(Before the next chapter, it seems a few matters ought to be addressed. I am very new here and I have for the most part no idea how anything works. It appears I have already earned myself the dislike of some folk because, seek as I may, I find no direct way to respond to the reviews I received thus far. To answer the main question asked thus far, no, Ashfur is not the mentor of Jaypaw, but of Lionpaw, as it is canonically. Leafpool mentors Jaypaw.

Further, just to elaborate on my current upload habits, I upload chapters in bulks for the simple reason that the story is already a good bit further than this and posted on AO3. I bulk-post so the story here catches up with the story there. Once that is achieved, expect an upload rhythm of a chapter every 1-2 weeks, but considering I'm currently writing chapter 60 and uploading chapters is a bit more tedious here, it may take a bit before both sites are synchronised.

I do still hope everyone reading the story enjoys it and may Scourge guide your claws)

„Space out around the alley's entrance! Keep distance and make sure to stay out of it's reach!"

Talon barks his orders as he rushes over to the corner Grail just disappeared behind, the rest of the patrol right behind him. Skidding to a halt in front of the alley, Talon arrives just in time to witness the she-cat raking her claws across the drowsily rising muzzle of the dog. As blood gashes forth from the scratch, the large beast shoots up, giving a howl of pain before it's eyes settle on Grail.

„Get out, now!"

The russet she-cat flips around and begins a rapid sprint down the alley, the hound right behind her. As she darts around any and all objects in the way, the enraged canine simply leaps over the larger of them, downright ignoring and crashing through any smaller ones. It's furious eyes remaining focused on Grail, the beast gains on her, it's large maw snapping shut mere whiskers behind her several times between ear ringing barks. Leaping forth just as the she-cat races out of the alley, the dog's jaws snap shut catching a small patch of fur from her tail, pulling it out. Grail hisses in pain, but runs on a bit further. Trying to catch her still, the dog tries to pursue, just to yelp in surprise and pain as Talon leaps forth with a rage fuelled howl, tearing his claws over it's face, stopping it's advance.

„NOW!"

Just as the canine begins to focus in on Talon, it yips once more, turning it's head to find Ferret embedding her teeth in the beast's leg. She lets go just in time as the dog turns around, bloodlust burning in it's eyes. It's back turned, Talon delivers a deep gash to it's flank before dipping back to a safe distance as the dog spins, trying to catch the tom in it's gnashing jaws. Encouraged, the rest of the young warriors join in as they've been told, surrounding the large beast, each darting forth to deliver small scratches or nips when it's back is turned to them. Trying to break out of the circle, it tries to lunge forward, it's maw open wide as it goes for Clover. Talon prepares to leap in to misdirect the dog, when he sees a flash of russet fur shooting forth from the other side. With a fearsome battle cry, Grail pounces in the massive canine's face, hooking herself in with her claws and beginning to bite at it's forehead and ears mercilessly. It takes Talon a heartbeat to realise he is staring in just as much awe at this display as the younger warriors. Clover shaking still from the frightening sight the for her lunging dog, watches with amazement, slowly stumbling back a bit to collect herself. Talon turns to the others. Grail is giving them an opportunity, they must not let it go to waste.

„ATTACK! Tear it apart!"

Shaking themselves free of their surprise, one after the other the younger cats screech out and go in. Spider leaps up several times, raking his claws across it's flank, while Bee and Ferret begin to ferociously bite at the enraged and disoriented dog's legs. The canine stomps around, violently shaking it's head and snapping at the air to get rid of Grail. She did well, but she won't be able to hold herself there for long. We need to finish it fast. If it casts Grail off and against a wall, she'll be defenceless. Gathering his rage and frustration, Talon lunges forward. Yowling in fearsome anger, the tom moves in underneath the beast, rearing up on his hinds and swiping at the dog's soft belly. Face distorted in rage, the tom continues on raking his claws through the canine's underside as gashes open and blood streams down upon him. The dog howls up loudly in agony, rearing up high on it's hind-legs itself.

„Away! Out from under it!"

The cats scatter several taillengths out from under it as it comes crashing down with all it's weight, firmly shaking it's head downwards as it descends. With a shriek, Grail's claws tear their way out of the dog's flesh. The russet cat impacts hard on her side, hitting her head against the pavement after being swung with such force with a nauseating thump. For a brief heartbeat, an awful silence fills the air, Talon watching Grail's body slowly convulsing in pain. His terrified spacing out is ended as the alert mews of Spider and Clover pierce through the perceived silence. The dog, limping and yipping in pain itself, lumbers towards the nigh still she-cat. Talon's fur bristles up, his face contorting in a snarl. No, not like this. Letting lose a howl that would have terrified the dead, Talon races forth, his eyes focusing in on his mark. The dog turns it's head at the noise, it's eyes opening wide as Talon leaps forth, straight for it's throat. Sinking his teeth into it as he crashes against the canine with a force that seems to rival a twoleg monster, cat and dog both topple onto the ground. Once down, Talon lets go but for a moment before biting as deeply as he can into the exposed throat, his dogteeth reinforced claws shredding through the dog left and right of him. The dog thrashes, it's paws swiping at Talon, it's dull claws holding still enough force to pull fur out of his pelt and leave stinging scratch marks. Talon however does not relent however. This beast dies. Now and here.

