❦ story ❦

"race you to the river!"

the red cream tabby tom crested over the rise, his naturally long legs giving him an advantage against his opponent for tonight. in the dark, he couldn't see too well, but the pale light from the waxing moon was enough for the both of them.

"hey, no fair. you're the fastest cat in the clan." a meow rang out from behind the tom, and he laughed.

"you really think that, cardinalblaze? i'm so happy!" the tom purred in amusement.

"oh, come on. you know it's true." he turned back to face the dark red tom again, knowing he wouldn't be able to catch up, and started to run once more.

the cliff was in sight now, the cliff in which the river was nestled. just before he flew right off the edge, the golden tom skidded to a halt, taking another moment to glance back at cardinalblaze, then ran to the rock path that led directly to the riverbank. in moments, he touched ground.

"okay, okay! we both know you only wanted to show off. you win," cardinalblaze's voice puffed, just as the tom's paw first landed on sand instead of stone.

"show off?" the golden tabby asked innocently. he looked back and rounded his eyes as much as possible- or at least, more than they already were from gazing at moonlight and shadows. "i just wanted to have a little fun~"

"well, you've had your share of fun by toying with me," cardinalblaze grumbled.

the red silver tabby stepped back, feigning hurt. "toying with you?"

cardinalblaze's expression shifted from a muted ornery to one of concern. "wh- hey, wait." the red tom approached the taller cat tentatively. "i didn't-"

the golden tom rushed forwards, pushing cardinalblaze to the ground and standing over him, his paws planted in the ground on either side. "got you." affection shone in his gaze as he stared at the other tom. "i've got you wrapped around my tail."

"that's old news, roanheart," cardinalblaze murmured. "that's been true since we were apprentices."

roanheart blinked, stunned, while cardinalblaze just looked at him.

i wonder if he sees me the same way i see him.

"let me up, you stupid furball."

roanheart stepped back, almost stumbling. cardinalblaze rolled over and shook himself out. "thanks so much." the red tom's meow was arid.

"well, what are friends for?"

cardinalblaze gazed at him. the two toms were almost nose to nose now, and their stance each mirrored the other's. "i should think we're more than friends now," cardinalblaze mused.

roanheart stared, mutual emotions battering at him in his heart. "o-of course." the words were out before the golden tom could stop them.

cardinalblaze only snorted. "you," he declared, gently roanheart's ear with a paw, "are extremely easy to fluster."

"well..." roanpaw paced the riverbank. "maybe i'm slow with words, when my mind is muddled with your beautiful visage." he widened his eyes at cardinalblaze, lowering his chin and giving him a seductive look. he almost burst into laughter at cardinalblaze's look of wild, flustered panic. "but... my legs will always be able to run faster than yours."

"ah, but you'd never run away from me, would you, roanheart?" cardinalblaze purred. "i can keep you rooted to the spot-" cardinalblaze bounded forward, matching his pace with roanheart's, "and you'd be helpless."

"helpless..." roanheart paused to stare into cardinalblaze's amber eyes. that much almost incapacitated him. down for the count and i'm drowning in them. did cardinalblaze know how helpless he was to him?

cardinalblaze, sensing roanheart's high-running emotions, pulled away in embarrassment. "uh-"

roanheart batted cardinalblaze lightly over the head. "stupid furball."

cardinalblaze purred and whisked his tail around, brushing roanheart on the shoulder. to roanheart, the touch felt like the tickle of a feather.

without warning, cardinalblaze raced off, leaping up the rock steps on the cliffside at a dangerous speed- but roanheart knew he'd gone faster before. "race you back to camp. this time, i get a head start."

unable to suppress the purr that came from within, roanheart followed, and the two chased each other into the forest...

❦ winners ❦

first place: SterlingCatharis with roanheart

second place: cinnamonbunns- with roansky

third place: Dewywrites with roansong