Relief washes over Talon as he steps back into his alley, between the cold, the distance and the risk of his journey to Wrath, his joy to be back is tangible. Gash, Gravel and Soot each wander off in their own direction at Talon's dismissal, the only one seeming to also stay in the alley itself being Gash, who wanders over to join Ferret and Viper talking. Edge must be looking over Lion today then for viper to be out and about.

Approaching his wall and den, Talon spots Kestrel sitting on the dumpster by the wall, overlooking the alley, turning his gaze to Talon as the leader gets closer.

„Welcome back, Talon. Imagine my surprise when I woke up from my nap and heard you were off storming Wrath's alley with all of four cats as your backup."

The sly, brown tom, chuckles and bounds down from his high perch to join Talon.

„Way to twist facts, not exactly a great assault we did. But we know a bit better now what's up on Wrath's territory… as well as who isn't anymore."

Talon's tone goes from neutral to more serious towards the end, Kestrel's usual grin fading at the last bit, the second-in-command nodding

„I see. How bad is it then?"

Talon looks up at his wall for a moment, contemplating and stopping for several heartbeats

„I'll address the faction in a bit, I'll give the report publicly. Most of it anyway, you'll get the rest of it later. For now, I guess we should make ready to scout out the food you keep mentioning. Prepare a patrol to accompany us. I'll just take a small break in my den, then we can proceed with it all… "

Talon huffs quietly, paws aching after all the walking on the hard, freezing asphalt. Sensing Talon's displeasure, Kestrel tilts his head

„You do remember that you are leader, yes? You can delegate this if needed."

Talon's eyes remain looking up at the edge of the wall where he usually sits. The thought to delegate this had not yet occurred to him, even though now that he thinks on it, of course he could. With some mild annoyance he has to admit that he still thinks more like a clanmate than a leader in some cases. Still work to do there, it seems. Not to mention, if this bears as much risk as is to be expected, leader and second-in-command both going would go against Talon's own rule to not take the same risk Scourge took. But even so, whom would he send in his stead? He'd prefer not to send out Silver so quickly yet again after having been out all night for his sake. He turns his head, looking out into the alley. Kestrel should manage just fine, gathering a patrol for this without much further interference from Talon, but still he'd like to know someone he trusts to be at the forefront of this alongside his second… Owl, while trustworthy, might not be the best fit for this. Moon has her own mission and Silver deserves some rest. Options are running low, unless… A white pelt stretching in the alley catches Talon's eye.

„Frost!"

The former second-in-command's head turns as his name is called, amber eyes quickly finding Talon and Kestrel. In a few quick bounds, the tom moves over to them, seeming pleased to see Talon returned. With a dip of his head, Frost addresses the red eyed leader

„Greetings, Talon. Anything you need of me?"

„There might be something. How's your leg? All good again? And no false pride in your answer"

Frost looks back at his hind leg, demonstratively raising and stomping it down a few times

„Started feeling fine two days ago again. Now I'm finally released from the healer's den, ready to resume duties"

Talon turns towards the white tom, observing him and especially his previously injured leg. It seems to move as it should, nor was there any indication that it wasn't fine when he was bounding towards them. He briefly nods

„In that case, I would like you to act as my eyes on a scouting mission outside our borders. We might have a way to feed our cats through the rest of leafbare, but there will likely be risks involved. You will lead the scouting patrol alongside my second-in-command. Any objections, Kestrel?"

The brown tom looks from Talon to Frost, an amused note in his response

„None. We might not share our temper, but having one of our fiercer fighter with us can't hurt, so deep in rogue territory. That, and more eyes see more, so fine by me"

Frost gives Kestrel a look that Talon finds difficult to place. It's clear that Frost would still rather swallow his own tongue than let lose a positive word about Kestrel, but he's less openly hostile than he was last time the two were gathered in Talon's den.

„Very well. I'll keep my eye on it, the target and him both. Where will we be off to?"

