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Folio 1a
Long, long ago in Etheria, there was a modest but cozy cabin on a hill at the edge of the Whispering Woods. If I was there that time, I would not be here now. But as I am, I have one small story.
In the cabin there lived a young couple of mortal women, a human named Adora, and a magicat called Catra.
Since the couple had nearly no friends of note, preferred solitude, and didn't enjoy the bustling of the villages in Bright Moon, right after marrying, they had decided to move to this hill, shielded from the nearest village by the woods.
There, in perfect peace, they knew they could raise their child. Little Finn, with ears like those of Catra, and eyes like those of Adora, was the joy of their life.
However, their happiness wouldn't last.
One night, when Catra woke up sweating after a nightmare, feeling a suffocating weight pressing down on her chest, she rushed to check on her baby, overwhelmed by the terrible sensation.
A sensation that was, unfortunately, correct.
Her little Finn wasn't breathing.
Their skin was pale and cold already, their eyes half-closed looked opaque…
Catra felt like fainting, but at the same time, denial kept her on her feet as she shook her head, refusing to accept this.
What would she tell Adora?
They were young mothers, yes, and this was their first baby; but what did that matter!?
She couldn't simply give up her kid and expect to have a second one in the future.
They would not replace their Finn…
Yet, what could she do with their body now?
Their body…
Catra picked up the baby carefully, noticing them limp, and painful tears blurred her vision immediately. Holding them against her chest, she cried in silence, caressing Finn's small head over and over again.
She couldn't let Adora know.
She couldn't break her heart like that…
If only there was a way…
How she wished to somehow get them back! How she hoped there were any means to recover their life, no matter the cost!
She wished… and she'd pay any price…
Catra took a deep breath as those words echoed in her mind.
Maybe…
Yes, there was one way.
It was a rainy night in the Whispering Woods, but Catra braved it all the same, protecting a bundle wrapped with her shawl, and holding it close to her chest.
She walked deeper and deeper into the woods, despite the mud under her feet, despite the cold water freezing her limbs and soaking her hair…
She knew of an area, a forbidden place full of warnings, that everyone born in Bright Moon knew not to venture into, and she was determined to find it.
It had to be tonight, before Adora woke up…
Before she learnt of their child's passing.
Catra's heart hammered wildly, between the effort of her walk and the anxiety of losing Finn for good, and her breath became shallow since her lungs could no longer keep up with the rhythm of her advancing.
Soon enough, she tripped, losing her strength, but never let go of the small bundle; curling up with it, she shielded it from the merciless rain.
She was too tired, however, exhausted, and despite her best efforts, she finally fainted.
When she first tried to open her eyes, Catra noticed her fur was already dry.
So was the ground beneath her.
Her head… it felt too light, and she couldn't help but keep her eyes closed a bit longer.
She could remember the storm, but felt no traces of it.
Something warm surrounded her, but she was sure it wasn't morning moonlight.
And finally she realized it.
Her hands were empty.
Immediately opening her eyes, she pushed herself up.
‘Finn!’ she yelled, voice weak. ‘Finn!’ she then repeated, a bit louder.
‘Hush now, they are asleep’ someone ordered, startling Catra. She immediately turned around towards the voice, and what she saw left her speechless. ‘I presume their name is Finn?’
‘Ye-yes’ she nodded. ‘A-are they… alive?’ she then asked, despite clearly seeing their little arms trying to reach for the hand this mysterious eerie individual held over them.
‘Well, of course. They are now.’
‘Ca-can I have them back?’ she asked, stammering and extending her hands to take her baby.
Art by Tigerofmyeye, og post here
‘How rude you are. Haven't even asked who I am. Is this how you thank me?’
‘I-I apologize. Who a-are you?’
‘I am Light Spinner. I found you and your child in the Woods under the rain and decided to bring you here until you woke up. Am I not very generous?’ she replied, her voice raising a pitch.
‘That- Ye-yes, you're very… generous’ Catra nodded, albeit awkwardly. ‘But I- Finn wasn't… A-are you a Fae?’ she finally dared ask, unable to hold herself back.