The trashing of the dog slowly gets weaker, it's swipes becoming mere nudges after a while. Talon breathes hard through his nostrils, the taste of the dog's blood heavy in his maw as he still scratches away every now and then at the by now large gaping wounds he opened on the canine's neck. Until, at last, the large body under Talon finally goes still. His teeth still embedded in it, the dark grey leader feels the dog's final breath pass, still holding on for several heartbeats before finally letting go. Gasping for air and taking a few steps backwards, Talon looks at the sizeable carcass before him. For once, just a brief moment, his mind is blank, quiet. No thoughts, no stress or worries. As his breath begins slowly returning to him, so does his situational awareness. He shakes his head, blood droplets spraying around, before looking around himself. The Ferret and Clover look upon him, their precise expression currently hard to read as the firm beating of his own heart throbs in Talon's ears. Spider's expression seems simpler, his wide eyes giving away awe. Bee however does not look at him at all. What would she be looking at? Talon follows her eyes, his own growing wide in worried fear as they settle on a russet heap of fur. Despite his muscles screaming in some protest, Talon pushes himself into movement, bounding over to Grail. He moves around her, finding her alive and breathing, but barely conscious, her eyes dulled and shadowed with pain.

„We need to get her to the healer's den. Now! You can return later to carve your claws. Clover! Over here, help carry her"

The tortoiseshell she-cat nods and leaps over rapidly. As Talon watches her approach, he freezes for a few heartbeats. Past Clover, past the other side of the alley, from the other side of the border, a pair of freezingly cold eyes observe them, returning his gaze. Clover looks up in confusion, which rapidly swaps over into sharp frustration.

„Talon! We need to move, no?"

Talon looks at the she-cat, reminded of her temper. As Talon raises his gaze again to find their stalker, he cannot find the cold spark of their eyes again. There is only one cat whom these eyes could belong to anyway. The noise of the dog fight must have brought her to investigate. How long has she have been watching? Huffing and trying to put those thoughts away for now, Talon very carefully lifts Grail up by her scruff. The she-cat whimpers in pain. Clover cautiously slides in under Grail, carrying part of her body weight as Spider and Ferret gather up around, Talon's worry mirrored in their eyes. Giving sign with a flick of his tail. Talon begins leading them back to their alley, moving as quickly as the safe transport of Grail permits.

Talon lays quietly outside the healer's den, gnawing to remove the last bits of chicken off the bone he's taken from their food pile. His mind keeps going to the she-cat now being treated by Venom and Rain. Her move had been reckless, but brave. That fight would have taken much longer without Grail's boldness and the opportunity it provided. Growling quietly against the bone, Talon now waits, more impatiently than not, on Venom's verdict. Was it worth it, or will the price for the hunt he held mainly for his own reputation turn out higher than he'd have ever agreed with. During every dog hunt things can go wrong. Talon knows that, they all know that, yet he finds guilt eating away at him. His attention is drawn to a tortoiseshell pelt arising from the crack in the wall to the healer's den. Venom approaches him as he sits up, laying the cleaned bone aside. The pressure in him alleviates somewhat as he sees the she-cat's eyes holding no negative emotions whatsoever.

„Will Grail be alright then?"

Venom nods, sitting down before Talon

„She's bruised, and I suspect there are some small ruptures in her ribs, but miraculously no full fractures. Her breathing's mostly clear, she can drink water and speak without issue. I will have to keep her in the den a whole while so her bones can heal. But I think she'll be fine. Just in a lot of pain for now, the pavement wasn't kind to her"

The dark grey tom breathes a sigh of relief at Venom's news. All worked out well then. The dog hunt was a success and Grail will be fine. Talon looks over the alley. Ever since the two factions merged, more cats have been crowding it than Talon is used to, but beyond Edge remaining close by the healer's den ever since he got the news of his sibling's injury, all goes as it would any other day.

„That is good. Grail has outdone herself today, I hope she recovers well and fast. You should give the news to Edge. He remains worried I think."

Venom looks over to the large tom, his blind eyes staring emptily ahead of him, but his tattered ear swivelling in their direction, announcing that his attention has been drawn in by the mention of his name.

