Talon's eyes shoot open at the feeling of something flicking against him, his sleep having been troubled and easy, thoughts of worry and betrayal having circled his mind till the very moment his eyes had finally shut. He raises his head and scans the direction from which the feeling came, his eyes fixing on Venom, her tail flicking beside her, the seeming source of his immediate alert. The healer returns the gaze steadily, before looking away, towards the entrance of the healer's den. Her voice sounds quiet in an attempt to not rip even more cats from their slumber

„I know it's still early, but you got a visitor."

The awoken leader follows her eyes, unable to quite suppress a grumble. So he's finally arrived… took him a while. Seeing the outline of the brown tom by the entrance, Talon gives a flick of his tail signalling him to approach. Talon's mood is a dark one, between the discovery, poor sleep with early wake-up and night half a day having passed since he ordered Moon to get Kestrel and his second now finally arriving. Seeming to sense Talon's humour incompatible state of mind off o his expression when approached, Kestrel dibs his head as he arrives by his side.

„Apologies for my late appearance. I kept busy, our clanmates couldn't find me for quite a while to relay your summons. I bring good news however."

Talon exhales audibly, but waits with his answer, looking back at Venom. The she-cat notices and after a few heartbeats rolls her eyes, not hiding her mild annoyance at it

„Leader business, got it. Keep your voices down though. I'm not giving anyone additional poppy seeds because they lacked out of the natural painkiller that is sleep."

With a sigh that betrays her own exhaustion, Venom pads away from the two toms, over to her own nest. Well out of earshot of a quiet discussion, she wastes no time to curl up in her bedding, now joined by another small nest next to it in which the slumbering frame of Rain slowly rises and falls. Kestrel's eyes linger for a moment on his sleeping son, until an impatient flick of Talon's ear pulls his attention back towards his leader.

„You better have something good to report indeed… you were impossible to find most of yesterday."

The golden eyed tom dibs his head again, keeping it down, his answers from now on more quiet

„I do. The chance I spoke of for more food, I believe we got a good opportunity to go for a reconnaissance tour of it in the coming days. After that we may finally start planning the operation."

Talon scoffs silently, though his expression slightly softens. Now more then ever, the possibility of more food would do their faction a lot of good, let alone bring Talon some much needed peace of mind. If the amount they might gain is even halfway as significant as Kestrel's been letting on, it could very much be exactly what they need to get them through leafbare. After a few heartbeats, Talon nods slowly, his tone less hostile and lowering to be less loud.

„Good… we will need it. We'll organise a patrol to come with us to do so. But that is not what I wished to speak to you about. It's about the rogues"

Kestrel raises his head, a mildly intrigued expression upon him

„The ones that trespassed yesterday, or any other ones in particular?"

„Yes, the ones from yesterday. Or… rather where they chose to settle down. And why."

Interest glistens in Kestrel's eyes as it becomes apparent that something is afoot.

„The twoleg fish place? I presumed they seized it because it's a food source. Do we know anything that would put that in doubt?"

Talon looks at his chipped reinforcing claw, eyes narrowed, tail slowly lashing

„Do you know of anything… unusual to have happened there before the rogues trespassed? At the fish place, or between the fish place and the border? Any clanmate that spend more time there or behaved oddly thereabouts?"

The second-in-command's eyes widen, reading the beginnings of the allegation from between the lines of Talon's questions. His brow furrows as he sinks into thought

„Nothing comes to mind. If the kitty-pets don't deem it unusual, they usually don't give it forward. I can ask, see if anyone saw something they might have deemed not worth reporting. But I'd need to know what exactly I'm trying to find out about"

Talon lets out a deep breath, casting a quick glance over to the other warriors sleeping in the healer's den. No eyes open, no ears twisted towards them, at least as far as he could tell in the nigh complete darkness. Only a faint ray of a twoleg street light shining in to give any semblance of visibility before the sun rises, not much to work with. Talon leans in closer towards Kestrel, the brown tom's ears zeroed in on Talon.

„Moon and those who stayed behind found meat stashed behind the dumpsters. Dog meat, Kestrel."

Kestrel's golden eyes all but shine up as the intrigue is unveiled to him. A vast thought process fires up behind the golden orbs, the contemplations clearly visible upon him

„An awful big coincidence for a random hoarder's stash to be exactly where the first rogues of the season invade…"

Talon nods slowly

„Scourge had warned me of a potential traitor. What worries me most though…"

The dark grey leader pauses, lowering his gaze in deepening thought. Kestrel slowly nods in agreement, finishing the sentence, understanding his leader's concern all too well

„…there might be more to it than meets the eye. Just drawing some rogues across the border serves no purpose of it's own. They either wanted to measure our response, or divert our attention from something else most likely"

„My thoughts exactly. The second possibility worries me most. If you learn anything, of who was there that might have orchestrated it or anything else that happened on or near our territory, then you must immediately relay that to me. As long as we don't know the why, we must assume the worst."