‘That, I am’ she admitted. ‘I presume you were, in fact, searching for my kind to bring your kid back to life’ she then added, sounding a bit less gentle and considerably more threatening.
‘Yes, that's true’ Catra sighed. ‘I couldn't let my wife know of their death’ she explained.
‘So… I understand a baby is all you want?’ Light Spinner asked. ‘Nothing else?’
‘I just want my baby back!’ she nodded, once again reaching for Finn.
‘Very well’ Light Spinner smirked, handing the child over. ‘Everything comes with a price, and you have paid yours. So you may leave’ she chuckled.
‘I paid…’ Catra was asking, but couldn't finish her question since the Fae was already gone.
She had paid already!?
The poor mother had no idea what had happened, but the joyful squeals of her kid quickly reclaimed her attention, and so Catra rushed back home with Finn wrapped in her shawl once again.
Everything about Finn reassured her it was them, so she had no reasons to doubt…
And the following morning, Adora was none the wiser.
Finn was a joyful baby.
They never fell ill, they hardly ever cried, they gave their mothers no trouble…
But also, they… didn't grow.
The first few years, neither Catra nor Adora had taken notice of this.
Their baby was just that, a baby.
If they had had any visitors ever, they probably would have realized much sooner that Finn didn't change at all… But for the mothers, it took years.
Catra had this nagging sensation since the fourth year, but never brought it up with Adora, who, on the other hand, kept telling herself this was just a tiny kid and would probably grow suddenly upon reaching their fifth year.
Only when their sixth birthday came around, and the little one remained too little for their age, did the mothers finally voice their concerns to one another.
‘I may sound a bit paranoid, but…’ Adora began, hesitant.
‘Don't think that. You can tell me anything, Love’ Catra interrupted.
‘I just- I think Finn… should be looking…’
‘Bigger? Older?’ her wife interrupted once again. ‘Yes, you're right’ she admitted, looking down with a pained smile. ‘I didn't want to say anything, I didn't want to accept it, but… It's true’ she sighed, leaning over the crib, her tail curling around the little baby's leg. ‘They should be big enough to need their own bed. To… walk, run, play around, speak…’ she went on, tears forming in her eyes. ‘So why? Why are they…’
‘Catra…’ Adora called, approaching to embrace her. Feeling her cry against her shoulder, she caressed her hair in silence for a moment, and then muttered ‘We'll figure it out.’
‘You promise?’ she asked, her voice muffled.
‘I promise.’
‘But I don't understand…’ Catra sobbed. ‘Do you think- Can it be…’ she hesitated, but interrupted herself. ‘If-if I go… What if I take Finn to see Razz?’ she finally suggested, raising her head.
‘Oh, you- Oh! Yeah! She probably can guide us with this’ Adora agreed, expression softening. ‘She raised you. Ma-maybe you also took this long to start really growing and then suddenly aged? I don't know, I may be trying to explain it with stupidities at this point’ she chuckled.
‘No, well, it's not a bad idea. I'll just… I'll pay her a visit, let her see Finn again, and… I'll let you know what she thinks of them’ Catra decided.
‘Alright’ she smiled. ‘Want me to go with you?’
‘Aren't you busy?’
‘Oh, don't you want to go tomorrow?’
‘I actually planned to go right now…’
‘Isn't it too late?’ Adora further asked, raising a brow.
‘No, well, Razz's times are…’
‘Yes, right. Madame Razz and time are a thing, I remember’ she chuckled. ‘Alright. I'll go finish up while you're gone so we can have dinner once you're back’ she smiled.
That evening, Madame Razz was preparing a pie.
She usually did that, but this time, she expected visits.
And just as Catra knocked on the door, the pie was ready.
‘Ah! There you are, my Deary!’ she welcomed her, adjusting her glasses.
‘Were you expecting me?’ Catra asked, surprised for a second until she saw the oven. ‘Of course you were… I can't believe I didn't smell the pie before’ she giggled.