Talon gives Kestrel the go-ahead with a nod. After a brief eye roll following Frost's comment, Kestrel turns to explain

„South, well past my old borders. Fairly close to the edge of twoleg-place in direction of the horse-place. A twoleg meat-place, apparently keeps it's windows consistently open… a few kitty-pets and rogues have succeeded in using that to snag themselves small prizes in the past. We'd be going for the big haul. The catch here is twofold though. For one, getting in, grabbing all we can carry, and getting out of the twoleg den before they can trap us. Then, somehow getting it all back to our territory without attracting the attention of every rogue ever born."

Frost hums thoughtfully, lowering his gaze

„Difficult. Not impossible, but for sure not easy. I admit, the rogues worry me more than the twolegs for once here. Middle of leafbare, there would be no shortage of ones desperate enough to try and take something, no matter how many cats we bring on that patrol."

Kestrel looks from Frost to Talon

„My thoughts precisely. Which is why this scouting mission will be so important. We need to find the best way to and from our target, attract as little attention as possible, while carrying what any cat out there would kill for. I've toyed with one or two ideas, but they all got their own risks still. Either way, we need to explore the route to and the meat-place itself first to make any educated choices."

Talon nods in agreement. Even once they got a somewhat solid plan though, they won't be able to remove all risks. The dark grey tom knows that no matter how they play this, lives will be at stake. But if he doesn't… Talon looks over to the abandoned twoleg den entrance beyond which the food pile lies. They don't bring in enough, now that essentially two factions eat from the same pile. The reserves dwindle. What happens when it all runs out, Talon knows well. Too well.

„Risks we have no choice but to take. Unless something changes, we will run out of food well before the end of leafbare…"

Talon turns back towards the two cats with him, both having turned their attention to their leader, his tone as serious as the situation merits

„Whatever it takes, you hear me? We can allow no failure on this"

Frost sports a small grin, bowing his head, Talon's words probably being reminiscent enough of Scourge's to bolster the white tom's enthusiasm visibly, with no attempts made to hide it

„Then so it shall happen, Talon. Count on us"

Kestrel gives a brief, amused chuckle at Frost's display, but dips his head as well a few heartbeats later

„We'll get it done. We'll assemble a suitable patrol and head out as soon as we're ready"

„Good. In that case you've both got your orders. You are to go about it right after my announcement."

Frost looks up again, a hint of curiosity in his eyes

„News on how Wrath is doing?"

Talon nods, before leaving the two toms behind on the ground, leaping up onto the dumpster and from there onto the wall. Tired as he may be, with the scouting patrol sorted out, he might as well get this out of the way immediately as well. Then he can rest a bit… Moving the few paces to the middle of the wall and sitting down, the attention of a few in the alley is drawn towards him already. Talon briefly closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath of the stiffly blowing, frosty air.

„Bloodclan! Assemble!"

His voice booms through the alley, a slight echo thrown back and forth between the alley's walls. Within moments cats are rushing forth to sit before the wall, the attention of every feline in the alley seeming to be drawn in instantly. Though the many eyes looking up at him cause his pads to slightly sweat, there is something undeniably grand about it. Now with Kestrel's faction being his as well, his call draws in so many. Kestrel is right, at times he still seems to somewhat forget that he is a leader already, he does possess power, whenever he lets that realisation shine through the responsibility that comes with it. Not all are here, many more cats out on the territory, but more than a fair number all the same.

„We returned from Wrath's territory. They are Bloodclan as we are Bloodclan, so you have every right to know how our clanmates are faring"

As soft murmurs go through the drawn crowd, the grand feeling numbs in Talon's chest at the things he must now tell, the sights he saw and sees again before him right now as his thoughts return to them.

„I fear I must report that the blood of our clanmates has indeed been spilled, at the claws of rogues under the command of Ice and Snake. Several cats remain badly wounded, some of their lives still in the balance. Venom remains with them for a few days to attempt and stabilise them, before she will return. But not all could be saved, both Fang and Echo have fallen in battle, their collars soon to be brought into the hall of remembrance, to rest beside Scourge's."

