---Kathrin General POV---
Kathrin carefully watched the enemy side from within the trench along with the essence powered soldiers. It was early in the morning, the sky having just started to brighten, but the sun has yet to come into view. Both their side and the White Ash were deadly silent.
The rabbit wasn't sure just how aware of the situation Laura was, but it was much worse than how she explained it. They didn't just get stuck in a stalemate, but they were constantly bombarded by long range powers. Making it impossible to move forward and causing high fatalities.
What kept them from being wiped out was their superior training, weapons and tools. They had shield generators created from essence, but that can only cover so much area. They were also stationary objects and so they could only be set up in areas like these trenches.
However the White Ash had even less resources than them. Unlike the other five factions Zari wasn't landlocked. They had ports and could safely trade with several countries and continents far away. They traded resources with them, and have slowly improved their own technology ahead of the other factions.
The Zari Legion was by far the most prosperous of the five. It's why they were perfectly fine with being left alone. However now that they've shown they could be a danger to the others they would attack them without hesitation. Especially after they take control of the White Ash.
Normally Kathrin would be more worried about such a future but there was a new factor at play she wasn't expecting.
"I do have to wonder how Queen Zenesha managed to get ahold of a Forsaken."
Though this Forsaken seemed to be playing mortal. She's seen them use their powers… kind of anyway. They hold themselves back a lot, so she wonders how they would pull off their plan.
*Tatatatatatat*
*Ahhhhh!*
Gun fire and confused shouting suddenly arose on the other side of the muddy field. For several minutes all they heard was the White Ash soldiers panicked shouts and gunfire. Then, all at once several explosions set off in a chain reaction throughout their trenches.
The faint shimming that indicated an essence shield flickered into view and shattered from multiple locations.
"Now!" Kathrin shouted, and the soldiers behind her all activated their powers. The sky was alight by several elements, and other such projectiles. She could've sworn she saw some feathers up there in the mix.
A moment later they landed in the trenches of the enemy. Several more explosions occurred, but they were much more scattered.
"Charge before they can recover!" Rachel yelled as she stepped out of the trench and into no man's land.
Soldiers rushed past Kathrin to infiltrate the opposing forces' own trenches. She walked calmly across the battlefield, holding the hilt of the sword strapped to her hip firmly. She had gotten some stares for this, but She couldn't feel comfortable on a battlefield otherwise. Even if no one here could actually harm the rabbit.
As she walked she suddenly saw something in the corner of her eye, it looked like a wolf woman. Her head snapped in that direction, but she saw nothing out of place. She squinted in suspicion. She was sure she saw something there. Could she have been wrong?
"Hay Kathrin. What's with the… sword…."
Kathrin's heart jumped, but her outside reaction was simply her eyes opening wide in shock. "You startled me Ma'am."
She looked Laura up and down and frowned. She was covered in blood and viscera and smelled like a morgue. She supposed Forsaken never did care about such things, but she thought Laura would have enough sense to wash herself.
"Where did you get that sword?" The wolf asked, scrutinizing the weapon.
"This? I had someone make it for me. Why?"
"Nothing, it just looks a lot like another sword I know." Laura muttered.
"Is that so?" Kathrin said simply.
For anyone that looked over at the two of them standing next to each other was a jarring sight. Kathrin still looked weirdly clean despite the surroundings compared to the gore covered Laura. It also made them very noticeable and some of the White Ash who weren't still panicking noticed the two of them once they entered their now destroyed trenches.
They both used their powers instead of their guns, evidently having lost them at some point. One shot lightning at Laura, while the other used ice similar to Zenesha, and shot shards of it at Kathrin. Laura simply phased through it, and Kathrin had pulled her sword free and cut down the projectiles before without anyone noticing when she did it.
Laura seethed but for some reason her attention was on the ice user. Before Kathrin could discern why, Laura was already holding the soldier by the neck with obvious hatred. Since Laura seemed to have them handled, she turned her attention to the lightning user.
She did catch Laura saying, "How dare you use her powers," before she got into the soldiers' space and severed her head.