‘Ah, you must have been distracted, Deary’ Razz replied, approaching the oven to take it out. ‘It's so good to see you and the little one! It's been a while’ she commented. ‘Or wasn't it?’ she then wondered. ‘Bah! You know me. I never know when I live!’ she laughed.
‘Yeah, I know’ Catra let out with a small smile. ‘I, uh, wanted to talk to you.’
‘Is this about your little one?’ Razz asked, serving her a portion of pie as the magicat took a seat. ‘I may be lost in time, but I know they should already be… well, not a little baby anymore’ she chuckled.
‘I was going to ask if I also took this long to grow. I-it's been six years…’ Catra explained, swallowing hard.
‘Tell me something, Deary’ she requested, sitting in front of her. ‘What did you ask the faeries for?’
‘How do you know…’ she was asking, but got interrupted by Razz waving her hand dismissively.
‘Ah, tah, tah, tah. An old woman knows more than you think.’
‘I, well… I think I-I don't know’ Catra hesitated. ‘I wanted my baby back.’
‘Did you only ask for a baby?’ Razz insisted.
‘Yes. I suppose- I think that Fae asked something like that. If I only wanted a baby…’ she struggled to remember. ‘Why is that important?’
‘Ah, Deary. Don't I know the kid I raised’ Razz chuckled, almost as a lament. ‘The faeries are… Well, they are usually tricky, my Child. A baby is what you wished for. And the faeries… they keep their promises, Deary. I'm sorry.’
Catra's heart hammered in her chest, against which she held Finn tightly.
This was her fault.
She had done this to her baby, her wife, and herself…
Was this the price that Light Spinner mentioned!?
Catra felt her breath become shallow. Staring at the pie, she extended a shaky hand towards the fork and tried to pick up a piece but it kept falling back on the plate.
Finally, she dared ask ‘What do I do now?’
‘Does Adora know?’ Razz asked, unusually serious. ‘It's important that she knows. Your child… is a changeling.’
‘So, this isn't our Finn?’
‘In a way, they are’ Razz assured her. ‘I would recognize the baby I delivered’ she smiled. Then, with a somber expression, she admitted ‘But I can feel magical intervention too. Your Finn… died, didn't they?’
‘Yes’ Catra sobbed, finally managing to take a bite of the pie as a tear fell down her cheek.
‘You need to tell Adora, my Deary’ Razz insisted, taking her hand and caressing her knuckles with her thumb. ‘I'm sure she will understand.’
After swallowing hard, Catra asked ‘And if she doesn't? I-I can't lose Adora too.’
‘You won't, my Child. Trust her’ Razz told her with a gentle smile.
‘You're right’ she nodded.
‘Why don't you let me hold them? Eat the pie, it will help’ she encouraged Catra. As the magicat complied and handed Finn over to Razz, the old woman went on ‘You loved my pies so much when you were little; you usually stuffed you face with them!’
Catra kept eating it with sorrow, but feeling thankful for the easing taste on her mouth. She really loved those pies, indeed. But she also knew it wasn't the pie itself but rather Razz's touch that made it so gentle to her soul.
On her way back home, Catra mentally rehearsed what she would tell Adora.
There were no right words to explain what had happened, why she had hidden it from her, or why she didn't ask her before dealing with the faeries.
But Razz was right. She had to trust her wife would understand.
Adora had always been a reasonable woman, hardly ever got angry at the slightest provocation, and above else, she loved Catra as much as she loved Adora back.
Soon enough, the magicat stepped into their front-yard, walked between the trees while looking down at a sleeping Finn, and knocked on the door.
‘At last! You're back!’ Adora received them, giving Catra a quick kiss. ‘I prepared food already… And had a bath… And absolutely didn't pace around while waiting’ she chuckled.
‘Oh, sorry. Razz made some pie and I didn't notice how long we stayed’ she explained, looking away and raising a bundle with some slices the old woman sent her with. ‘Wha-what did you cook?’
‘Some stew for this chilly night. Will go well with the pie as dessert!’
‘Sounds good’ Catra smiled, focusing so hard on staying calm that she didn't notice she had still to walk in.