As Talon looks on at the cats gathered before him, he sees a wave of perturbation fall over them. Many eyes fill with dismay or condolence at the news, some however go further, disbelief and grief clouding their gaze. Poppy seems to take it the worst, tears beginning to run down her face at the news of the dead, nothing short of terror filling her grey-ish blue eyes. Viper, sitting beside the grief-stricken she-cat, immediately takes step to her side and attempts to comfort Poppy. The attempt seems to find but a little success as Poppy buries her face in the neck fuzz of the compassionate Viper, rapidly breaking down into harrowing sobbing. Talon's eyes rest on the two she-cats for a moment, before he tears his gaze away. Had there been something he was not aware of? Perhaps Echo meant a bit more to the white, russet specked female, but all Talon can do is speculate.

„Cowards… don't dare to show their worthless hides, so they send rogues to do their dirty work"

Owl's growl rings from close up front, several warriors around him nodding in agreement, dismayed fury blazing in their eyes. Silver sighs deeply, none too far from his fellow veteran warrior.

„Bone did not deserve having such cats calling themselves his offspring… there is no honour to them"

Talon could not agree more, but there is nothing of value to be said about it at this point. Nor would he torture the former second-in-command by mentioning it when he next sees him.

„Wrath has all but sworn a strike of retribution for this already. We will have to see what comes of it when he and his recuperate. In the meantime however, we need to continue our work to get through the rest of leafbare. With Granite's cats no longer fumbling about the dogfight-place and our border as much, every cat with no other tasks is to hunt or join patrols to collect from our food sources. We might soon have a change to secure enough food, but we will continue in disregard of that, just in case. Further, we might soon begin preparations on another raid for herbs and food from one of the forest clans to resupply us."

A bit of hope flickers alight in a number of eyes. The last raid was a great success, hopes that a new one would succeed just as well run high. And the prospect of food is a relief to everyone, the shrinking food pile something each of them must have noticed by now.

„Kestrel and Frost are tasked with scouting out a possibility for food, they will require some of you to join their patrol. The rest of you know what to do. Dismissed. May Scourge guide our claws."

Slowly the cats gathered by the wall separate, a number approaching Kestrel and Frost for their patrol, generally the amount and volume of discussions practically exploding after being dismissed. Looking around though, Talon can see neither Moon, nor Rover. They neither of them was here. Fair enough technically, the news will spread to those that weren't present in less than a day anyway, as it usually is, but he had hoped for a word with Moon at least. Descending in two bounds back down to the ground, Talon heads for Silver as a last stop before retreating into his den for now. The older veteran warrior luckily does not stride very fast, Talon able to catch up with ease.

„Silver, a quick word"

Stopping and turning to face Talon, Silver briefly bows his head. He gives his kindly smile, though the troubled news of Wrath's faction seem to linger as a worried shade over his green eyes

„Certainly, Talon. What do you need?"

„You would not happen to know where Moon is currently at? I would have liked a word with her."

Silver flicks one ear, thoughtful for a brief moment

„Well, if she's not out on your special task, she'd either be at her and Rover's nest, or at Daze and Soot's nest."

Talon tilts his head mildly.

„Why specifically at Daze and Soot's place?"

Silver looks out towards the entrance of the alley

„I'm only speculating, but I think it's the kit. The one you brought back from the fight with the rogues. I could be wrong, but I think she feels some responsibility towards the little one."

Talon nods slowly. Moon had struck down the she-cat among the rogues… not unthinkable that she'd feel like she owed the kit something. Not to mention she's contemplating kits herself now.

„Perhaps she'll take it as her own then in the end. No matter how many kits she and Rover will end up having, they'd already have an older sibling and playmate then. Wouldn't be the worst solution"

„Perhaps so. I'll try to fetch her, if you need me to."

Talon nods in appreciation

„Thank you, Silver. By the way, Argent is fine. We spoke. He's stressed, but otherwise fine"

Silver's ear swivel towards Talon, perked in interest as his sibling's name comes up. The old white and grey tom lets out a breath, some amount of relief in his eyes once he raises his head again

„That is good. I was worried he'd be among the wounded. He can be stubborn and argumentative, but he's no bad cat. He's the last of my kin and my younger sibling, I care for him. Thank you, Talon."

