Observing the entrance of the alley, Talon rests atop his wall, the cold air blowing strong and ruffling his pelt. They should arrive soon, or so he was told when Gash returned early from Castle's patrol to announce it. It'll be good to have her back. Meanwhile, life in the alley bustles as it should, cats coming and going. Lantern and Edge, near the alley's entrance teaching Dawn, Dusk and Lion battle moves, under the close supervision of Viper. The young ones have been growing well the last few moons. Sometime coming newleaf, they may well undergo their trials to become Bloodclan warriors. It'll still be a few moons, but time flies. And their faction could well use new warriors with all that remains ahead. They aren't much older than Soot and Daze's kits, perhaps they will follow suit later in newleaf or during greenleaf. One may hope…

A familiar pelt brushes past the corner into the alley, brining forth a small, pleased smile. The tortoiseshell she-cat walks in direct line towards the wall, some heads turning and greetings sounding from her clanmates along the way, before she stops.

„Venom, we are all glad to see you back here. I hope the way back was without difficulty"

Somewhat tired eyes look up at Talon, Venom's head briefly dipping low to drop the leaf she was carrying before speaking

„The way back was fine. Wrath remains as exhausting to tend to as ever. It's like trying to get a kit to swallow bitter leaves, trying to heal his wounds. But I have done what I can. The rest is in his paws."

Talon nods, a small crowd forming, a general joy to be seen in many faces at the healer's return.

„I have no doubt you did. You will be pleased to hear Rain has fared rather decently in the meantime. However, I fear I must welcome you back with mixed news"

Venom's eyes shake off most of the exhaustion, focusing in on Talon

„So do I, but what has occurred?"

Talon slowly lets out a nasal breath. Though not as harshly as before, his guts twist as his thoughts are unavoidably brought back to that subject.

„We undertook the raid on the twoleg meat-place Kestrel scoped out. It was a success. We returned with plenty of food to help last us till newleaf. But, it came at a cost. Wax and Owl sacrificed themselves to give us a chance to escape and had to be left behind."

Surprise forms in Venom's face, before she shakes her head with a heavy sigh

„Damn it… well, at least it was not for nothing then. Seeing how Wrath's faction is faring, I can understand. The lack of hunting and gathering is hurting them. Many of them have grown dangerously thin... I worried for their kits for a while. Wrath had to make some… drastic choices. But things are luckily getting better again, little by little. With most warriors now up again, they're finding enough for now"

For a brief moment a shadow runs over Venom's face, a brief snarl of disgust, yet begrudging acceptance. Knowing better than to question the matter further, as few solutions to starvation earning the description of 'drastic' ought to be spoken of aloud, Talon simply nods. Better not to know, better not to indulge the memories of things in times before Bloodclan too much.

„At least they are on the mend then. Take some food for yourself before returning to the healer's den."

Relief shows itself in Venom's eyes. From atop the wall and with her long fur, Talon couldn't see, but she would likely have thinned as well. They would have seen that the cat healing their warriors ad leader was fed, no doubt, but if they had so little, it can't have been much for Venom either. Still, the relief slowly fades again as Venom takes a deep breath before speaking anew

„As I said, most their wounded have improved, many back on their paws. But, not all. Not all could be saved"

Talon nods, mildly absent minded at news he'd already heard, seeing Wicker's twitching, agonised on the ground of Wrath's alley as if he were standing there again.

„Yes, I know. Wicker died, not long after we left. At least he no longer suffers."

Venom backs away a little, surprise and confusion undisguised upon her.

„You may have guessed it was Wicker, with how his condition was… but how could you know it happened right after you left?"

Kestrel, intrigued and seemingly amused looks up to Talon from his position atop the dumpster, interest sparkling in his eyes, though he remains silent. Talon flicks his tail before letting it hang off the front of the wall, his claws digging into the notches they have imprinted into the bricks. That was a mistake. He couldn't know that as far as Venom is concerned.

„Not relevant now. What might interest you more is that by tomorrow, I'll have determined a new forest clan to raid to refill your supplies. It seems most of what you took with you was used in the end"

Venom remain still for a moment, mildly cocking her head to the side with an inquisitive and unsatisfied expression. Soon though, she looks down at the leaf she returned with, flicking it open to reveal preciously few herbs within.