‘Everything alright? Did Madame Razz tell you something?’
‘I- Well, I think I should tell you after we have dinner.’
‘Oh, alright. Then, why don't you come in?’ Adora gently invited her, not wanting to question her further.
‘Right! Sorry…’
‘It's fine, Love.’
After leaving the baby to sleep in their crib, the women sat to have dinner quietly. Catra ate quickly as if starving despite the pie she had before, while Adora took her time and, occasionally, glanced at her wife, concerned.
Once done, Catra brewed a herbal tea, poured some for Adora and handed it to her with a piece of pie, then grabbed the other for herself.
As she sat back, she focused and took deep breaths, preparing for what she had to say.
With absolute patience, her wife just sipped her tea, giving Catra all the time she needed.
She was prepared for the worst, but no one could ever be ready to hear what Adora would now learn.
‘I don't- I'm sorry, I don't know where to begin’ the magicat began, eyes stinging. ‘Adora… Almost six years ago… so-something happened’ she uttered, having to force the words out. ‘Something I never told you about’ she admitted. Adora's worry clenched her heart now. She had had this awful feeling for just as long, yet always ignored it, discarded it, pushed it away. Now, that feeling blared in her mind like a loud bird calling her attention. But she refused to show her worry and simply took a bite of the pie. Berries. It helped her stay calm to hear Catra out. ‘Finn… They aren't growing because of what happened. Adora, they… died’ she finally sobbed. As her wife's face went pale, the magicat rushed to conclude ‘I didn't want you to know, so I took them to the faeries. O-or tried. I-I passed out, then a Fae found us, and… when I woke up, they were alive. Or so I thought. Razz says it is them, but that they're also a changeling.’
‘What?’ Adora let out, dropping her fork. ‘A-a changeling!?’ she repeated, eyes wide open in disbelief. ‘What did you do!?’
‘I'm sorry, Adora. I couldn't- I-I didn't want to lose them!’
‘So you dealt with a Fae and didn't tell me!?’
‘I didn't want you to-to suffer like I did when I found Finn- When I saw them… pale and… limp’ Catra cried. ‘I'm sorry.’
‘So you just… bore the pain alone. Didn't trust me with the truth’ Adora pointed out.
‘I didn't mean to- I thought I was… protecting you from the sorrow’ she replied, sniffing.
Her wife finally stood up and approached Catra to hug her tightly, letting her cry against her chest. While caressing her hair, Adora took deep breaths, trying not to cry too.
What's done is done, and now they had to fix what they could.
‘Please, tell me what Madame Razz said. What do we do now? Where is our child?’
‘She said this is Finn, but… there has been magical intervention or something’ Catra explained, sniffing still and brushing her tears away as she sat down again.
Returning to her place, Adora further asked ‘So how do we get them to grow as they should have?’
‘She didn't tell me, but I think it was because we already have the answer; she tends to do that’ she replied. ‘Razz only told me you had to know the truth.’
‘Well, I suppose- Wait, can you tell me what deal you made?’
‘I'm not sure. It didn't sound like a deal at the moment’ Catra admitted. ‘When I woke up, Finn was already alive. The Fae said I was… No, first she said they were now alive, and I asked if I could get Finn back, but she said I was rude for not… asking who she was, or whatever. Then, she told me her name was Light Spinner and that she found us under the rain, so she took us to wherever we were.’
‘That's odd’ Adora let out, thoughtful. ‘What else?’
‘Well, I… think she mentioned something about, uh, knowing I was looking for the Fae to get Finn back to life, and I admitted I was, so she asked if I just wanted a baby’ she went on. ‘Oh, right. That's what Razz told me. I replied I just wanted my baby back; she says the faeries keep their promises, so I only got… a baby’ Catra sighed.
‘But how was that a deal? What was the price?’
‘That's the weirdest part: Light Spinner said I had already paid the price’ she explained.
