As the dim interior of the healers den comes into focus, Talon slowly shifts in the bedding, not getting far with it before he feels resistance pushing him back down.

„Not yet. He's almost done with the new cobwebs"

Talon eases up as he recognises Venom's voice, slightly turning his head to observe. Rain, seeming still nervous but currently fiercely focused on his task, is carefully applying the new cobwebs to cover Talon's wounds, Venom sitting at his side, supervising the young tom's work.

With a quiet hum, Talon lays his head down again, permitting the learning healer to work unobstructed. The procedure is soon done and Talon rolls onto his belly, looking over to the two healers. Rain is looking up to Venom, visibly anxious for her verdict. After a moment however, she nods.

„Decent work, Rain. That should hold just fine. Unless our fearless leader goes running about, as he knows he shouldn't yet, this should keep it covered until it's sufficiently healed"

Rain's ears perk up, a relieved joy shining in his eyes as he looks up at the experienced healer.

„I tried my best, Venom. I was hoping that I'd get it close enough to how I saw you do it"

Talon, skillfully ignoring Venom's previous jab at him, allows himself a small grin towards her at Rain's gleaming pride at her praise. Venom rolls her eyes at Talon before turning her head away.

„You used up a more webbing than needed though. You'll have to learn to be more efficient with resources as you grow more confident in your own skills. I trust you remember where I've shown you that it can be harvested in leafbare?"

Rain ponders a brief moment, before nodding.

„Y-yes, of course. In the Warm Vapour Cave."

Venom turns back towards the smaller tom, flicking her fuzzy tail behind her

„Time to restock then. Off you go. Bring plenty, you'll change Frost's webs will be next. You need the practise"

The grey, white spotted cat nods once more before immediately dashing off, out of the healer's den. Once the youthful healer is safely out of earshot, Venom looks down upon Talon

„He's making progress. Still squeamish around blood, so I have him train on mostly closed wounds for now. Crusted blood doesn't bother him as much as free flowing. But he's got a knack for this work. He'll turn out well I think."

Slowly rising up into a sitting position, Talon pads bits of the bedding off his shoulder.

„Good. Seems like he genuinely looks up to you. You're a capable teacher, Venom."

The she-cat draws her tongue over the back of her paw several times before using that paw to fix up one of her ears.

„Well, if you got a good mind for cause and reaction, and identifying both, it's not that difficult. The rest comes mostly with practise and repetition. But I think you got other things to worry about"

Talon slightly tilts his head

„Someone come by to report something?"

„Moon came by yesterday night. Forgot that you'd be gone for the gathering. Only saw her a moment, I was out of the den a while. Frost clued her in on you not being there. Seemed important. Also, Kestrel has been waiting outside a small while. Probably has a report ready for you too"

Talon slowly nods. Figures, no rest for the wicked. But Moon's report could be of interest. Have she and her mate made progress to finding their traitor? The sooner this considerably sized thorn in Talon's side can be dealt with, the better for everyone.

„Very well. I'll head to my den for it all, then come back. How much longer would you have me reside here still anyway?"

„A day or two. If you can keep away from fighting or running or anything else that might tear the wound again till then. Frost will stay a few days longer, then we got the lot of you out again. Rat I let out last night. Wound on his shoulder was deep, but clean and healed nicely."

The red eyed leader nods, rising to his paws, shaking his pelt out, none too vigorously to avoid messing up Rain's work.

„Very good. The sooner we're all back in shape, the better. And Venom, we'll need to talk too when I come back. But I need to get things sorted with Moon and Kestrel first."

Venom slightly tilts her head, one of her ears fixed on Talon, the intrigue clear in her eyes

„Well, that sounds interesting. Very well then, I'll get back to putting Frost back together. One more thing though, figured you'd want to know"

Talon takes a few steps out of the nest, before turning his head towards the tortoiseshell she-cat, stopping in his tracks to hear her out.

„Daze and Soot said they're grateful to be here, so Daze will nurse the little one you brought back. But she's not sure if she'd be able to care for her like for her own kits. She's that honest, I guess. So, we'll need to look into who'll take the small one on more permanently once she takes to solid food"

Talon looks ahead, at nothing in particular as he briefly thinks on it

„Good news, I'd say. Fair enough, if Daze knows she might not be able to treat her as her own already. Does mean the young one can stay in Bloodclan and we've got a bit of time before needing to find her a new set of parents. We can work with that"

Venom nods, getting up and with an acknowledging small bow of her head, pads back to her stack of herbs. Talon remains a few heartbeats longer, observing her and her stores of plants. She'll not be pleased to learn that much of it might go towards healing Wrath's cats. Perhaps her displeasure will be less severe if he can announce to her that the stores will be replenished soon enough after… another raid it'll have to be. But raiding Thunderclan is bound to sour things with Ashfur. Perhaps an agreement can be found that'd be of benefit for them both though. Thunderclan is far from the only clan in those territories after all. Maybe Thunderclan has enemies too, enemies that'd be weakened if their herbs went missing in a time where harvesting more is not an option. Talon will need to remember asking when he next visits their spot by the river.

