❦ story ❦

"well! how's everybody's favorite new father- er, mother?... doing?" a pale brown tabby shape slid into the den next to the occupied nests- rootcrow, the two present cats assumed.

the pale ginger and white she-cat snickered. "leave him alone, rootcrow. or do you have a thing for him now?"

"s-shut up, vixenspring." rootcrow sounded flustered. "i mean... for starclan's sake, i'm your mate! i wouldn't... you know."

vixenspring shifted closer, dislodging the litter of four at her belly. "i thought so," the she-cat purred. clearly, she enjoyed messing with rootcrow- of course, the pair was close as ever, so no harm would be done to either cat.

the white cat in the adjacent nest coughed. "you know, as much fun as it is to watch you two mess around, you probably have better things to do. and by the way, rootcrow, your first, ah, male queen is doing fabulously." the tom's voice was as dry as the moor in greenleaf.

vixenspring laughed, and rootcrow gave an awkward smile. "ah, good to know." he settled down next to his mate and tucked his paws under him.

vixenspring glanced at her own litter, then at the single kit suckling at the queen beside her. "one might never have thought it possible for one like you to even exist," she murmured.

the snowy white queen flicked an ear. "i can't get rid of a she-cat's body, you know. but i'm a tom at heart, and we all know it."

the three cats sat in silence for a while.

"how did your parents take it?" rootcrow asked suddenly. "i mean, the, um, transition."

"... snowdropfall is trying to get used to it. i appreciate her support." the tom flicked an ear in discontent. "mudstep... will be fine." a flicker of disappointment and resigned frustration crossed the tom's face at the mention of his father; obviously, the news had not gone down well with him.

vixenspring and rootcrow decided not to push him with more questions. instead, vixenspring pressed herself against him.

"well, the rest of us are okay with it. so take it from me: you don't have to be anyone but your true self. got it, seablossom?"

"i... yeah. thank you, vixenspring."

rootcrow nodded in approval. "just remember that, and you'll be fine." he nodded towards seablossom's kit. "you named 'em yet?"

"i'm waiting for my mate to return from the afternoon patrol. we should make the choice together."

vixenspring glanced down at her litter- shimmerkit, a pale ginger tabby she-cat, briarkit, a russet-brown tabby tom, duckkit, a ginger and white tom, and quietkit, a pale brown tabby she-cat with tiny white paws. "names are important," she mewed half to herself. "i agree with you, seablossom. waiting for him is only right."

a meow sounded from outside the nursery.

"speak of the devil," rootcrow muttered. "he's here."

seablossom smiled. "will you send him in, please?" his tender hazel gaze turned to his kit, lying noiselessly at his belly, kneading for milk with its tiny paws. "we have an important family decision to make..."

❦ winners ❦

first place: -skysong- with seablossom

second place: Dewywrites with seapath

third place: Varulven15 with seamist