Eyes wide open, Adora insisted ‘You're very sure she never explained the price?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘And you never accepted whatever the price was? Did you say, at any point, anything similar to an agreement? Something like “I want them at any cost” or…’
‘Nothing like that. Not aloud or in front of the Fae’ Catra denied. ‘I only- After finding them dead, I thought I'd do anything, no matter what it took, and only then I thought I could make a deal…’
‘Then I know what we must do’ Adora sentenced, frowning.
‘What?’
‘A new deal.’
‘What!? That's what got us into this!’ Catra remarked.
‘But they didn't follow their own rules! They tend to trick people, yes, but normally in a way that they “explain everything” leaving some loopholes and twisting the wording, even taking advantage of what we tell them’ she explained. ‘In your case, there wasn't a proper deal. You agreed to nothing. And that Light Spinner granted your wish before you could ask for it or bargain with her!’ Adora went on. ‘You were basically forced into…’ she trailed off, staring at the distance. ‘Tomorrow, show me where you were heading before you passed out. We'll take Finn, find that Fae, or find anyone above her in hierarchy to fix what she did’ she decided.
‘Are you sure? What if we lose Finn?’
‘We can't have an eternal baby. It's… the same as if they had died’ Adora lamented.
‘What will you tell your chief?’
‘That Finn and you have a cold so I have to take care of you both’ she replied, without hesitation.
‘Already thought about it, huh?’
‘It's my secret weapon, only for when I need to stay with you’ Adora smiled. With a sigh, she looked down at her pie, took another bite, and before she knew it, the tea and dessert were both gone. ‘Razz's pies are so good. I don't know why, but I feel much better now’ she admitted.
‘Yeah, I know what you mean’ Catra nodded, smiling faintly.
As morning came, Adora left early to speak with her chief, soon returned to wake up Catra and get ready, then finally picked up Finn and set out.
‘Alright, Love. Just show me the way’ Adora requested, crossing the front-yard. ‘And don't blame yourself anymore’ she then added, gentle.
‘What do you… plan to do? If we find them, I mean…’ Catra asked, while taking the lead. ‘That sword won't do much against the faeries’ she pointed out.
‘Oh, I'm aware. This isn't for the faeries’ Adora chuckled, patting her sword. ‘It's just in case we come across any mundane threats.’
‘Then, don't you want me to carry Finn?’
‘No, it's fine. I'll need you free to move, actually’ she explained.
‘Why?’
‘Well, I'm not sure why exactly, but I have the feeling the faeries won't come to us, and we'll probably need your druidic talents’ Adora smirked.
‘I-I am not like Razz. I don't think I can summon them’ Catra stuttered.
‘I trust your knowledge’ her wife insisted.
‘I don't think you should’ she replied, lowering her head, never stopping her walk.
‘If you mean because of what happened with Finn…’
‘Of course I mean that.’
‘I told you not to blame yourself’ Adora reminded her, catching up to her to place her hand on Catra's shoulder. ‘The only one to blame is that Fae.’
However, the magicat still couldn't let go of the feeling.
They kept walking deeper into the Whispering Woods, deep enough that the day-moon wouldn't reach them anymore, yet there was no trace of the faeries. Not a ring, nor a tree, nor a stone that could possibly connect their worlds.
Catra inspected everything rigorously, yet found nothing.
However, she refused to give up.
The magicat knew that with her wavering faith in her abilities she'd likely be unable to summon a Fae, or a guide to some Otherworld dwelling they could enter to find them.
But her determination was mightier than her hesitation.
Hence, she still tried.
She gestured at Adora to stop and walked a few steps ahead before halting too. Focusing on her surroundings, she tried to grasp the energy around her.
Anything that felt different.
Maybe something that pulled her.
Perhaps a vortex.
Razz had always told her she needed to feel; let Etheria speak to her without Catra forcing it.
Before she knew it, the magicat was walking, eyes closed, but as if she were following a perfectly marked path.
Adora was surprised for merely a moment before a soft smile escaped her. She immediately followed her wife, fully trusting whatever guided her, and it wasn't long before they reached a burial mound.
Catra finally opened her eyes, and gasped upon realizing where they were.
