❦ story ❦

"how did it go?" seablossom, who had earned his full name just a moon ago, sidled up to a nervous coralpaw.

"you'd better ask dolphinsplash. I don't know how i did, only she does. and cloudstar."

seablossom broke into a purr. "that's true. well, how do you think you did?"

"um, okay, i guess." coralpaw plopped down and started scratching his ear with a hind paw. "but i almost missed this blackbird, and i don't know how willing the other apprentices were willing to work with me for the team assessment."

"well, then that's their problem." seablossom sat down next to the white and ginger tom. just sitting like this in what felt like their own secluded part of the bustling camp made coralpaw's heart race. they sat there in a bubble of silence, tails swishing contentedly, and gazed at the rushing warriors and play-fighting kits and apprentices. how long would they stay here and do nothing before being called off for duties?

"seablossom?"

"yeah?" seablossom turned his gaze on the stocky white and ginger tom; even though seablossom was a few moons older, he was a lot shorter, with his ear tips coming to around coralpaw's own ears.

"um... i think i should c-clear the air... a little..." suddenly, coralpaw was stuttering, tripping over his own words.

seablossom flicked an ear, but gave no other visible reaction. "okay."

"i... um, i may or may not have a- a mild-"

"coralpaw!"

a yowl from the leader's den- a boulder that, although appearing stout and unimpressive, actually held a cave large enough for a cat inside- distracted the two toms. from the lichen screen emerged two she-cats: one dark gray with a white underside and legs and copper eyes, one fluffy and white with golden amber eyes that shone like miniature suns.

"you did great! cloudstar and i agree that you've earned your warrior name."

"really? coralpaw, that's great!" seablossom shot a proud glance at the tom beside him, his paws twitching as he restrained himself from leaping up with excitement.

"o-oh, i did?" coralpaw licked his chest fur in an attempt to conceal his embarrassment. "well, it's all thanks to you, dolphinsplash."

dolphinsplash purred happily, and cloudstar interjected. "well, coralpaw, you've certainly proved your clanmates wrong." she glanced around at her warriors; catching sight of the returning evening patrol, she nodded. every warrior was now present. taking another full look at coralpaw, she added, "you look fine enough. i think i'll start the ceremony right now."

before either tom could object, cloudstar bounded back to her den. she climbed to its flat top and launched herself gracefully into the overhanging branches of an old tree and let out an authoritative yowl. "let all cats old enough to climb and fish gather beneath the shaded snowbell for a clan meeting!"

coralpaw cast a sidelong glance at seablossom. he'd wanted to confess that he'd had a crush on him before he became a warrior. the clan would feast, and at night he'd have to wait for his vigil to end... but he told himself, he'd waited this long. he could wait another night.

***

the new warrior sat alone, his face turned up to the scintillating band of stars that the warriors called silverpelt. each individual warrior faded in and out of existence, in and out, in and out. maybe they wanted to take turns watching him, but then again, there was enough room in the sky for them all to come and see.

he felt another pelt brush against his own. without even looking, he guessed who it was.

"i know you're not supposed to say anything during the vigil," seablossom's voice murmured in his ear, "but that's fine. you don't need to say anything, you can just listen. i'll make it quick, don't worry."

the white and ginger tom flicked one ear in seablossom's direction.

"about what you were going to say before the ceremony..." suddenly his heart pounded, and he felt the sudden urge to run away. what was seablossom about to say?

"i know you like me, coralwish. thing is, i... um..."

(God help the aromantic girl write a romantic scene)

coralwish held his breath as seablossom continued. "i was friendly with all the apprentices, you know, but something about you just... i don't know, coralwish, i knew you were nice, and i guess i wanted to bring that out."

"but it's more than even that. um..." seablossom laughed awkwardly, his tail swishing and betraying his nervousness. "well... you can't really choose who you fall for, but i think my heart chose wisely," seablossom mewed bashfully.

the sun chose that moment to peak above the horizon. warm red light flooded the rise. starclan warriors flickered off one by one, giving coralwish and seablossom a private moment together.

coralwish looked at seablossom and blinked slowly. "if you like me so much, seablossom, you would remember that i don't do sap."

seablossom stepped back, confused. "um... are you-"

coralwish cut him off. "but i suppose i can make one exception." he stood up and pressed his cheek against seablossom's, for once not flinching away at the intimacy. "but don't push your luck."

seablossom broke into a purr and nuzzled coralwish back. "okay."

❦ winners ❦

first place: Varulven15 with coralwish

second place: cinnamonbunns- with coralpath

third place: wolfgreen8787 with coralshell