Breezepelt and Heathertail probably ain’t heathy by Mellowix

Mellowix shares their opinion on Breezepelt’s and Heathertail’s relationship.

I think it’s impossible for Breezepelt to ever be a stable mate or father. As an apprentice, Breezepaw was disrespectful and insulted everyone around him, including his Clanmates. He’s controlling of the other apprentices, including Heatherpaw and she has to serve as his apologist:

Breezepaw’s controlling nature:
“Though you couldn’t tell it from his manner. He’s been trying to boss the other apprentices from the moment he went from a ’kit to a ’paw.”

(Specially Heatherpaw’s personal experience) “Breezepaw thinks that I have to do what he says because his father, Crowfeather, is my mentor.”

“It’s hard to believe, but Breezepaw can be great fun on a good day.” (Take note of “good day”, this implies him being “fun” is rare and he’s difficult a majority of time.) – The Sight

At the Gathering, he rudely questions Heatherpaw’s choose in peers and pressures her away:

“You’re not going to waste your time chatting to these two, are you?” The black-pelted WindClan apprentice sat down beside Heatherpaw. “Ivypaw and Owlpaw have just challenged Berrypaw to a competition to see who can jump the highest.” He licked a forepaw and drew it over his ear. “Why don’t you go and watch it, then?” Heatherpaw replied. “Why don’t you come with me?” A challenging glint sparked in Breezepaw’s eye.” – The Dark River

Heatherpaw feels the need to apology for someone else she knows is in the wrong:

“Please don’t be angry,” Heatherpaw begged. “Crowfeather’s always bad-tempered. It’s just his way. And Breezepaw thinks he’s a warrior already.” – The Dark River

Example of Breezepelt ordering Heatherpaw around:

“Breezepaw sent me to catch mice between the rocks just over the top of the moor, not far from camp. I chased one down into a crack and realized that the crack opened into a tunnel. When I went inside I found that there were tunnels leading everywhere.” – The Dark River.

Breezepaw being ungrateful that Thunderclan saved Heatherpaw:

“We should go,” Brambleclaw meowed. He dipped his head to Onestar. “Those dogs won’t dare come near this part of your territory again.” “If they do, we can manage them by ourselves,” Breezepaw muttered. “Breezepaw!” Nightcloud snapped. “Heatherpaw might have been hurt without this brave apprentice.” She blinked gratefully at Lionpaw. – The Sight.

Heathertail and Breezepelt arguing over his aggression:

The two WindClan warriors flanked them as they crossed the moor. No one spoke, but a low growl rumbled occasionally in Breezepelt’s throat. Heathertail swung her head and glared at her Clanmate.
“Will you stop making that noise!” she growled.
“Do you want to make them feel welcome?” Breezepelt snapped back.
“I think they got the message from Onestar,” Heathertail pointed out. “They don’t need you snarling at them all the way to the hollow. They’re just apprentices.”
“It’ll teach them not to do it again.”
“Just shut up!” Heathertail snorted. “No one died and made you a leader.”
Breezepelt let out a hiss, then was quiet. – Fading Echoes.

Breezepelt clearly never told Heathertail about his Dark Forest training:

Breezepelt rolled his eyes and leaned farther over the bank so that he could talk to the other trainees without Heathertail hearing him. “Look, I don’t want to fight you over this,” he muttered. “But I’ll have to if you keep arguing. Just clear out, okay?” – Forgotten Warrior.

If that wasn’t bad enough, we haven’t even scraped the surface when it comes to Breezepelt’s crimes. Why does Heathertail feel safe becoming mates and having children, with the same cat who tried killing their half-siblings and wished to kill their father? Murdering Family is a line Breezepelt is all too willing to cross and actually his whole motive. And willing apart of the Army leading a genocide against Windclan, which included Heathertail and Nightcloud. Breezepelt was aware of this – the two cats who had faith in him could get killed – yet he did anyway.

“Not straight for the throat!” Breezepelt of WindClan snarled. “Death shouldn’t come too quickly. We must terrify our enemies before we kill them.” – Last Hope.

“Breezepelt?” Brokenstar turned to the WindClan warrior, who was peering at Beetlewhisker’s
body through narrowed eyes. “Did you hear me?” Brokenstar growled quietly. “Why would I leave the strongest Clan?” Breezepelt lifted his head. “My Clan wastes too much time looking after the sick and old. If you led us, we’d never have to beg another Clan for help again.” – Last Hope.

“There you are!” Breezepelt’s eyes shone. “We’re going to launch an attack on the (Windclan) camp.” – Last Hope.

Heathertail knows all this from personal experience with Lionpaw, when he tried killing her and her mentor. And Heathertail is cold and keeps her guard up with every new encounter with Lionblaze and rightfully so. It’s a necessary measure to keep herself getting hurt again.

Heatherpaw’s traumatic experience with another murderous lover:

Behind them Heatherpaw reared up on her hind legs, her blue eyes wide with shock. Lionpaw lunged at her and
grasped her scruff between his teeth. She struggled, wailing, as he dragged her through a wall of ferns and flung her to
the ground in the small clearing beyond. Enclosed in the pale green cave, he pinned her down, letting his paws prick her skin. […] Lionpaw stared down at her, stifling the urge to shred her fur. “I don’t believe you,” he breathed. “You’ve never forgiven me for wanting to be a loyal Clan warrior.” He leaned closer and dug in his claws as she tried to wriggle away from his hot breath. “I’ll never forget this, Heatherpaw. I will be your enemy forever.”

