"This is the rogue's camp? I thought it would be busier than this," Bird murmured into my ear upon passing the clump of undergrowth lining the clearing that the rogue's called their camp.
"The majority probably don't live here," I answered in return, rogues preferred a more solitary life than one with comrades. "In any case, we need to hurry and find the second in command."
"So what does he look like?" my ginger-and-black companion asked while scanning the few rogues hanging about.
"He's tannish brown with amber eyes."
"Ah! There he is," Bird signaled towards the proud cat, who fit the description perfectly, sitting on a low tree root. His ears perked as his stern gaze landed on us. He tilted his head slightly, a come here gesture.
"You do the speaking, this is perfect practice for you," Bird murmured to me. "What's with that face? I'll be right by your side, so don't worry," he added upon seeing my distraught expression.
"I-I'll try," I murmured, taking in a deep breath I started towards him.
"I've never seen your face before, who are you and state your business here!" I flinched at his cold, hostile tone.
"W-w-well… I-I'm Juniper…" I trailed off while looking down nervously. I froze when Bird's tail tapped my shoulder reassuringly. Looking back at him, he gave me an encouraging smile. "I am Juniperpaw, the medicine cat of SilverClan."
"What's a SilverClan cat doing here," the tannish cat snarled while his hackles began to rise.
"I wish to join… You see my Clan is pathetically weak and well, I've grown sick of it. The only problem is that I can't leave, for all my life I have only known the moorland. There is no way I could possibly survive in the forest so when I heard that a group of rogues wish to terminate SilverClan I thought this would be a great opportunity," I paused to let this sink in before continuing. "So I come to offer you my service as a medicine cat, I can heal the injured and ill. But, at the same time, due to my rank in the Clan I can also gather important information that I can then divulge to you."
"Hmm… interesting," the rogue murmured, his eyes narrowing as he thought this over. "Very well I shall allow you to join… I take it your companion wishes to join as well."
"Yes that's right."
"Today has been a good day," the cat grinned, a grin full of chilling darkness. "I welcome the two of you into our assembly, and may we all gain from this new alliance."