„Yes, much of it. I left a few simple things behind with instructions on when to chew them to help them heal still, but of all I went with much is gone now. Luckily we kept most we'd need for diseases and the like here, but if we get any big battles we're not looking too good again. Still better than it was before the first raid, but that's not saying much"

„Then we will remedy that. For now, you should rest a bit and see Rain. The young one has done good work"

Folding the leaf closed again with her paw, Venom nods before looking back up at Talon. No attempt is made that her earlier question went unanswered somewhat dismays and intrigues her, still some of her previous relief returns at being home again.

„That shall be for me to evaluate. But it is good to be back. Still, if nothing else, we have ingratiated us somewhat to Wrath's warriors. Hush most certainly seemed appreciative once Scream was back on her paws, so was Reborn. Although with that fool's luck, he'd have probably been fine regardless"

Picking her leaf up, the tortoiseshell she-cat heads over into the healer's den, Rain waiting for her with earnest eagerness by the entrance, following inside right behind her.

„Yes, he probably would have…"

Talon mutters to himself, leaning his head back, looking up into the sky. A moment of silence passes, before the clacking of Kestrel's reinforcing claws on the dumpster draw Talon's attention. He finds his second-in-command standing on the nearest edge of the dumpster, looking over at him with his usual grin.

„Keeping secrets, are we? Don't worry, the instinct of what knowledge to share and what to keep safely bottled up, even without paying much attention, comes with practice. I should know."

Talon rolls his eyes before resting his gaze upon the brown and cream coated tom

„I reckon you would indeed. Some things I should probably only feed the clan one bite at a time… I can not say I enjoy it, but I do not think it'd be anyone's gain if I did it any different"

Kestrel hums with mild entertainment

„On, no need to tell me. Easing cats into things, one pawstep at a time, is a fairly reliable tactic. Though, of course, I can't help but be curious. I do hope that if you were to share more with some trusted warriors, your loyal second-in-command would be among them"

Talon observes Kestrel, his nicked ear flicking as he ponders. Might not be the worst idea actually. Sooner or later the clan will need to know, but when that time comes it would be useful to have an inner circle already in the know to back Talon up. Perhaps.

„Maybe. It's not my highest priority, but it may carry merit. I'll have to think on it. But for right now, we should focus on the problems still right in front of us. We still have a traitor to catch and after tonight I'll have a new target for a raid. Hopefully this one goes as well as the last"

Kestrel lays down at the edge of the dumpster, letting his right legs and tail hang down.

„After tonight… Going to confer with your forest friend on where to strike, then?"

With a soft grunt, Talon bounds off the wall and onto the dumpster

„Not gonna be a friend for long if we keep raiding his clan alone. The clans seem to still remain rivals in many ways, so my hope is some clan is currently being a pest to Thunderclan. Their storage should still be filled after all. That and I believe Ashfur would appreciate his enemies getting humbled"

Kestrel grins lazily, resting his head on his left front paw

„The enemy of my enemy and all that, fair enough. Though, I think someone else is looking for your attention right now"

Talon looks over at Kestrel, slightly tilting his head. Kestrel points out ahead into the alley with his gaze, which Talon's eyes follow. Sitting in the shade, seeming to have waited for Talon's conversation to end, but now getting up and walking over upon detection, are Rover and Moon. They grey pelted leader sways his tail in greeting to the approaching pair, before motioning over to his den, which Moon responds to with a nod.

„So it seems. You'll manage without me for a bit, I trust"

As Talon leaps down, Kestrel briefly stretches with a calm groan

„I'll do my very best"

Talon lands with the clack of his reinforcing claws upon the asphalt, before immediately heading for his den, Moon and her mate close behind. Turning around once inside the den, the red eyed tom observes the two following cats as they sit down.

„Has your investigation led to anything new? I have noticed no further activity from the traitor for a while now, nor do I get the impression that keeping two warriors bound up in this endeavour is doing the faction much good thus far"

Moon shakes her head, slightly lowering it in the process

„Not much. The rogues and loners were not much help. Those that aren't skittish are standoff-ish. The only lead we have is… tenuous at best"

She turns towards Rover, whom after taking the cue looks from Moon to Talon

„A lot of the plant was harvested and we'd have likely noticed it's scent if some cat would have tried to get rid of the quantity that must remain in the open. It has to remain stored somewhere. It must be out there to be found. Much was harvested around the same places, but some were taken away from it, in roughly a line away from the main spots. Gives us a rough direction to look in. I think whoever did it had no idea how much might be needed and kept taking what more they found on the way back to where it would be hidden. I might be wrong but I think we could find it still. I'm certain it can't be far from where the border between us and Kestrel used to be. After our factions became one, no more border patrols went there anymore. From one day to the next that bit of territory became almost completely unchecked. Perfect for keeping something hidden."

