❦ story ❦

the fiery red tom stood outside of the warriors' den, his eyes shut tight. just breathe. in, out. in, out. the breathing helped, but it couldn't completely quell the nervousness rattling in his chest.

he had already spoken to his sister about his... lack of attraction to she-cats... and she seemed fine with it. as for elderfrost, well, he'd figured that talking to him would be nothing but a waste of time.

now, he just needed to speak to firescar and squallbreeze. how would they react?

the tom opened his eyes to the blackening night. bands of blinking stars crowded the navy blue sky. oh starclan, he thought, lend me your strength.

he'd asked both seablossom and coralwish for advice; seablossom had told him to stay true to himself no matter what, while coralwish had told him to just get it over with, sharing a knowing glance with his mate. so here he was.

quivering slightly, the red tom slipped into the den, where his parents were waiting. the other warriors were probably either asleep or on the night patrol; of course, he didn't want his confession to be any more nerve-wracking than it already was. as it was, he couldn't even remember how long it had taken to work up the courage to firstly tell his sister, and now, secretly telling his parents.

firescar and squallbreeze were already waiting for him... and, to the red tom's surprise, a pale dappled figure was positioned next to firescar, his yellow eyes staring balefully outwards as he crouched in the shadowy den.

"elderfrost? why are you here?"

"i have half a mind to out you to firescar and squallbreeze," elderfrost deflected.

"you want an attempt at embarrassing me. don't play games with me, elderfrost."

"elderfrost-" squallbreeze cautioned.

"cardinalblaze will tell us whatever he needs to say in due time," firescar finished, glaring disapprovingly at her oldest son. then she turned to cardinalblaze. "if you'd rather wait for elderfrost to leave, it's fine."

"no, it's okay. elderfrost already knows," the fiery ginger tom huffed. "not that i wanted him to, though." now that anger at his brother had swelled to push out nervousness, cardinalblaze let out a small, choked noise from his throat and looked his parents in the eye.

"i-i-" cardinalblaze drew in a sharp breath. "i don't- i mean, i'm kind of very, very gay."

(A/N: i don't know how coming out goes help)

... at least you didn't trip over yourself.

firescar flicked an ear and said nothing, her expression blank. squallbreeze's gaze travelled slowly from cardinalblaze to elderfrost to firescar, and back again.

"well?" elderfrost sounded angry, but there was also a note of anxiety in his voice; he wanted someone to be on his side.

"is that all?" firescar gazed at the dark ginger tom. "i'm more attracted to toms myself as well," she added and proceeded to lick a forepaw and rub it behind her ear.

relief made cardinalblaze's heart soar; seemed like firescar didn't mind. he turned to squallbreeze.

"how do you know?" squallbreeze studied cardinalblaze warily.

"i- well, whenever i spend any time with- well, i think you can guess who- anyway, i just feel... light-headed. like i want to shelter him from all harm. like i couldn't be without him. i've never felt that way about anyone else, not a she-cat, not anyone." cardinalblaze shuffled his paws and dropped his gaze, embarrassed.

"this proves nothing." elderfrost spoke up. "we all want to defend our friends. besides, if you've never felt this way about a she-cat, how do you know it's love with a tom?"

"i know i like toms the same way you know you like she-cats," cardinalblaze meowed coolly. "i have feelings for him, and that will not change." cardinalblaze curled his lip. "alternatively, you, elderfrost, have never been in love, nor would anyone want to be mates with such a toxic, belittling, unaccepting cat like you."

"both of you, enough." squallbreeze's commanding tone made both cardinalblaze and elderfrost shut up on the spot. the white and gray tabby tom stood up. "cardinalblaze, i've heard enough." cardinalblaze's throat seized up, but squallbreeze continued, "if you're sure you like him, then i will not stop you. elderfrost-" his meow sounded severe as he turned to his other son, "-it would do you no harm to at least try to accept this. it's not against the word of starclan for a tom to love a tom."

"... for once, i am in full agreement with your father." firescar frowned. "what is your vendetta against cats who love one of their own gender? nature may not have intended for this to happen, but change is not a bad thing."

"if you still insist on being so disapproving, then leave. forever." cardinalblaze stared his brother down. "we have no relationship now; i've put up with you too long, and clearly, you will never change."

elderfrost whipped his head around, first at cardinalblaze, then his parents. he wanted to look for an exit, but they gave him none. he had chosen his path.

"fine." elderfrost stood up and glared at cardinalblaze. "i find only shame in calling a cat like you a brother. a tom-born tom who fell for another one."

"being gay is not a sin." the fiery red tom raised his chin high with pride. "but consistently attacking me for something i can't control is. goodbye, elderfrost."

the spotted gray tom let out one final, furious hiss, his ears flattened to his skull. but he was powerless to do anything. wordlessly, he turned his head around and slunk to his nest, defeated.

❦ winners ❦

first place: risen_phoenix with cardinalblaze

second place: Varulven15 with cardinalflame

third place: Tilleystar-SaveW with cardinalsky