Catra was shaking like a leaf under her cloak, but she held her dagger steady. The cave was pitch-dark, to the point where even her eyes couldn't pierce through the darkness. And moist. Wading ankle-deep through the lake was already bad enough, but the moisture in the air got in her fur and made her cold. She sure hoped it was the right cave - she didn't like the idea of spending the entire night looking for that lizard.

"Well, you're up early."

Catra spun around, slicing through thin air with her dagger. The space behind her was empty.

"Eyes are up here, kitten."

Catra looked up. A dark silhouette hung from the ceiling, two thin yellow lines reflecting what light was still in the cave.

"Hello, Catra."

The feline realized her breathing was getting faster again. She had no doubts the lizard had noticed it far before she did.

"Double Trouble."

Without making a sound, they spun around and dropped in front of her, landing on one leg and bowing extravagantly. "The one and only."

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"I'm afraid that is a somewhat long story that can wait for now." The silhouette straightened up, blocking her way out, glowing green orbs looking down on her. "Care to go in? They say it's bad luck to stay in a doorway. Oh, and sorry about the doormat. It got wet."

"I am not taking another step in before I know what game you are playing, lizard." With her free hand, Catra was desperately trying to find her lamp. She wasn't sure whether the shifter had noticed, and she didn't really care, as long as she could get a good look at them.

"Well, that's . . . unfortunate." Feeling the cold round rod, Catra whipped it out, turning it on and beaming it in Double Trouble's face.

Multiple cuts across the face. One blue eye. Looking down, their suit was shredded. Both arms and legs, caked in dirt or something darker, were cut and bruised all over, one partially wrapped in a dirty bandage. Squinting at the lamp, they put a pale green hand over it, engulfing themselves in shadow again but leaving enough light for Catra to see around her, their yellow eyes gleaming with contempt. "I think that's enough. Come in, now. I have some stuff we can sit on. And if I wanted to kill you I would have done so, blah blah, you know how it goes."

Still shaking, Catra followed suit, pointing the light down at her feet. She had the impression that her old acquaintance didn't like being seen in the state they were in, and she didn't dare challenge that idea.