With that decided, he makes hi way out of the den. No two steps outside, an increasingly familiar brown pelt catches his eye, resting next to the entrance, yawning widely and observing the going-ons of his alley, not immediately taking notice of Talon emerging.

„Greetings, Kestrel. Waiting on me, I gather?"

Kestrel looks over and up at Talon, rising to his paws as he recognises the leader.

„Waiting on Venom to tell me you're awake, but by all means, all the better if you're up and out. I have some news."

Talon nods, before pointing to his den under the wall before beginning to head there. Kestrel immediately follows, mildly struggling to keep up, the second-in-command's fatigue obvious and weighing him down. Talon slows a bit, looking over his shoulder as the two toms continue

„Busy all night again? You look like you need rest, Kestrel"

A small chuckle sounds from the sly cat following.

„Best time for the things I do, the night. But if you allow, yes, I think I'll go get some sleep after this."

„Can't well have my second-in-command collapse, can I? I might have you send some cats to me after your reports, but after that, go rest up."

Kestrel nods, taking a deep breath and straightening his posture a bit to appear less tired. A few moments later, the two of them are in the seclusion of Talon's den, sitting opposite from each other.

„Now then, what have you got for me, Kestrel?"

„First, Silver has returned. You were still asleep, so I told him to come back later. I presume you'll want me to fetch him for you?"

Talon nods, his nicked ear flicking. Taking Talon's affirmative also as cue to continue, Kestrel does so without much delay. Had Talon not seen him struggle to keep up and slump a little moments earlier, he'd be fooled into thinking Kestrel was in perfect condition. None of the brown cat's exhaustion sounds in his voice, nor does it show in his expression currently, attentive eyes sitting above an ever so slight smirk. A flawless facade, when he can muster it, it seems.

„The situation in the south might clear up soon. If we still want to use the rogues being at each other's throats to scout out the place for food, it needs to happen soon. Next one or two days, or we might not get it done as easily anymore."

Talon closes his eyes, letting out a nasal exhale. Not surprising, but will Abrarc give them Wrath's answer in time? Talon will have to be there, to hear it and give the needed orders if it's a yes. It'd probably be best and more respectful to go with the cats send over to help himself too… If both he and Kestrel are away, it will make it look like Talon's proposal wasn't serious, a waste of time for cats who don't currently have the luxury of wasting time. Wrath would not forget that, nor forgive.

„Yes. We will select who goes with us today still. Tomorrow, after sunhigh, we'll go. We need that food. Let's hope we hear from Abrarc before then, get that sorted out"

Kestrel nods in agreement, his tail swishing from lying one side of him over to the other.

„Lastly, Granite seems to be shifting focus very suddenly. All the cats that were at the Dog Fight Place, they now either patrol the border to Ice and Snake, or remain close to Granite's alley. If I had to interpret this, I'd say he either expects trouble or an opportunity at the twins territory."

„Not ideal… but it does for now at least take some pressure off of our border. Do you think he's waiting for them to attack Wrath again, so he can swoop in against Ice and Snake when they're barely defended?"

„It would be a very sound plan, they did loudly and clearly announce their intentions after all, so easy to plan around it. That is if Granite has a way of knowing if or when their warriors leave. If it goes wrong, between fighting against superior numbers and the battle exhausted warriors having to retreat home in leafbare, he could lose a lot. Unless there's something we're not aware of yet, it seems like a big risk, big reward situation"

Talon hums, eyes narrowing in thought

„You are the one who gages risk and reward in your plans, Kestrel. Granite is more of an opportunist than a gambler, he prefers certain scores. This feels… incomplete. He would not risk his cats dying off in the snow after an unsuccessful attack. He only strikes if he's sure to win"

Kestrel tilts his head to the side, resting it on his left shoulder.

„Unfortunately I don't know more just yet. And with how busy the next days risk to be, between the Wrath deal, scoping out the food place and planning our next raid, that I presume you'll announce soon, to restock AFTER the Wrath deal, I don't know how much more I stand to find out in time."

A little bit of exasperation enters Kestrel's voice midway through his answer. Talon sighs and shakes his head

„You're only one cat, Kestrel. And there is only so much time in a day. We already know so much more than any other faction of all that goes on. Maybe… after this is all done, we take a piece of Scourge's advice and take it more easy for the rest of leafbare. Focus on matters on and in direct vicinity of our own territory only until it begins to warm again."

A bit of compassion arises in Talon. Sure, Kestrel is working to make the faction strong in hopes of ruling it himself some day, but he's been nothing short of exemplar at it thus far. He's made himself near indispensable, Talon shouldn't let the brown tom burn himself out too much. Both as the resourceful second-in-command he's proven himself to be and as a clanmate, it'd be unconscionable.

Kestrel looks over to his leader, seeming to scan Talon for a few heartbeats with somewhat tired eyes before nodding.