„As he cares for you. Asked how you were faring. But enough for now. I'll be in my den."

„Then that's where I'll send Moon when I find her. Scourge does guide your claws, Talon"

As Silver pads on at a quick pace, Talon is left behind, soon turning about and padding to the crack under his wall

„Let's hope he does… let's hope so…"

Striding with quick steps into his den from there as the elder veteran warrior departs in the opposite direction, Talon lets out a pleased sigh as he slumps into his nest. The distance traveled wound not weigh quite as heavy upon him if it weren't for the biting cold, in the breeze trying to snake through his pelt, in the ground biting at his pads with every step… Tugging his paws in under himself to finally let them warm a bit again, a brief moment of calm comfort arises, before it is slowly pushed to the back of his thoughts by other matters. Messing with twolegs… always a risky matter. There is always a chance their catchers begin making rounds again for a while after a stunt like this, putting everyone at some risk… if they can pull this off at all. All that still doesn't even factor in the rogues along the way. Eyes hazed with thought, face pulled into an expression of concern, the images of Echo and Fang flashing briefly before him. But what choice is there? If he does not risk lives now, he almost certainly condemns cats to starvation before long. Scourge made it always look so easy, making these calls. Was he stressed out over the possible cost of his orders like this too, somewhere beneath the frigid stare? In the beginning perhaps? Or was his gaze so fixated on the larger picture that he could simple look past it entirely? He wouldn't likely answer the question if Talon were to ask. And then there'll be another forest raid to plan, after his next meeting with Ashfur. Another day, another risk to get what the need, yet again. Talon sighs quietly to himself as he sees all the work and worry he has managed to amass before himself. And as if it wasn't enough, there remains that one matter, that one unknown factor, hanging in the back, in the shadows, out there and in Talon's mind both…

As if on cue when Talon's thoughts turn to their treasonous trouble, Moon slips into his den, bowing her head.

„Good, you're here already. Can't have been far off then."

„I was on my way back to your alley from Daze when Silver found me, said you wished to speak"

Talon nods as the she-cat sits down before him

„Indeed. Perhaps Venom would have been preferable, but I want the entire traitor mistery solved sooner rather than later. Rain knows the herbs well by now I hear, he should be able to tell us what plant it is that had been harvested. You could take your sample to him now that he has little work"

Moon remains silent for a brief moment, her good eye lowered in thought. Talon's ears perk up in interest.

„I believe, Talon, that I identified it today, just a few moments ago, in fact. That's why I was headed here already. I'm not sure what to make of it yet however."

„Why, what is it? And how did you find out?"

Moon raises her gaze back to Talon, back straightened, looking dutifully posted and serious

„At Daze. I went to see how the kit we brought was faring, I noticed she had herb like it in her den. Not roughly taken like the bits we seek, but cut and harvested cleanly, precisely by Venom. Our healer gave Daze the herbs because of the kit… apparently it's borage, a herb to help mothers produce more milk for their little ones."

Talon tilts his head, surprised but too busy mulling over this new information to show it much

„I expected something poisonous perhaps, or something to heal wounds… if that's the herb's main purpose, it was probably taken expressly for the she-cat rogue. But why take so much then?"

Moon shakes her head slowly

„I couldn't say. Maybe they weren't sure how long we'd take to strike back? Or they just needed enough to convince the rogue that they were not going to run out?"

Talon's tail lashes slowly in frustration

„Second option sounds more credible, but that's still no guarantee. Hm… Nothing new to report beyond that? From the rogues near the border, perhaps?"

Moon shakes her head, visibly disappointed to not have more to say yet. Talon gives a stressed huff but nods, before flicking his tail in dismissal

„You must get back to it then. Perhaps Rover is correct, if you find where the rest is stockpiled, we might find what we seek, or some new clue at least. We'll solve this yet… they will not escape and they will give me answers when they're caught"