Kestrel flicks his tail behind him, a most serious look having formed upon the usually smug cat

„I will. Those areas were my territory until our merger, I will not be challenged at plotting on my own grounds. I'll ask around, if I hear anything at all, I'll relay it right away"

Talon lays down his head on his paws, much of his initial anger having subsided by now, leaving mostly worry and tiredness.

„Good… there are one or two other things, but compared to this, they can wait. How deep into the morning are we?"

Kestrel turns his head, his gaze wandering to the entrance of the healer's den

„Later than this darkness would suggest. Roughly guessing I'd say the sun will soon begin to rise"

Talon shakes his head with a displeased grunt

„Too late to hope for catching much sleep still then… figures. Organise the the sunrise patrols when the others wake up, then catch some rest yourself. We can discuss the rest after the first sunhigh patrols are heading out."

Kestrel returns his gaze onto Talon, the fierce seriousness in his eyes letting up a bit as he cracks a small grin

„That obvious that I'm not particularly well rested recently?"

Talon gives a quiet scoff of mild amusement

„There may have been a sign or two throughout the last few days… it hasn't escaped me that you keep busy a lot. I may have been fairly distrustful of you for a while, but your efforts for our faction are appreciated, Kestrel."

The brown and cream tom chuckles, a more familiar amused expression forming on his face again

„You know my motives, Talon. They haven't changed yet, nor do I expect them to anytime soon. Rain is doing well here"

Kestrel turns his head, looking over at the pair of healers sleeping in the far corner of he den. After a short while he rises to his paws

„I'll get going then. I'll come find you after the sunhigh patrols are organised, see if between sunrise and sunhigh any sleep is to be found for myself. Recuperate well till then, Talon."

With a curt nod, the second-in-command pads away, Talon watching him leave until he has pushed out of the healer den and out of sight. Talon's sight lingers on the entrance for a while longer afterwards still. Pity that Kestrel didn't know much of immediate use about the hoarder… but he may yet uncover something. Although if pressed, what should be the priority? Catching the traitor, or securing the food? With some frustration, Talon realises that aiding the wounded clanmates of Wrath and the twins's conflict doesn't even make it on that list anymore for now. Without enough resources, it can't be done. So, the food perhaps? If it can be done reasonably quickly, they can still deal with the other matters afterwards, from a more secure position at that. That is assuming neither the traitor, nor the other leaders make any unexpected moves in the meantime. A risk, but one he might have to take. With a deep sigh, Talon closes his eyes, his head still resting on his paws. Soon the sun will rise and cats will wake up. Sleep is unlikely at this point, but he should still try to rest as best he can.

Talon remains with his eyes closed even as time passes and the alley audibly wakes up. The chatter of his clanmates sounds both from outside as well as closer by as the other wounded of the rogue battle have come to. Humming quietly, Talon turns his ear to listen at the tales they tell, as good entertainment as he was likely to get while in the healer's den. They speak loudly, proudly, their injuries a dampener to none of them as they converse. Pleased, the grey leader hears that one of the most joyful of the voices is Frost's, the white tom seeming to glow up after the more aggressive and doubtful period of days he's had. Presumably the battle cleared the amber eyed tom's troubled mind some, despite the injury that might very well keep him in the healer's den for several days.

Eventually a familiar shape enters the den and approaches Talon's nest. Looking over and expecting his second-in-command, Talon is surprised as he recognises the thick russet fur and golden eyes heading for him. Before a greeting can be spoken, Talon feels his ears warming up, thoughts of Frost's little revelation yesterday filling the red eyed tom's mind. Admittedly, the embarrassment taking it's place certainly is more pleasant than the worries that had still kept themselves nestled in the back of Talon's mind, but it still leaves the warrior feeling more defenceless than he'd like. He follows the she-cat with his eyes as she deposits a decently sized rat before him.

„Good morning, Talon. I thought I might return the favour and now bring you food into the healer's den."