‘I didn't notice I was… moving’ she admitted. ‘Adora?’
‘Is this… the place?’ she asked, stepping closer and hugging Finn tightly against her chest.
‘I don't know’ Catra apologetically replied.
Silent, the women looked all around.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
The place was quiet, still, humid, cold…
Adora looked down at Finn, concerned they would catch a cold in such a place, until she remembered they were a changeling.
Suddenly furious, she yelled ‘If there's anyone out there, show yourself!’
‘Adora!’
‘What?’
‘That could be dangerous…’ Catra warned her.
‘Nothing here can be more dangerous than me’ she smugly replied.
‘That's the kind of proud mindset that gets you warriors killed’ her wife insisted, speaking between gritted teeth.
‘Well, I don't…’ Adora was retorting, when a sound interrupted her. ‘Who's there!?’
‘That's some good hearing you have, human’ a voice replied, snickering. ‘You needn't reach for your sword. I mean no harm. I'm merely curious.’
‘Where are you? Who are you!?’ she insisted, still gripping her sword just as hard as Catra gripped her arm.
‘Over here’ the voice called, making them both look back at the top of the mound. There was no mistaking her ethereal aura. That had to be a Fae, and yet Catra had her doubts since she wasn't as eerie as the one she had met years before. She was more on the elegant side instead. ‘Well?’
‘I have a demand’ Adora firmly stated.
‘A demand?’ the Fae replied, slowly making her way down the mound and closer to them. ‘And tell me, why should I hear what you have to say, human?’
‘You said you were curious, no? Then why not hear me out?’ she replied, defiant.
‘A very good point’ the Fae smiled. ‘But first, what's your name, young warrior?’
‘Adora, of the Grayskull clan, in Bright Moon’ she replied, deciding to be honest since the wording of the question wasn't anything ambiguous.
‘And you, druid?’
‘I'm Catra’ she shyly replied, looking away, less trustful than her wife.
She didn't like this, but mainly because of how different it felt from the last time.
‘I see. Then, for your honesty, I shall hear your demand. You can call me Castaspella’ the Fae smiled.
She was a bit more cheerful than Adora expected.
‘Thank you’ she said with a nod, finally releasing the hilt of her sword. ‘My demand is simple. I want you or any of your kind to fix what you did to our child’ she began. Curious, Castaspella only lifted a brow and let her continue. ‘About six years ago, they- Our child, Finn, died. Catra went to look for you all, but… she was found instead. A Fae had returned Finn to life, and told her she had already paid the price, but never stated what the price would be, not even referencing it, and my wife never, and I mean never explicitly agreed to said price’ she elaborated. ‘I may not know as much as the druids know about your kind, your world, and rules, but I am literate enough to notice that Fae didn't make a deal with her, but rather forced her into taking something without enough context, and without prior acceptance of it.’
Castaspella was silent for a moment.
‘You are very literate, indeed’ she remarked. Pensive, the Fae moved around a bit, humming. ‘I can't imagine anyone I know doing such a thing… Unless- Oh, right, I should ask: did my kindred give you a name?’
‘Yes’ Catra replied. ‘Light Spinner.’
Castaspella halted. Her hair, previously neatly and elegantly tied into a beautiful updo, suddenly loosened, floating all around her head in angry frenzy.
‘Follow me’ the Fae ordered, her voice lower.
Holding Finn tightly again, Adora complied and Catra went behind her, fearing getting stuck outside the Otherworld if she lingered.
Adora wouldn't admit it, but she was scared. Hence, even as they stepped into what felt like a dream, she still kept following the Fae as ordered, not daring to disobey her.
If anything, her sudden change in appearance meant she was furious. And with some luck, that wrath was against the cheating Fae; it could be good for the mothers.
On the other hand, Catra had felt the exact moment when they crossed the veil. Her hairs stood on end, and she felt suddenly humble.
It was as if an ancient power around her imposed itself over everything Catra knew.
And she remembered this feeling from one time Razz had guided her to tap into the Otherworld at least a decade before.
