Catalina
Catalina can tell that she’s hurt Theon with her words, but there is nothing she can do about that. She can’t just blurt out that she has killed three males, one of whom ruled the Northern Clan, and if Theon touches her, he could fall dead in minutes. Would he fear her if he knew she could handle a plant so deadly to the Curazin people? She can literally kill anyone with only a touch. No, she can’t tell him; she can’t risk the rejection.
The other thing that grates on her nerves is the one question: Where the hell has he been? Has he even looked for her? She needs answers before she says or reveals too much. She knows she loves him, but she will not be a doormat. Been there, done that.
Up ahead, she spots the small stream. It isn’t big enough to swim in, but she can wash her hands and arms.
She drops her backpack and falls to her knees, scooping water with one hand and washing her arms. She scrubs each one vigorously just to make sure that no residue of the plant remains. When she finishes, she shucks off the offending shirt and throws it on the ground. She has her own clothes in the backpack.
Dressed in a pair of black trousers and a red, form-fitting, sleeveless V-neck shirt, she twists her hair up in a bun, securing it to the top of her head. She feels better, more like herself.
“Catalina?”
Startled, she spins around and sees Theon standing behind her. He’s hesitant. He’s as handsome as she remembers, more so even. He’s bigger, his muscles straining against his shirt. She has missed him. Her face softens, and she smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Hi, Theon. Sorry about earlier, but I needed to wash off.”
“That’s all right.” He takes a cautious step forward.
“I thought you would come for me.” When she was focused on helping her friends, Catalina could push the hurt away, but not now.
“When I arrived home from patrol, Tarra told me you had moved back to the female Commons. Of course, I did not believe her. The other females confirmed what she said, and still not believing, I went to Kaid, and he also said he had not seen you.”
“I wouldn’t…”
“I visited the female Commons, but two females barred your door, saying you would not see me.”
So he hasn’t been looking for her. “So, why now?”
“I couldn’t stand being without you. I had planned to storm the female Commons, demand that you speak to me. Instead, I overheard Tarra talking to my brother, and I heard about their plot against us. Shena confirmed what I suspected.”
Catalina swallows back the tears and nods. “I went for a swim, and someone knocked me out. When I woke up, I was on the wrong side of the mountains.”
He cautiously opens his arms. She hesitates and then steps into his embrace. All is not forgiven, though, not yet. He should’ve known she would not leave without a goodbye.
His arms are so comforting, so familiar, she nearly crumbles inside. She can’t breathe. Composing herself, she steps back and tries to smile. “Can you give me a few minutes alone?”
She can tell he doesn’t want to, but he nods. “I’ll be waiting for you at camp.”
“Thank you.”
She watches him walk away, and when he’s out of sight, she crumbles inside and out as she drops to the ground.
She sits with her forehead on her knees, hugging her legs as she cries the ugly cry. Tears run like rivers down her face as she tries to let go of her pent-up emotions. All the anger, all the fear, the outrage of the entire living situation in the North, which was so bad it forced her to kill.
When her tears slow, she swipes at her snotty nose and swallows hard. There remains one thought that hangs on, the one person she blames for all of this…Tarra.
Finally pulling herself together, she makes it back to camp. Theon looks sad, and although she needs some distance, she also needs his reassuring presence.
That night, she lies on her side, her back to his front. He holds her tight, but there’s still emotional distance between them.
The next day is the same. Silence except when something needs to be said. They all treat her differently; they are more cautious around her, which makes things worse. They ride for most of the day, and in the distance the Commons comes into view.
They secure the gamels in the stable, and Catalina walks silently beside Theon.
As they near the training fields, Catalina spots Tarra standing with her posse. Her voice grates on Catalina’s nerves, and jealousy takes hold when she calls out to Theon.
“Theon, I missed you yesterday.” She smiles until her eyes land on Catalina. One quick flash of fear shows until she masks it. “Why, Catalina, I did not think you liked it up here any longer.” Her smile sends Catalina’s rage skyrocketing—she’s had all she can take. She changes directions and heads toward Tarra.
One thing foster kids can do is fight. Although Catalina always tries to control herself, she can’t hold her anger back any longer.
Every step is sure as she pierces Tarra with an angry stare. There is no hesitation, only determination as she marches in Tarra’s direction. With every step closer, Tarra’s nervousness breaks through. Her trembling hands give it away. She smiles, but it is insincere.
Catalina is only a few feet away, still silent. She rears her fist back and punches Tarra in the eye with mighty force. Tarra falls on her butt, cups her eye with her hand, and moans in pain before she wails in anger.
“Theon!” she screams. “Do something!” Theon glances down at Tarra and keeps walking. “Theonnn!”
He stops, spins around, and addresses the female who has caused so many problems. “This is a female issue, and you are not damaged. You may have a bruise, but you will recover.” He starts to walk away, but Tarra’s yell stops him.
“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”
He stops mid-step, turns back toward Tarra, and speaks in a loud, booming voice, letting everyone hear his words. Both males and females stop everything to watch the display.
“No, that is not all I have to say. As leader of the topside, you are banned from visiting the training fields.”
“What?” she gasps.
“You heard me. Without you topside, you and Jeat cannot conspire to kidnap Catalina and dump her in the Northern Clan territory. Nor will I have to listen to your lies.”
“But…but…but…you cannot!”
“I can, and I have.” Theon crosses his arms and cocks his head. “Tell me. Why did Jeat want Catalina removed?” Tarra clamps her mouth shut. Theon smiles down at her while he says in a commanding voice, “If any female here knows of Tarra’s and my brother’s plan, and you do not speak up, then you will also be banned from topside when I find out.”
When no one steps forward, Tarra smirks. That smirk drops, however, and her face twists in hate as a fearful voice speaks out.
“I know why.” Shena takes a step forward, her eyes bouncing from Odias to Theon.
Catalina is a distance away with her arms folded protectively across her middle. But this involves her, and she wants to hear what is said.
“Shena, step forward and tell me what you know.”
Shena glances at Odias once again before giving Theon her attention. Her fingers twist the fabric of her long dress, and it’s obvious to anyone that she’s terrified.
Catalina feels a little bad for Shena, but if she had stood up to Tarra a long time ago, Theon would have known where she was, and maybe he would have come after her sooner.
“One night I couldn’t rest, and thought I would take a walk. I happened upon Tarra talking to someone, but at the time I did not realize it was Jeat. So, I listened as they argued in hushed tones.”
Her eyes dart back to Odias, and it’s clear he will not help her right now.
“The male she talked with had something wrong and was unable to have young. They had planned for Tarra to get pregnant with your seed and tell everyone that the young belonged to him. This would secure the line of succession. That is when I realized she spoke with Jeat.”
“And why did you not tell me this earlier?”
“I heard them only a few moon cycles ago, but it scared me. When I knew Tarra plotted with Jeat, I felt they were too powerful for me to cross.”
Theon focuses on Tarra. “And you decided to get rid of Catalina, hoping to lure me to your bed?” Tarra neither confirms nor denies anything that is being said. “What was to happen to me when you carried young?”
Silence. Catalina knows that Tarra can’t say anything without making herself look even guiltier. Her heart softens a little more for Theon. Betrayed by his own family. She shakes her head in disgust and walks away from the rest of the display. She has seen and heard enough.
Back in the Commons, Catalina basks in the comfort of familiar surroundings as she looks around Theon’s room. Walking over to the furs, she lies down and runs her hands over the softness.
That’s where Theon finds her.
Walking over, he scoops her up in his arms, holding her tight. “I have missed you so much, Catalina.”
Laying her head on his chest, she closes her eyes. “I’ve missed you too.”