When she turned around she found Laura choking out the White Ash soldier. She patiently waited for them to finish before leading her deeper into enemy territory. It's been a long time since Kathrin was on a battlefield, and this new energy in the world was odd to get used to.
Magic also worked much differently than before, and it was taking a while to adjust. However she was quickly learning, and her ability to sense those around her was growing. It also made her far more… aware of what Laura was.
She was an empty spot in the world. A void.
It was disturbing and reminded her of bad memories from long ago. However she was also aware she was much, much different than the rest of her kind. Normal people might not really notice since they've never interacted with creatures from the void.
"I sense them. The enemy General is this way." Laura said. "There's a large number of people surrounding an individual inside one of the bunkers."
Kathrin noticed this too, but still looked at Laura with a questioning look as if she couldn't understand how the wolf could sense someone.
"What do you mean by sense?" She asked.
"... Don't worry about it."
Kathrin didn't pretend to lose interest and 'follow' Laura as she led them to a nearby bunker. She walked towards one of the walls and without hesitation punched it. The concrete cracked and splintered. Laura pulled her arm back before punching the wall again, causing even more damage.
Kathrin watched. She wasn't sure just how strong Laura was, but she was confident she could kill the wolf if she managed to catch them off guard. She would definitely die in a fair fight though.
'But she also seems limited in this form, so maybe I could win in a fair fight?' She really liked Laura and hoped she didn't have to fight her in the future. Especially since she is helping her try and date Rachel.
While her thoughts were occupied the solid concrete wall finally crumbled from Laura's assault. Behind it was a dark tunnel with no way to know where it led. Laura walked inside without hesitation and Kathrin followed.
They both moved swiftly as if they weren't blinded by the darkness around them. Every step was taken with assurance and without delay. After rounding another corner they saw light ahead. Kathrin decided to show off a little and using magic that has long since been lost in this world, blocked the tunnel ahead of the General and their escort with the earth.
Laura paused and glanced in her direction for a second before stalking towards the small group..
=======
Laura and Kathrin stood together with a gagged and bound White Ash General while facing the New Veroso Generals and Rachel. The latter gave them an approving nod, while General Newman looked impressed. Meanwhile the other New Veroso General that Kathrin didn't bother learning the name off looked at them with disbelief.
"What did you do?" The fool asked.
Kathrin smirked in place of Laura who seemed to ignore his presence. To everyone else Laura was a confusing and mysterious presence. Even to Kathrin who knew more than most didn't understand the wolf that well. However she did enjoy seeing those who looked down on them looking so shocked.
"Rachel, you know what to do, correct?"
"Of course Ma'am." Rachel responded automatically. "May I ask why you won't do it yourself?"
"I had just arrived Condor. But you're the one that's been fighting here the entire time. It'll mean more coming from you."
"Understood Ma'am." Rachel paused before asking, "What about the other prisoners?"
"Is construction for the new prison finished?"
Rachel hesitated, but Kathrin spoke up in her place instead. "It'll be ready in about two days. We can send them there now and by time they arrive it'll be done."
"Perfect, send them there then."
"Yes Ma'am." Kathrin responded.
"If you don't mind I'm going to wash myself off." Laura said, turning around and leaving.
The others watched her leave as Kathrin followed close behind. She stopped to give a nearby soldier orders on what to do with the prisoners before catching up with Laura again. They walked in silence for a while when Laura spoke up.
"That wasn't a superpower you used back there." She said,
Kathrin stayed silent for a moment, then decided to be truthful. "No it wasn't."
"It was magic then?"
"...."
"I heard magic needs components to be used. I didn't see you using any components."
"I… keep them in my pockets." Kathrin said.
"That outfit has pockets?" Laura asked, surprised evident in her voice as she turned around to look at Kathrin. She squinted at the rabbit's outfit with suspicion.
"No way that thing has pockets." The wolf muttered.
With a smile Kathrin reached into one of the many hidden pockets and pulled out a granola bar. "It's a handy little trick. People seem to forget that maids are servants. It makes sense that we would have pockets for convenience."
"... You're not a real maid though." Laura pointed out.
Kathrin glared at the wolf, who simply laughed in response before walking off again.