Blazeheart's POV
What did I just do?
Blazeheart, padding back into Birchclan camp, attempted to look normal on the outside, but on the inside she was screaming with a hundred emotions. First of all, she had nearly killed a cat to protect her mate. She supposed that any cat from any clan would do the same, but Eaglewing had fought many battles before. He was a senior warrior, and he had looked like he was doing fine on his own, although he had a habit of forgetting all the best battle moves right when he needed to use them. It had looked pretty funny to see him jumping up and down with that Ivyclan warrior on his back. But that wasn't the point. She had almost killed a cat.
Then, there was the fact that she had felt bad afterwards. It was an Ivyclan warrior, and she had seen worse wounds than the ones she gave him, but she still felt terrible. It wasn't unjust that she had wanted to help her mate. Maybe it was unjust that she had nearly killed him, since there was no chance that he could have killed Eaglewing, but sometimes warriors lose themselves in battle. It just happened sometimes, and it was no big deal. But she had almost killed a cat!
Someone nudged her, and she was back in reality. All around her, cats were going back to their daily lives. Only a few were going to the medicine den, which was a in a small cave in the hill that marked their territory. Beyond it was Doveclan. The two clans had battled for that hill for years, until Blackstar proposed a vote at a gathering. Only DoveClan had voted that the hill was theirs, so it was decided that it belonged to Birchclan. DoveClan had held a grudge ever since. The medicine cat, Dawnflight, seemed to be treating Hawktail. Petalstorm and Mountainclaw were standing close by, a worried expression on their faces. Why do they always worry so much about their mother? Blazeheart wondered. There have been other crazy cats in this clan, and those two never worried about them!
"Honey, we need to talk." Blazeheart looked around and saw her mother, Dappleflower, standing close by. She groaned. Anytime her mother wanted to talk, it was about something Blazeheart didn't want to do, and she usually ended up doing it. If it was just her mother talking, Blazeheart could usually get what she wanted, but Dappleflower usually brought her mate, Boulderfoot, into the argument. He would make some comment about how all of this fighting would ruin their image, and that he "wouldn't stand for it," and Blazeheart would have to go along with it, because her father was the deputy, and however much she hated whatever they wanted her to do, she did it, because she didn't want to ruin her father's career. Since she had been a lot younger when he said this, she didn't know that her father was very respected, all families fought, and no one would blame her father for what she did. Now she was older, and she knew better. They wouldn't fool her this time.
"What is it this time, mother?" she said, annoyed. Dappleflower gave her a look of disapproval. Blazeheart did the same. They stayed like that for a few seconds, and then Dappleflower said, "Your father is waiting. Let's go."
They padded towards the warriors den, which was hidden in a large clump of bushes on the far side of the camp. On the way, Blazeheart saw her best friend, Jaystrike, taking the largest squirrel out of the fresh kill pile. Blazeheart smirked. Jaystrike had always had a huge appetite. Jaystrike looked her way, saw her, and put the squirrel back, embarrassed. Blazeheart started to laugh.
"Blazeheart, what are you so happy about?" asked Dappleflower.
"Nothing, mother," lied Blazeheart, and tried to compose herself.
They reached the warrior's den and pushed inside. There was Boulderfoot, calm and stately as usual. Blazeheart looked at him in disgust. He never relaxed. It was like he thought he was being watched all the time, and he had to look perfect, or else no one would respect him. Blazeheart didn't respect him, but for an entirely different reason. He was cleaning his long, dark-brown fur. As if it needed any more cleaning.
"What do you want?" Blazeheart asked.
"That's no way to address your father," said Boulderfoot calmly.
"What do you want?" Blazeheart asked again.
Boulderfoot sighed. "Your mother and I heard about what happened today at the battle. We would like to talk to you about the outcome."
"I didn't mean to do it!" Blazeheart exclaimed. "I was just trying to help!"
"Dear, we think it was great that you wanted to help!" said her mother. "We think it proves that you're ready for a real relationship with Eaglewing!"
Blazeheart sighed. For moons, her mother and father had been discussing her "relationship" with Eaglewing. She had never really expressed any emotion towards him, in fact, her parents had come up with the entire idea. They thought she needed a mate, so naturally, they chose one for her without even telling her so, much less asking for her opinion. One day they announced that they were mates, so they were. This had caused the biggest fight ever between Blazeheart and her parents, but of course, they had won. But Blazeheart refused to be near Eaglewing, or even talk to him if she didn't have to.
"Mother, this supposed 'relationship' was entirely your idea. I have never expressed any feelings about Eaglewing, or even had a conversation with him. I would help any warrior in danger, and Eaglewing isn't different than any other warrior. If you mention this 'relationship' to me one more time, I will personally go over to Eaglewing and tell him that I never liked him, even as a friend, and that this whole thing was your idea. In fact, I'll go do that now. Goodbye."
She walked out of the den, her parents yelling behind her. She completely ignored them. She could do whatever she wanted. Nothing they said could stop her anymore.