The feeling, however, wasn't as overwhelming when she first met Light Spinner, which immediately made her realize they had to be far deeper into the Otherworld than back then.
‘Adora’ she called. ‘I think this is more… dangerous than…’
‘Don't worry’ her wife interrupted. ‘I have a good feeling.’
Almost as soon as she said that, giving Catra just enough time to force herself to smile through her worry, the women heard the angry Fae speak ‘Shadow Weaver! How many times have I told you not to grant wishes without my supervision!?’
Both beings looked just as ethereal as expected from them, but there was a clear contrast between them as well.
Quite the unnerving sight.
Afraid to step closer, the couple halted, instinctively protecting Finn, and the magicat nervously uttered ‘I thought she was called…’
‘Oh, I know what she told you. But that's unfortunately not true. It hasn't been for many years’ Castaspella gently explained, turning back to address Catra with an absolutely calm appearance. Then, as she returned to her kindred, her rage rekindled and she reproached her ‘And you broke so many rules! I cannot believe you would do such a thing!’
‘You can't believe it?’ Shadow Weaver scoffed. ‘I can't believe you're so surprised…’ she mocked Castaspella. ‘Besides, we never give out our real names.’
Catra and Adora exchanged a glance, confused, silently deciding whether to intercede or not.
‘Which is why we have aliases. And yours is very clear: Shadow Weaver. It's meant as a warning! You know what you did to deserve it, and you keep proving your guilt!’ Castaspella rebuked.
Between her frightening look and the intensity of her speech, Adora was starting to doubt she'll help them.
Regardless, she wouldn't give up yet. They were there already; further into the Otherworld than most could ever dream of.
‘If you admit she's guilty, then you admit the deal was never valid’ Adora decided to point out.
Castaspella calmed down again, turned around and nodded ‘Indeed. And I'll personally make sure to fix this, as long as you're willing to make a new deal.’
‘We are’ she firmly replied. ‘But you need to be clear or we'll seek other means to fix this, exposing your treachery. There's always retribution for the things your fellow has done.’
‘And I happen to know someone who can make sure that retribution is delivered’ Catra dared add, pushing away her fears.
Castaspella seemed far from glad to hear them, and since the moment she saw the magicat, she recognized something in her that assured the Fae her words were no bluff.
‘Of course. Then, supposing you understand that no favours are done for free, let's agree on the payment: you'll have to give me one thing I'll ask. No refusing is allowed. Once your child reaches the proper age, I will personally visit you to collect it’ Castaspella solemnly offered.
‘With one condition’ Catra quickly interrupted, before Adora could so much as think the same. ‘Whatever you ask for, let us revise the terms before we comply, and amend them if necessary’ she requested.
‘And if we can't reach an agreement?’
‘Then…’ the magicat hesitated, looking at Adora, who nodded with a gentle expression.
Holding Finn tightly, she concluded, in Catra's stead, ‘Then you can take Finn from us.’
Behind Castaspella, Shadow Weaver smirked, impressed with the resolve of the mothers.
‘It's a deal’ the Fae finally sentenced. ‘Your child will grow normally from now on. Take care of them’ Castaspella smiled.
The couple felt joyful tears forming as they heard those words, and Catra immediately went to kiss her child on the head, and then her wife. Both began giggling, relieved, and still unable to believe it but holding onto that hope.
As the women headed back, following the same path, they could still hear the Fae behind them, arguing a bit.
It was a quite unintelligible until Shadow Weaver incidentally called their attention, yelling ‘Glimmer, Flutterina, Lonnie! Get back to your business!’
Were there other faeries there?
The couple immediately turned around, but as they did, they felt something shift, and found themselves back in front of the burial mound where they first encountered Castaspella.
If they had been eavesdropped by other beings, they would never know.
And they didn't care.
Their child would finally have a normal life. That was what mattered to them.
They had nothing else to worry about…
At least, until the Fae's visit.
Catra and Adora returned home in silence, both with the same concerns lingering in their mind: What would it mean for them to knowingly have a changeling child? Should they keep it a secret? And most importantly, what would the Fae ask from them?