„Perhaps, yes. We do have a… domestic issue to track down still too after all. Well, this concludes my report for now. With your permission, I'll go get Silver then and retire for a few hours."

„If you can still muster it, I'd like you to get Moon as well. She's got a report of her own to deliver from what I hear"

Kestrel tilts his head, even through the now much more clearly showing tiredness, interest sparkling bright. He does not delay for long though, bowing his head in compliance and slinking out of the den.

It takes only a few moments, Talon busy grooming his tail fluff, when a pair of shapes pushes into the den, causing the red eyed tom to look up. Silver and Moon both sit down and dip their heads in greeting.

„Good, you're here. I did not expect you both to arrive at the same time, but very well."

Silver flicks his tail, turning towards Moon

„Moon knew you'd want my report, so she stuck around. It does sound like her report might be of more importance. I could wait outside, if you wish"

Talon ponders this for a few heartbeats, before shaking his head

„I already trust you with matters I wouldn't want just anyone to hear. You may stay, hear what Moon has to say. Perhaps your input might help us out in this matter, pointers we didn't think of yet. I trust no information has leaked though, if you already know that her business is urgent"

Talon looks from the older white and grey cat over to the dark furred female. Moon shakes her head, sitting straight, her eyes, good and blind both, trained on Talon

„I made sure nothing further would get out. Rover and I spoke to no-one about it. I merely mentioned to Silver that I have important news, that is all. I've been waiting since Frost reminded me that you were at the gathering yesterday."

Silver nods at that.

„Moon is not one to claim she has important things to say when such is not the case. Interesting as my report is, I believe hers would have priority."

Talon observes Moon a brief moment. Correlates with what Venom said. What had Frost so occupied yesterday then that he didn't think to mention it? Regardless, Moon is not one for lying, if she says nothing further was said, then that's reliable.

„Alright. Report then, Moon. Have we made progress on finding our traitor?"

Silver's ears perk up with attention, face darkening with seriousness within heartbeats of hearing about a traitor. Moon's tail slowly lashes in mild frustration

„Not as much as we hoped, but a trace or clue of sorts. Herbs have been harvested in the area around the fish place. The same herb, judging by smell, very recently. I considered asking Venom what herb that was, but wanted to report first and get further instructions. Rover remains out there, thinks he might be able to find more still."

Talon tilts his head

„Herbs? I'm reasonably sure Venom has not gone out much to harvest since we raided Thunderclan… Is there reason to think it was one of us, or the rogues themselves?"

„Technically could have been them on the harvest, and we did find some of it stashed away near the fish place dumpsters, but not nearly enough. A lot has been taken. Snow hasn't withered plants that grow at the foot of twoleg lights, close to thunderpaths. Rover thinks finding where the rest was put might tell us more or straight up identify who lured in those rogues to begin with"

Silver silently absorbs each word spoken, working through what information he learns and is able to deduce between the lines. Talon too listens intently, eyes slightly lowered in thought

„Curious… Do you have a sample of the herb? If so, we'll ask Venom as soon as we're done in here"

Moon nods quickly

„I took some into the den Rover and I share. I'll have it in a moment when needed. Beyond that, we only noticed that the rogues at the border were… skittish, more prudent than usual. Normally they just stay on the other side of the thunderpath when Bloodclan cats walk by, now they seem eager to find cover as soon as they see our collars. Something spooked them, more than usual. And I don't think it's what happened to the trespassers, usually doesn't shake them quite like that."

„Something… or someone. Whoever brought the rogues in must have gone to speak to them, left our territory. Scared the locals a bit it seems…"

Talon concludes, tapping one reinforcing claw repeatedly against the floor in a slow rhythm.

„I want you and Rover to find out why the rogues are so terrified. If Rover still finds the time beside that to look for the rest of the herb stash, he's welcome to keep up that search too. Good work, Moon. Keep me updated on the matter. If that's all, you're dismissed. Take some food for yourself and Rover. Work out in the snow all day drains, we gain nothing if you two drop somewhere"

Moon slowly nods, looking down herself. Though not too alarmingly so yet, her ribs show slightly through her white chest fur, her gut is a bit more sunk in. Nothing unusual during leafbare, yet there is a slight shame in the she-cat's good, green eye. But with instructions given, she pads out of the den a mere few moments later, leaving Talon and Silver alone, the older tom looking over to the red eyed leader. Talon remains in thought for a bit, looking ahead as consideration churns in his head. The rogues might be the key. He might not even need Kestrel's assistance for this, if the two warriors send can get the right cat to talk. It'd bring some much needed peace of mind. Peace of mind… calm, the spot by the river. Talon lets out a deep sigh, the desire to just spend an evening there again to unwind so very tempting, but not yet. Soon enough, but not yet. As his thoughts turn to the serene little plot on Thunderclan grounds, he opens his eyes and returns Silver's gaze. Another report, this one at least likely pleasant in nature. A break, of sorts, and after that, back to work…