Talon pads through the streets, his delegation at his back. Their reinforced claws clicking as they wander along the pavement and concrete grounds of twoleg place. The sun, itself having faded from vision behind the all buildings a while ago, begins sending out it's last, colourful rays. The sky is painted a magnificent orange as the black tom leads his cats towards this night's gathering. Usually the evening would be uneventful until they arrive at the twoleg warehouse just outside the old main camp of Bloodclan, where once more the factions would try to promise and threaten each other into submission. Talon moves almost automatically, his mind already at trying to come up with answers to questions still unasked, as Frost's nudge pulls him back to reality. Talon slowly stops his advance, his delegation moving up around him, eyes narrowing and claws unsheathing as they stare down the unexpected obstacle.

„Greetings, Talon. I see you and yours fare well"

The slender brown and light cream coloured tom mewls calmly, eyes set on Talon.

„Kestrel. Any particular reason you'd go out of your way to talk here with me instead of the gathering? Where is your delegation?"

Talon looks to Frost from the corner of his eye, signing him with his tail to have the cats make a circle. He'll not be ambushed today, not like this. Kestrel should know that he would not go down without a fierce fight, so what is he after? The slim tom chuckles as he casually fixes his whiskers, while Talon's cats carry out the orders Frost is barking their way, trying to guard the group from all sides

„You think I'd attack you here, like this? When I know you'll have able warriors with you? I would rather save my strength for a more… secure score"

Talon narrows his eyes at the slightly smaller cat.

„You have not answered me yet, Kestrel. What is your purpose here then?"

„Simple. I have heard the most amazing rumour just a few nights ago. Care to hear about it, Talon? It's about you after all"

Frost and Talon exchange a brief glance.

„Again, why not bring it up at the gathering, where such matters belong?"

The brown and cream coloured Bloodclan warrior hums as he slowly approaches

„Because I believe we can help each other, Talon. You have a trained healer, and apparently now the means to actually make use of her"

Frost snarls as the tom approaches, while Talon refuses to give the faction leader the satisfaction of an observable reaction. So word has really gotten around already. If he is coy enough to appear here, the other factions no doubt know too.

„Perhaps I do. What's it to you? I hear you try to train a healer yourself"

„We do, or rather we try. Rain is eager to learn, but I fear we lack both the experience and the means. Both of which you have now."

Talon looks at the fellow faction leader for a few heartbeats, before raising his paw. Frost scoffs and sits down, his claws retracting under the dogteeth

„Sounds like you have a deal in mind. Be mindful, Venom is not some piece of food to be traded away. We would not take kindly to any insulting propositions like that"

„I imagined so. Always faithfully defending your clanmates, Talon, hm?"

Kestrel chuckles, sitting down not far from Talon

„No, I think what I am offering will interest you, especially going into tonight's gathering. I am offering an alliance between our factions."

Talon slowly sits down as well, not leaving Kestrel out of his sight for even a second

„Why and how? Be quick about it, Kestrel. The others will already gnaw our ears off for being late, nevermind whatever rumours they may have heard"

Flicking his tail, the sly tom smiles confidently

„We get shared access to food and cats of both factions, being less attackable together, as well as making it through leafbare better. We get our healer trained by a cat that knows the craft and if we have wounded or sick, you help heal them. Think about it Talon, a united front would be a good start towards reunifying the clan, don't you think? With twice as many cats, any of the others would need to think twice before attacking us. Does that not sound decent?"

„It would be… until we separate. You offer alliance, not submission. What happens when one side gets tired of sharing? Or thinks to have found a better deal?"

Talon flicks his ear. Kestrel is witty, he would take a gamble, but only if he believes he could win it. What he says is true, together they would be the by far strongest force in Bloodclan. But he has his eyes every bit as much on the clan's leadership as any of them.

„Is Talon, the cat that braved the forrest clans, that afraid of having a fellow leader beside him?"

Kestrel purrs amused, his joy only increasing as his comment sparks hissing rage from Talon's cats

„Why should I trust you, Kestrel? There can only be one leader in the end. As long as two cats claim that title, conflict in Bloodclan will continue. Equals would only ever work for a while. You know that"

„So is that your price then, Talon? Submission?"

Kestrel returns Talon's look, his green eyes seeming to pierce into the grey cat's head. Talon remains unwavering, though inside his thoughts begin to race. He must remain firm on this, but he could make enormous progress if it ends working out. He needs to get some proof that this deal can work and not immediately backfire.

„You will have to prove your commitment to this, Kestrel."

„…very well then. I accept"

Talon tilts his head in surprise, the immediate answer hitting the red eyed warrior unprepared

„You accept what, precisely?"

