The sound of shouting rings loudly already, by the time Talon enters the twoleg warehouse. Ice and Snake firing insults at Wrath, whom by the second looks closer to exploding in a fit of fury. Granite is holding a mostly one sided, but in comparison pleasantly calm discussion with Wraith, growling from time to time and shooting glares at the sibling leaders as their noise makes it hard to hear the sparce few words the cold she-cat chooses to share with him. As Talon, accompanied by Kestrel walks closer to the circle, both discourses die down rapidly

„Look who decided to show after all…"

Wrath's discontent grumble breaks the silence first, Talon nodding his head to the other factions.

„Excuse our tardiness. Something came up very suddenly that required my attention"

Talon sits down, winding his fuzzy tail around himself to rest on his paws, as he often does

„Well that's fine and good, but how come you are late too, Kestrel? You're usually among the first here"

Granite asks calmly, but with a loud and clear voice, his tone already betraying suspicion. Kestrel sits down a pawstep behind Talon, his tail flicking and a content sparkle in his eyes. As a moment passes without answer, some of the other leaders gain an uneasy look in their eyes

„Why are you sitting there, Kestrel? Get your own space and let Frost sit by Talon, as should be"

Wrath growls, the fur on his neck slowly spiking up as he, as well as the other leaders notice that the delegations of Talon and Kestrel aren't splitting up either. Talon speaks up, his gaze wandering between the other factions present

„As of today, I announce that Kestrel be my second-in-command. Frost will be a veteran warrior of Bloodclan, as will Castle. Rain will formally become a healer in training, under Venom's guidance"

The first moment after the announcement, there is silence. As Granit's eyes briefly widen in shock before he regains a more composed expression. A deep growl sounds from Wrath, his eyes piercing both Talon and Kestrel with a furious stare, but no comment escapes him. Ice and Snake look at each other dumbfounded before Ice speaks up

„Mousebrain, a leader can not be a second-in-command too. What is this nonsense?"

„You two fools carry what little brain you have in your tails!"

Granite hisses at the siblings. Wraith's stare pierces Talon, causing him great discomfort that he tries his best not to show, as those eyes that can only be described as predatory observe him. After several heartbeats, Wraith speaks, almost too quietly for the others to hear, her tone dead even and impossible to read

„So, these are the first two factions to become one…"

Snake hisses loudly, claws unsheathing

„Impossible! There was never any fight over territory! Why would Kestrel just give up like that?"

„Oh, I haven't given up at all"

The brown and cream coloured tom chirps joyfully at the confusion and anger he causes the twins

„I'm just placing my bets safely. Surely you've heard of Talon's recent exploits?"

„The raid of a forest clan… we heard. News travelled fast, perhaps too fast"

Granite narrows his eyes at the new second-in-command, before his gaze finds Talon's

„Trusting this one is an even bolder move than attacking the forest if you ask me, Talon. His cats spread the news of your raid. Now he's your second? This reeks of a plot, surely you realise that too?"

Talon can feel his pads sweating, as the attention of every cat present lingers on him and Kestrel. He has to defend his second-in-command from such allegations, or he will seem unsure about this new alliance. At the same time, in his heart he agrees with Granite. Kestrel has some kind of scheme going, and it may be his undoing if he doesn't see through it in time.

„I have made my decision for the benefit for all cats. With the cats of both factions united, we will deter any who'd attack us and be in a better position to provide for all of them"

„A lot of cats, and what will you do with them? You've clearly shown what you won't do with them, Talon! All the cats in Bloodclan are useless if you refuse to let them draw blood from their enemies!"

Wrath speaks up in his loud, thundering voice

„You attacked the forest clans and return with dry claws? Your cats will turn away from you if you're getting too soft to strike at Bloodclan's enemies. This alliance will not last under a weak leader! Where is your honour as a Bloodclan cat?"

„I have to agree with Wrath for once. You had the chance to deal a blow to Bloodclan's enemies. Why stay your claws for forest cats?"

Granite inquires, his tone unlike Wrath however less accusatory and more inquisitive.

„This way there will be no retaliations yet. Bloodclan needs to be united to take on the forest clans. Until then all we could do is lash out at individual clans. We'd win no great victories. The wellbeing of Bloodclan must come first. Only then can we discuss taking the fight to the forest and avenge our fallen"

Talon looks at the grey cat, his calm explanation ending under the loud words of Ice, the black and white tom's tail lashing furiously

„Excuses! You've lost your touch, Talon, just admit it! How can you lead any cat if forest filth worries you?"

Snake grins, stepping up beside his brother

„You've gone soft, I knew it!"

