The airport's check-in sector teemed with a chaotic multitude of people moving around, consumed by the fact that they could not return to Grand North.
The morning sun beat down from a clear sky, but its hot air did little to soothe the anger. Humans, elves, vampires and beast-people besieged the airlines until a low static permeated the air and the speakers of the airport lobby crackled to life.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we regret to inform you that projected flights heading to Grand North have been canceled due to safety concerns regarding the terrorist group Grandiose. Attacks have made the Efea kings and queens rule that all air travel must be postponed until further notice. We will begin the refund procedure at the east end of the airport. Thank you for your understanding and have a good day."
Rod and Catra stood among the throngs in subtle disguises, hearing the message before people ran to the refund station. Their pace reminded Rod of what he needed to do, and thus, he glanced at the clock in the main entrance.
"Shit," was the single word that ripped from him.
They needed a new plan of action… something that would get them through the border quickly and efficiently. Moving through the air had been the core of their strategy, and now, everything was derailing.
"Catra, pass me the Telyglasses please," he firmly said and extended his hand.
The awkwardness of the moment forced her to look at him with discomfort. Their bitter argument just a few hours ago still hung heavy, and because of it, she didn't know how to talk with him now.
Still, she obeyed. Her hand placed the Telyglasses onto his outstretched palm and he quickly put them on.
"Alf, are you there?"
"At your service."
"Do you have information about international land routes?"
"I can access satellite data; what would you need?"
"I need you to find us the fastest route to the Grand North Capital. Also, inform the real Alf that we're gonna travel by foot rather than plane due to some inconveniences. Once you have the specific route, send it to him," the Gun Hero instructed, his gaze snapping back to the clock.
"Understood."
"Damn, I wish the real Alf was this cooperative…"
He slowly turned towards Catra, whose gaze fixed on the refund line 20 meters away from them.
"Hey kid, we're gonna have to travel by foot, okay? I'm gonna need you to keep up with me. If you fall behind and I don't notice, press the emergency button on your belt device."
She looked at him for a few moments and nodded slowly. It seemed clear to him that the girl was still uncomfortable, yet he didn't have time to do anything about it. The urgency of reaching the capital superseded their personal situation.
"Alf, any sign of Oliver?" Rod asked, trying to get his mind off the tension.
"There has been no incoming communications from Mister Oliver."
The Gun Hero's arms crossed over his chest and a cold dread settled in his gut. What could have happened to him?
He yearned to continue searching for the man, it's just… He couldn't abandon Catra… Not after what he witnessed. She was inexperienced, vulnerable, and an easy target for whoever was really hunting them.
Before his introspection could consume him, Alf's calm voice cut through.
"Rod, the route has been planned out and sent to Alf prime. You will head towards the northern west border, through multiple small villages, and enter Grand North from there. The path at passive speeds will take approximately 4 days."
Four days… It felt like an eternity. At his top speed, he could make it in less than one, though Catra would never be able to keep up. He was constrained.
"Are there any monsters or beasts on the way?" Rod asked.
"Nothing you cannot handle."
"Is that a yes or a no?"
"Affirmative."
"Alf…"
"A yes."
He let out a sigh and turned to the clock for the third time.
"Is this the fastest way to get there?"
"From my calculations and with all factors accounted for, affirmative."
"Okay…"
A heavy silence stretched while the ambient sounds of the airport were the only thing registered. Only then did Catra look at her father and notice his uneasiness.
"Alright, I think we should get going now."
"What about Oliver?" she asked, trying to act devoid of emotion.
Sounds of chatter were heard for a second.
"Oliver knows his way around Efea. I'm sure he'll contact us as soon as he can. Right now we have to head back ourselves. We don't want anyone to recognise me."
Catra's head lowered in a silent acceptance. She felt bad for leaving the doctor behind… It was out of her control now.
"Okay."
"Alright, let's head out. I'll carry the bags, just do your best to keep up."
And after that, they ran without stopping. Their superhuman speeds cut through the city and plunged into the Everglade Forest that surrounded the metropolis.
Their speed was relatively quick, fast enough to keep up with mana-powered cars, but nowhere near Rod's top speed. At least that way they could stay together as figures of synchronized blur.
Neither uttered a single word within their journey, like if an invisible wall separated their souls. Both of them didn't want to confront the situation, which caused Catra's eyes to absorb every detail of the forest.
The situation stayed the same until the cheetah girl's gaze finally focused on her father. She watched his powerful movements and fluid reactions, doing her best to not be a burden. Yet, what really got under her skin was seeing his face. It made her remember their argument from the hotel.
"He's a killer… he's killed people before… everything I've known about him… is it a lie?" her mind asked, replaying happier memories from long ago: Elena laughing in the hospital; going to the park together; watching movies…
Those moments were so close… though separated by a chasm of lies.