„Submission. Under the condition that I become your new second-in-command, I am willing to give command to you. After all…"

The slightly smaller tom leans in with a pleased grin, speaking in a voice that is barely even a whisper

„… you are the one Scourge speaks to, right?"

Talon's tail lashes back and forth in shocked agitation, before regaining control a heartbeat later, his neckfur standing up. Frost looks questioningly from Kestrel to his leader, wonder and surprise in his eyes.

„How would you…"

„I have eyes and ears in many places, Talon. One more thing you may find useful about having me by your side if you agree"

Talon remains silent for a moment, an uncertainty and worry running through him. It is impossible to tell how the other factions might react to the claim that Scourge occurs in his dreams. The leaders would likely either condemn it as nonsense, or worse yet, argue that the dark tom may be going insane. Showing it as little as possible, Talon clenches his jaws in fury. This the others certainly don't know yet. This is likely Kestrel's actual play. If all of Bloodclan views him as mad, he loses any legitimacy he may have had. Kestrel's eyes keep peering into Talon's, a calm smirk on his face.

„…I will need to council with my veteran warriors on this."

„Of course. I shall give you all some space. Better not to take too long. You said it yourself, the others may be growing impatient soon"

The sly leader rises to his paws and pads away, staying at some distance, looking over at Talon and his delegation with interest. Talon meanwhile gathers his second-in-command and the three veteran warriors accompanying him, Silver, Moon and Owl to stand a bit apart from the other cats, whom have ceased their defensive stance by now.

„What is this little foxdung talking about, Talon? Has Kestrel hit his head?"

Frost looks to Talon for answers, as do Owl and Moon. Seeming to sense hat the grey tom is looking for the best way to word his response, Silver comes to his aid

„Talon has been visited by Scourge in his dreams for some time now. He decided not to tell the clan until he can be certain of the meaning of these dreams, or how the clan may react to it. Kestrel must have had some cat eavesdropping on us"

Frost looks to the veteran, his eyes showing the intense process of thought going on behind them, his emotions difficult to read

„So… he speaks the truth then"

„A truth he shouldn't even know. He either has cats trespassing on our ground, or worse yet, we may have a traitor among our own"

Owl growls, agitation clearly rising in the aged warrior as his shoulder fur spikes up

„We'll have ample time to find that out later. Now we need to consider this offer. It could work in our favour, but I for one wouldn't trust Kestral as far as I could throw him. Even second-in-command of so many cats would be a powerful position for him to be in. And then there's the loyalty of his warriors to consider"

Moon mews much more quietly, looking around the other cats in their small circle, Silver and Frost both nodding in agreement. Talon sighs, looking to his second-in-command

„Would you even agree to clear your position for this? I believe, if we tread carefully, we could use this to our benefit, but as far as I am concerned you earned your position, Frost. Kestrel may be useful, but we don't know how far we can trust him."

The white warrior ponders the question for a moment, tail flicking

„As long as you do as you say and remain cautious around this two-faced ratheart… I think it could help us. If we turn up at the gathering as one faction, his cats and ours, it will make quite an impression. And if the rumours of our forest raid have already gone round… you'll need to keep your guard up around the other leaders, Talon."

Talon slowly nods, letting his eyes wander over the veteran warriors.

„I say we agree for now. I will rely on you to remain vigilant. Any trace of treason, you'll need to report immediately. We are trading sound sleep for power here, we cannot get lazy in keeping an eye on them or the price to pay might be great"

Owl takes a step forth, his fur by now smoothed down again, his old voice raspy yet strong

„You know you can count on us, Talon. If Kestrel tries to double-cross you, he'll have to make it past our claws first"

The veterans nod energetically in united agreement. Talon lets out a sigh and nods

„Very well. In that case…"

The dark grey tom steps out from the circle, towards Kestrel, whom's ears perk up with interest as Talon approaches

„I accept your terms. Our factions are now one. If you betray our agreement, I…"

„I think I can imagine, Talon. We both know I'm not the fighter you are and I know Bloodclan's ways"

Kestrel rises to his paws, before bowing his head to Talon

„I recognise you as my leader then, Talon. This should shock the others a fair bit"

„I believe it will. I wonder how they will react, tonight and in the coming days both"

The brown-cream warrior raises his head with a pleased smile

„Shall we go find out then? My delegation is just a bit further down the way"

The new second-in-command chuckles, padding beside Talon as he resumes the march to the gathering, the other cats already following.

„Or rather your delegation now. I believe much might come from this still, Talon"

„We shall see, Kestrel"

The dark furred leader beholds the smaller cat striding beside him now

„We shall see"