The empty words of Ice and Snake barely register with Talon, his eyes wandering over the other leaders. Wrath is being calmer than Talon had anticipated, but the scarred tom can't hide the sheer loathing in his eyes. Talon being the first to act against the forest has hit the tom both into his personal pride rather as well as his pride as leader. Granite's eyes show that a great deal is going on in his head right now. He understands the threat Talon's faction is now and he is not the kind of cat to remain idle in the face of it. He will do what he thinks he must to either better his chances now, or render Talon's worse again. And then there is Wraith. Talon avoids looking the she-cat in the eyes, her piercing gaze having remained on him the whole time since he arrived. Perhaps not to his faction as such, she would likely be the biggest threat to him personally if she chose to be. Which she might now. Best hunter of Bloodclan by far, he knows that he'd likely never even notice her approach and if she gets the drop on him, he's as good as crowfood. Sighing inwardly, Talon flicks his ear. There is one more threat, closer than all the others now. Kestrel cannot be trusted, and useful as it may be to have him and his cats on his side, will they really be loyal to him? Do they know what Kestrel plans? Though he already guessed as much, Talon's heart sinks as he realises that he now unavoidably started the true beginning of the struggle for Bloodclan. May Scourge guide them all…

As Talon's party slowly wanders back from the gathering, his mind is heavy with thoughts and worries. Only with difficulty was he able to pay attention when, after the initial commotion finally died down, the other factions declared how they were faring. He may lead the strongest faction for now, but he'll need to be sure of the loyalty of the newcomers before he can make much use of it. Meanwhile, the other leaders will do everything in their power to overcome his new advantages. As the cats pad along the dark streets, lit only by some twoleg lights, some of which not even working, Talon looks over his shoulder at Kestrel walking close by him. It will be a while before Talon could get used to the tom as his second-in-command, that is if Kestrel will honour the deal long enough for that in the first place. Then again, he might. As second-in-command, he's next in line for the faction's leadership. If he truly believes Talon to become leader of Bloodclan at some point, remaining loyal could give the tom a good chance at becoming leader after him. Question is, would he be patient enough for it?

Kestrel notices Talon's thought filled eyes on him and pads up beside him

„All good, Talon?"

The dark grey cat hums, returning his gaze to the path ahead

„It may be a while before I grow used to you as my second, Kestrel. Don't make me regret my choice. This could work to the favour of both of us, but only if you can be loyal"

„Was I not loyal under Scourge? I may not fight directly like you others, but I have never betrayed the clan, have I?"

Talon flicks his ear. He isn't wrong, Kestrel incited betrayal und backstabbery among rogues and threats to the clan, never to the clan itself while Scourge was alive. Talon's never heard of the tom ever even considering to lift a claw against the clan's former leader. Then again, it would have been an assured death sentence to any cat to be caught plotting against Scourge. Perhaps his reservations are less well founded than he thinks. But Talon is not Scourge, the clan is not united and becoming too lax might be playing into Kestrel's hand if he does plan to betray Talon.

„No, you haven't. But let us get to other matters for now, your cats will need to relocate. Being one means little if they remain separate, one alley will become the center of our territory."

„Yours, I imagine? It has a proper healer's den already. It will be a bit more of a way for a few of my warriors, but then again, not much more so than it was during Scourge's reign, when his alley was the center of all. We can make that work."

Talon nods, the group turning a street corner, back at the spot where Kestrel had made his proposition earlier that evening

„Very well. Go get the cats that are to live around the alley then, bring your food pile to ours and get Rain. I'll see to it that both he and you will have dens to sleep in when you arrive."

Kestrel nods his head, humming with a pleased expression. With a flick of his tail, his cats split off from Talon's and make for Kestrel's alley.

„So it shall be then. We should be there by the time the sun is up"

„And Kestrel?"

The brown and cream tom turns his head to look at Talon right as he was turning to follow his cats

„About what you heard between me and Silver… you won't breathe a word of it. To any cat. Not yet"

Talon's eyes are narrowed, piercing the slightly smaller tom. It displeases him to have to threaten a clanmate, let alone be ready to make good on it, but he must show strength. Kestrel answers with a calm expression

„As you command, Talon. But you know that sooner or later cats will know either way. Two cats can keep a secret, but all of your veteran warriors know now."

With that, the tom waves his tail in goodbye and pads off. Talon hisses quietly as he resumes the way home, striding with a much faster pace now.

„Frost, I want you to keep a close eye on him once he is settled in our alley. Anything remotely suspicious, report immediately."

The white tom nods as he paces up beside the dark grey tom

„Will do. He is hard to read, isn't he? One moment one could almost trust him, then the next… We cannot forget that he is a foxheart by nature."

„One more reason why he must be in the alley, so we can keep an eye on him. Until we know for sure if he means to be loyal or not we should be very cautious."

„Agreed. I'll try to find a sleeping place for him."

Looking over at Talon, Frost flicks his ear

„Knowing you, after an evening like this you'll be heading off for a bit before Kestrel arrives?"

Talon gives an ironic little chuckle, looking at his former second-in-command

„Am I becoming that predictable? Not the best trait, considering the other leaders want my pelt now"

Frost shakes his head

„The risk would be greater if any cat knew where you're disappearing off to. I admit, it frustrates me a bit to not know, but now that may be for the best. Less easy to ambush you"

Talon nods slowly

„Perhaps. Lead them back to the alley from here, Frost. I'll be back before Kestrel shows up, then the announcement will be made publically."

The white warrior nods and takes the lead of the returning cats, Talon splitting off from the group to walk his own path. As soon as the others are far enough, the grey cat huffs, shaking his head. His thoughts are many and rampant, his pads hadn't stopped sweating since Kestrel's offer. It may be risky, but with tonight's unexpected twist, he needs the tranquility of the river to sort through it. His decisions in the next hours and days could affect dozens of cats, if not all of Bloodclan. Clanmates might live or die by his choices and cats that range from fierce to crafty will be working against him. He needs to calm down and figure out what should come next.

Every action has a consequence, none know that better than the early members of Bloodclan. With that thought in mind, Talon speeds up into a run, making for the forest border.