She smiles warmly, her right ear flicking and a row of small spasms pulling through her right legs. She certainly is a beauty to behold so close, the small twitches fail to diminish it. Has Talon not noticed it thus far, or did he never give himself pause to truly what he was seeing? It takes the tom a heartbeat to notice that he has not yet given an answer, only adding to the embarrassment

„Greeting, Grail. Thank you. You're very kind, didn't need to"

The answer brightens Grail's smile further. Trying to look away, Talon's eyes land of the food she brought. The rat looks like it was a recent kill, the scent of it's blood still fresh upon it. Did she hunt this today, for him? She's barely out of the healer's den herself and the fallen snow renders hunting not only more difficult, but also more dangerous at that. Talon can't deny that at the sight, his empty stomach contracts in hunger, but this can not have been easy to procure so fast…

„Would you… care to share? I have little else to do right now and you should have some of your own kill at least"

Talon clears his throat, looking off to the side into the den. From the corner of his eye, he catches several amused pairs of eyes glancing over from the other warriors. Cursed fox-hearts, they should return to their little tales and boasts. Not one of them seems surprised either. Frustrated embarrassment further heats Talon's ears, the dark pelt thankfully hiding their red hue at this point. Just how oblivious has Talon been?

„If you wish, gladly. I'm glad to be of use again now"

The grey tom's attention is returned to the she-cat before him as he hears her answer. She lays down, paws tugged under her fuzzy pelt. It's little consolation, but Talon feels that she is not much less nervous than he is currently. Talon holds down the rodent under one of his reinforcing claws as he digs in, tearing a small chunk from it's belly, before moving his head to make room for Grail. As the two cats eat, eventually the staring is reduced as Venom gets back to treating their wounds, releasing Spider from den well ahead of the rest. Depending on how he holds his head, the wounds are leaving Talon with an uncomfortable pulling in his chest and neck, but right now he barely notices. Time passes at a pleasantly fast pace as the embarrassment eases up and the two exchange words between their continued predation of the shared rat. Before too long, Talon finds himself licking his muzzle to catch the last of the rodent from his snout, an incomplete little skeleton and a red stain on the ground all that remains of the meal. Between the pleasant conversation, the food and the occasional heartwarming purr from Grail, a small content rumble escapes Talon's throat also towards the end. For just a moment, the worries do not reach him, the weight of being responsible for all the cats here lifts off his shoulders.

As time passes however, all things end. A sobering reality that dawns on Talon as past Grail, he spies Kestrel, waiting by the entrance, for now waiting patiently. As thankful as the red eyed leader is that his second-in-command did not just barge into this moment, he still emits a regretful sigh. This is nice, a warmth Talon has not experienced since his early days as a kit, submerging himself into his mother's pelt, such feelings of safety and comfort… but he must keep his priorities straight. Cats will suffer if he does not do his job well, Grail well among them. The russet furred she-cat perks up her ears as she hears Talon's sigh

„I thank you deeply for the meal, Grail. And for staying here to share it. I think I'd like to do that again, if you agree. But… it appears duty is looming already."

Grail turns her head to follow Talon's glance past her, tail swishing as she spots the brown and cream tom already waiting. She returns her gaze back towards Talon however, despite the bit of disappointment her slightly drooped ears betray, still smiling warmly.

„Of course, Talon. And… yes. I'd like that very much too."

Gathering up a few of the slightly bigger bones of what was their food, she dips her head and pads off fairly quickly. Talon, somewhat heavyhearted after having to send Grail away, motions with his tail for Kestrel to approach. The tom bounds over, his usual slightly conspiratory looking smirk having returned.

„Greetings, Talon. I see the morning has gone by well for you"

Talon flicks his fuzzy tail, kicking up some dried grass from an empty nest behind him, the comment putting him somewhere between embarrassed and mildly annoyed.

„Please tell me you have something more to offer than sly comments, Kestrel. Do we know anything more about what happened?"

Talon slowly lowers his voice as he goes, noticing a few ears turning in their direction. Kestrel catches on right away, speaking quietly

„Hardly. A few cats have been hunting in the area lately. Aspen, Frost, Wax, Soot, a few less regular hunting visits from others and the regular gathering patrols going to the fish place itself… but none have been seen doing anything much out of the ordinary, at least as far as I know thus far."

Talon sighs and nods

„Would have been too easy… we will keep an eye on it, I put Moon and Rover on checking the area themselves, maybe they'll have more luck. But right now, we need to ready ourselves for tonight."

Kestrel hums quietly, pulling a few grooming licks through his own chest fur before answering

„As much as we can. Only so much we can do to prepare for the usual shouting match. Or did you have anything particular in mind?"

Looking down at his bound chest wound, Talon flicks his nicked ear

„I need you to fetch Silver. Venom is already less than pleased that I go to the gathering like this, but I can not take up Ashfur's training afterwards. I imagine walking to the gathering and back will be less than pleasant already right now, as trainer I'd border on useless until this has mostly healed. I need Silver to go for me, and for that I need to instruct him on how to get there without alerting the entire forest…"