„I will. You should head in and speak with Grail though. That is.. after you've groomed yourself. You are NOT entering MY healer's den like this. I have to heal cats in there"

Talon hums, slightly taken aback at the healer's words as she pads over to Edge, the calm tom turning to listen to Venom. Unsure at first what to make of Venom's comment, Talon confusedly looks at himself. With a bit of embarrassment, the tom finds that all the time he's been there waiting, he still had the dog's blood all over him, now mostly caked to his fur. Hissing a quiet curse to himself, Talon begins grooming himself, the blood so much more difficult to lap off than it would have been when it was still liquid. Taking a painstaking while, the red eyed leader decides that it will have to do for now, most of the blood being gone, only harder to reach pots on his back remaining. He can take care of that later still. Shaking his pelt out as he rises up onto his paws, Talon slips into the healer's den. His eyes adjusting to the dim light after a few heartbeats, he observes the inside. A small empty storage room, water dripping down into a low bucket from a slightly busted pipe on the ceiling. Several nests are prepared near the bucket, in one of them a familiar russet pelt calmly rising and falling. As Talon slowly pads to Grail, his ear swivels over to the other side of the room, near a pair of nests the lowest of an ascending column of shelves, the healer's den's herbs are neatly assorted. Venom and Rain are sitting there, the former having long since returned from speaking with Edge and currently explaining her young trainee different ways to use each herb, the youthful tom attentively listening to her every word. Grail's ears flick and perk up as Talon sits down beside her, before she raises her head, looking up at the dark grey tom

„How are you, Grail? Venom is confident that you'll fully recuperate."

The she-cat's whiskers twitch, though a pained groan escapes her as she tries to turn a bit to not have to strain her neck as much looking up. Her speech is slow, her current pain evident in each word

„So she says. Since I'm still here, you got the dog then. That's good. I'm sorry to have missed it"

Talon shakes his head

„You have nothing to be sorry for. You were very brave today. I was honestly impressed and so were the young ones. The dog fell quickly thanks to you"

Her eyes lighten up at Talon's words. The dark tom fails to read everything going on behind the she-cat's gaze, but joy and pride seem to be among it. He cannot help but feel flattered, he did not expect that his praise alone would make Grail glow up like that, especially with the pain she remains in currently.

„Thank you. I got Edge to train with me a few times recently. Thought maybe it'd catch a dog off-guard"

Talon chuckles and nods

„It certainly did. Jumping in a dog's face of all things, bold barely begins to describe it."

Grail joins in with Talon's chuckle, a soft purr rumbling in her throat. Both their ears swivel towards the entrance a heartbeat later, as cheering sounds through the alley. Talon smiles contently

„The young ones must have returned. I must go and hold the ceremony. I'll bring you the tooth you earned for your collar afterwards. For now you must rest and heal. You earned yourself the rest"

Talon leans in, touching her forehead with his nose, before turning to pad out of the healer's den. Outside he finds the scene he expected, the warriors returned, paws bloodied from carving through the felled canine, heads held high. Spider and Ferret both look excitedly showing off their new reinforcing claws to their clanmates. Gash sits nearby, dignifiedly calm on the outside, but his eyes betray his flaring pride at his daughter's accomplishment. Looking over his shoulder after hearing pelt brush against stone behind him, Talon finds Rain peeking out of the healer's den, curious eyes watching with awe the victorious young warriors, drawing a small chuckle from Talon. Wasting no time, the dark grey leader bounds to his wall climbing it within a few swift motions and sitting down at it's top, attentions soon drawn to him as more and more cats look up to the tom.

„Ferret, Spider, step forward"

The two young warriors pad up closer to the wall, radiating warmth and accomplishment as their clanmates sit down in a large semi-circle around them. Talon raises his head high, speaking loudly and clearly, his voice to be heard by all in the alley, a small hint of the mirth he feels at this particular of his duties remaining in it as he addresses the cats below.

„These two warriors return to us today in victory, slaying their first dog for the safety of us all. The blood of Bloodclan's enemies soaks their fur and laps at their paws. They demonstrated that they are willing to risk their own and spill the blood of any threat to our clan. I grant these warriors their new claws. May they protect the clan, as the clan protects them"

Unable to keep a mild smile from his face at the beaming faces of the two warriors, Talon nods his head in respect, followed by all cats assembled around Ferret and Spider. As soon as their heads rise, many of them move in close to congratulate them, Ferret darting over to Gash, purring at her father's praise and licks over her ear.

„Heartwarming ever time, right?"

Kestrel leaps up to the top of the wall via the large dumpster near it, speaking past a dog tooth in his maw, which he lays down beside Talon

„Your trophy. Since it's your kill, you still get to decide the fate of the fangs."

Talon flicks his ear, nodding at his second

„Thank you, Kestrel. I think I'd like them separated evenly among the four young ones, they shall be their trophy teeth for their collars. Bring me one more tooth though, I told Grail I'd bring her hers after the ceremony."

„Sounds like she'll be fine then? That's good to hear. I guessed as much when Edge left the healer den's side, but it's always better to have confirmation. I'll be right back then"

Stretching himself first for a moment, Kestrel then bounds down to what has been brought to camp from the dog while Talon picks up his new dog tooth, slowly wedging it between his neck and collar, pushing it against the leather until it finally bursts through. As he adjusts it for comfort, he finds his thoughts wandering. This should silence the other leaders for a little while, but what of Scourge? Does he approve, or even care about today's hunt? When will the former leader call him to the Dark Forest again and what lessons will be taught? Despite a bit of trepidation, Talon has to admit to himself that he holds a certain amount of anticipation for it as well.