilted her head as she held the cloak up to the wall of rocks that the castle sat on. It was perfect. She was virtually undetectable with her cloak blending into the wall as she started scaling it.

The strings were still going the same direction. Maybe that meant her soulmate was also in Bright Moon? Catra got a gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. How could her soulmate live in a place like this? At the same time she knew better than to take the teensy amount of gifts she got in life for granted, it was better to not question it. The more likely option was that her soulmate had been kidnapped by someone in Bright Moon.

For the moment she was optimistic about finally seeing her soulmate. Would everything finally make sense once their eyes met? Steel blue eyes, flashed in Catra’s mind. It made her grip falter causing the rock she was holding to become unsettled and leave its place on the wall. It added new pressure to her feet causing them to lose their place as well. She dangled from the wall with only one hand still attached. Rocks cascaded down the wall where she once attached. Catra watched as the rocks exploded into smithereens once meeting the ground. Could that be her fate as well?

With the one hand still attached to the wall, she dug her claws deeper into the rock holding on tighter. All the muscles in her arm started pulsing as she willed them to hold on. Blood ran from her nails as she dug her claws deeper into the rock. She hoped even if her arm gave out she’d still be attached to the wall through her bloody claws. The adrenaline in her body made the blood go unnoticed for Catra. She took a deep breath regaining her composure. It was important for her not to lose focus so she could recover.

Her feet. That was the most important next step. Once she found places for them to go the weight was immediately taken off her arm. She was relieved, but didn’t celebrate. Placing her non-bloody hand on the next spot she gritted her teeth as she got ready to move her other hand. She couldn’t wait to finally have a purpose other than suffering.

Catra bared her teeth, heaving her arm back up gripping the rock once more as blood flowed. She was so close she wasn’t going to lose it all now. She had to take it. Everything would feel lighter once she had arms to catch her. She must survive. Murdering her fool of a soul nemesis would be a simple task in order for her to move forward. She needed to make it till then.

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