I stood up and tried walking to the door. Suddenly, Katarina stood up and blocked the doorway. “Yes, you do have somewhere to be, and that somewhere is here,” Katarina said sternly. I knew there was no getting out of staying. I sighed and sat down in a nearby chair. I whimpered softly as Katarina kneeled in front of me. I felt her hands gently lying on my knees. “You worry me sometimes,” she laughed weakly. “But you are not leaving me, and you are under my protection.” I blinked in shock at her statement; ‘under my protection.’ What did she mean? Was it true? “Kat….” I said hesitantly. My legs were still a bit shaky. “What do you mean that I’m under your protection?” I asked. Katarina sighed and stood up. She took a seat across from me. I stare in her eyes as she begins to speak. “You’re under my protection because your mother was a good friend to my father. After the Black Rose took her in because she fell in love with your father, she asked him to put her future children under his family’s care and protection so you would not have to face the horrors of the Black Rose." She takes a moment to gather her thoughts. "So, yeah, that’s why. And don’t worry, my love for you isn’t forced. You truly mean a lot to me.” Her gentle voice was almost too overwhelming to handle. “So my mother didn’t want to join the Black Rose, but she did so because she loved my father... But she didn’t want me to suffer the group’s burden?” I said, absolutely shocked. All of this was so new to me... and terrifying. “Yeah, but Kaashvi, please get rest. The fight you had with Garren was almost fatal.” I took her words into account. My body did feel heavy, and sleep sounded comforting. She walked over to pick me up, and she placed me back in the cot. Her hands gently brushed over my weary and sore eyes. Her touch was comforting, even with the mix of emotions swirling from the earlier conversation. I slowly fell asleep with my hand holding onto her wrist, as if that alone could protect me from the demons of my nightmares.
Thanks to @EmberstarofMoonClan for editing my writing