"I need to know what happened to mom…"
A few hours bled into their journey when the sun began a slow descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.
Finally, they stopped around 30 meters near the road, halting for the night. Catra tried to catch her breath and Rod gently put down their bags.
"How far did we get, Alf?" the Gun Hero asked, looking through the Telyglasses.
"At this pace, you might get to the capital in 3 days instead of 4."
"Alright, the sooner we get there, the better. Any monsters or animals around?"
As Rod spoke, Catra's breathing returned to normal. She was tired, but less than she appeared; after all, she'd been running her entire life.
The girl stretched and began licking her fur, only to stop unexpectedly.
"Hey kid, I'm gonna set up a campfire here, could you bring some dry branches from trees? Just like I taught you, and don't go too far away, just a few branches will be fine."
"Sure," she responded with an emotionless tone.
Catra walked away, and Rod sighed. He truly did want to patch things up. He just didn't know how…
Catra suspected… and he understood that maybe his daughter finding out the truth might be inevitable.
"God dammit…"
Some distance away, the cheetah girl moved through the forest with silent grace, jumping effortlessly from tree to tree. Her natural gift of flexibility allowed her to maneuver around the dense undergrowth and gather dry branches.
The ancient trees in this pristine Efea forest made it remarkably easy to find them, even if hard to rip from their trunks. In truth, the large amount of mana from the land infused every aspect of the landscape. That secretly influenced the flora to grow larger than normal and caused their leaves to shimmer with an otherworldly glow.
It only took a few minutes to gather more than enough branches for two campfires, and when finishing, Catra started heading back. It all changed after a subtle flicker of light caught her eye.
It came from a small plant nestled under the gnarled roots of a massive tree that pulsated a soft bluish light… And it completely consumed her mind...
She didn't notice her hands unconsciously dropping the branches, nor how she started moving towards it. All she wanted to do now was touch the beautiful, blue-colored flower…
Her trembling finger was just a few centimeters away from the brink of a gruesome death before Rod burst from the trees, grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the horrifying fate.
"Wha- what are you doing?!" she exclaimed, violently ripping from her trance.
"Don't touch that flower, you would've died."
Catra quickly stepped back with force and escaped his grasp.
"That flower trances animals with magic so that they become easy prey… If I hadn't stepped in when I did, you would have been paralyzed," Rod continued.
The cheetah girl didn't respond, choosing to simply look away and create the invisible wall that she'd created for comfort.
Rod was not having it… not with what just happened.
"Okay… Catra Winger, look at me right now," he said in a serious tone that caught her by surprise.
Speaking like that always meant things were serious. That tone was strong enough to force the girl to focus on him with a small pout.
"You have to understand that this isn't Grand North. Things here are different. Far more dangerous even, especially to someone who's as naive as you."
"Naive?!" she finally asked.
"Yes, NAIVE! Let me get one thing straight with you. Catra, here, you can die. It's not a walk in the park, okay? I need you to listen to me, and I need you to talk to me. Communication is key when it comes to survival in an unknown place like this."
"How do you expect me to talk to you after this morning? Huh? Do you expect me to just return to normal? To ignore what you said?! DAD, YOU KILLED PEOPLE! YOU LIED TO ME. AND YOU'RE STILL LYING!" she exclaimed in rising fury.
The man stayed silent. She was right… but…
"Catra… look…" he tried to say, only to be stopped by unknown voices that cut their conversation short.
"AAHHG!"
"AAAAAAHHHHH!"
"HELP SOMEONE PLEASE!"
Desperate screams ripped through the distant forest, echoing against the trees and silencing them both… at least until even more insistent yells thundered through the sky.
Catra's fearful eyes snapped to her father, trying to understand what was happening. To her surprise, the man's reaction mirrored hers.
There was no time to wait… Not for her. Thus, the girl moved quickly towards the distant terror.
"HEY! Where are you going?!" Rod exclaimed.
She didn't respond. Those pleas for help were the only thing that existed in her mind now… and as she ran, the Hero gritted his teeth in nervousness and a tinge of annoyance.
He knew about her good heart, though this was on another level of stupid. Nevertheless, she was his daughter, and that simple fact compelled him to launch forward.
Following a five second sprint, they plunged through a dense thicket of trees and into a large field. A grim tableau unfolded there: Ruined crops stretched around a small burning village nestled at the center.
What alarmed them was not the sight of some village buildings already engulfed in orange flames. It was the overwhelming number of monsters moving towards it.
From snarling wolves and hellbeasts to three-headed kobolds… All of them poured into the village, and even still, that was not the worst part.
The most horrifying thing of all was the screams. They weren't just grown men… Children and elderly elves were also being attacked in the massacre.
"Let's go!" Catra exclaimed and ran to the town.