[…] “Get out of my way!” Lionpaw lunged at Crowfeather. Hooking his claws into the dark gray warrior’s neck, he flung him through the ferns and thumped him onto the ground. Still gripping his throat, he leaped on top, tearing at his flesh in a frenzy. Suddenly teeth sank into Lionpaw’s shoulder and claws dug into his flank. Heatherpaw was dragging him off. “Stop it!” she shrieked. “What are you doing?”

Startled by the terror in her voice, Lionpaw froze. Crowfeather lay among the green ferns by his forepaws, bright red blood bubbling at his throat. Heatherpaw crouched over her mentor. “Crowfeather!”
Heathertail’s later response to Lionblaze:

“Meeting Heathertail’s gaze, Lionblaze saw nothing but cold contempt in the eyes of the cat who had once been his friend.” – Sunset.

But when Breezepelt does much worse and is actually a Clanmate, Heathertail is the complete opposite. She’s instantly forgiving/supportive of him directly after the Great Battle, which even Crowfeather couldn’t do. Quite suspicious on if this comes from a heathy place for Heathertail.

Breezepelt doesn’t even know what a healthy relationship is. He’s never had a positive relationship in his life, friend or family. Mistreats all his peers and bystanders with insults, possessive and aggression. Even in Vision of Shadows, he still has his aggressive attitude and shouts hypocritical statements at Gatherings. The closet to functioning relationships he has still had unhealthy aspects to it. There’s no need to get into Crowfeather, as I’m sure you’re fully educated on it already.

With Nightcloud:
“Nightcloud coddled her son, encouraged him to believe he was better than the other warriors, and in doing so, never gave him a chance to prove his own worth. […] His mother’s insistence that he had to answer to no one gave Breezepelt a dangerous arrogance” – Ultimate Guild.

“Nightcloud should trust her son to prove his own worth, without leaping in to defend him first. […] Breezepaw shares his mother’s arrogance, but perhaps we can forgive his readiness to draw blood in defense od his Clan.” – Cats of the Clans.

“Breezepelt writhed, snarling. “I always knew you hated me!” “I never hated you!” Crowfeather growled. “That’s just what you were determined to believe. And Nightcloud encouraged you.” – Last Hope.

“Nightcloud had carried Breezepaw like a kit. His hind legs had dragged over the forest floor, but he was too exhausted by
shock to complain. Crowfeather had padded beside his mate the whole way, offering to help, but Nightcloud kept hold of
her kit as though she might lose him again at any moment.” – The Sight.

(Example of Nightcloud unessarily defencing of her son. And supporting Breezepaw’s overreaction to Crowfeather’s perfectly normal question) “No damage to the barrier,” Breezepaw called. “Have you checked it all the way around?”Crowfeather asked. Breezepaw glared at his father. “Of course! That’s what Whitetail ordered me to do.” Nightcloud stepped forward. “You should have more faith in our son, Crowfeather,” she chided. “Whitetail’s my mentor, not you,” Breezepelt added.
And the earlier quotes that Heathertail often doesn’t have good interactions with Breezepelt either. Breezepelt has no experience to speak of when it comes to having healthy relationships – So how is he meant to know how to act being a mate or father? It’s highly unlikely Breezepelt can even handle it, coming straight off the attempts murders of his own family.

And going into slightly more questionable evidence in the form of the Erin Hunters. During an Erin Chat during 2009, a Fan asked Vicky if Heathertail and Breezepelt are in love. This was years before Vision of Shadows and they were confirmed mates.

Question:Does Heathertail still like Lionblaze? Or are her and Breezepelt really in love?
Answer: Vicky Holmes: Poor Heathertail, I suspect part of her heart still belongs to Lionblaze even though she knows it is an Impossible Love (yay, one of my favourite things!). No way are she and Breezepelt in love! Although their relationship is more complicated than “just friends”.

If one of the Authors – finds the idea of Breezepelt and Heathertail being in love outlandish, doesn’t say something? In the eyes of Vicky at least, they were never functional as a couple and if they were, it certainly wouldn’t work. At least, certainly not a healthy pairing. Vicky even states they’re not even proper mates. Instead, they have a complicated, confusing and murky relationship that doesn’t even count as love.

Now for the loosest piece of evidence, is a Youtube video: “Liking Heathertail? – Harestar: Day 3 – Warrior Cats Speedpaint/Theory” (Quickly search if you need to, less then 2 minutes, so it’s no issue.)

It talks about supposed comment Vicky made about: Harespring had a crush on Heathertail but Breezepelt threatened him during Dark Forest training, so he would stay away. Considering Vicky often likes to have off-handed small stories and there are no strange details – I’ll say it’s more likely to be true, just not tracked now yet. Now if this is true, this just completely speaks for itself. That Breezepelt threatened his own clanmate just to hog a single Heathertail’s romantic interest. If there’s any form of threatening, it atomically can’t be healthy.