Talon waits patiently for Rover's exposition to end, ears attentively perked at each word. The red eyed tom, looks off into the shadows of his den, pondering briefly

„What you say makes sense, but it's all supposition. That and we have no indication so far that anything more will follow on the matter…"

Nodding to himself as he thinks it through some more, Talon ends up returning his gaze to the two cats before him, sitting in the gloom, their illuminated silhouettes making their precise expression hard to see.

„I'll give you a few more days. If by then nothing further is found, I think it'll be in the better interest of the faction if you both returned to regular duties. Chasing ghosts does not keep the clan safe"

Moon bows her head at Talon's decision, more quickly than Rover does, mild frustration clear in the brown tom.

„You still have a chance, Rover. But you are both valuable warriors and I can't keep you bound up in this indefinitely. No doubt some of our clanmates are already wondering what you remain up to and as I made clear, I want no undue talk of the whole matter. Besides, I believe you have plans of your own in due time, no?"

Talon permits himself a small, yet warm grin. Moon winds her tail over, around Rover's. Her sleek black pelt makes it impossible to see in the current light, but her softly shining good eye seems to indicate a smile in return.

„We might. In time, once the cold ceases"

Rover's ears splay to the sides, a sheepish smile upon him as he leans against his slightly larger mate.

„Yes, when newleaf comes around. Speaking of, we wish you luck as well. We've heard the evening yesterday went well for you."

Talon is mildly taken aback by the directness of this sudden comment, looking off to the side, once more grateful that his dark pelt hides well his heating ears. No doubt few other leaders, let alone Scourge would have approved of so personal a comment, but Talon fails to summon the rigidness to respond according to that fact

„I would not know what you speak of. And either way, it'd be way too early to consider the same kind of thing you two are now considering."

With a soft whack of her paw against Rover, Moon turns her eye back to Talon.

„What this indiscrete mousebrain meant to say is that we wish Scourge to guide your claws, on all of your paths."

Clearing his voice and flicking his tail to signal the dismissal of Moon and Rover, Talon slowly turns his eyes to them without turning his head

„And yours. Take a break, perhaps visit the kit we retrieved, then return to trying to find our thief and saboteur."

With mild amusement sparkling in Moon's eye, she turns to leave, Rover following suit with a grin. The couple out of sight for a few heartbeats, Talon shakes his head, a small grin creeping onto his face. Word must have gotten around, considering they weren't at the ceremony themselves. To be expected, it's not like any attempt had been made to hide anything. The memory remains pleasant in Talon's mind, Grail's warmth, her scent, the sound of the quiet purr she vainfully tried to suppress, his own in response. He should probably go see her before heading out tonight. But what for? Smalltalk is no strength of his, as Talon knows well. A patrol perhaps? Hunting possibly. Maybe…

With some discomfort, Talon tries to clear his head of these thoughts as he steps out of his den once more. He can still decide later. He still has cats to lead. Scourge has not called him to the Dark Forest last night, so perhaps finding some of clanmates for sparring would not go amiss. The faction must remain strong, and Talon even more so. Castle might make for a capable opponent and should be free now, same with Hornet, perhaps Gash? As long as he returns sometime between it all to make sure his presence is not required in his alley, it seems like a day well planned already.

Hornet's spiked up fur and fierce glare would suffice to make weaker warriors back off on their own. Slowly circling each other, Talon observes carefully for any opening, cautious to keep at least two steps distance. Slowly turning, the she-cat remains facing Talon, claws unsheathed and impatiently pressing against the asphalt below, her limbs bend and wound up for a pounce or dash forward. Her stance is formidable… no good chances to approach without opening himself to an immediate attack. But perhaps… After lashing his tail side to side for a few heartbeats, Talon rushes forth. Small, superficial scratches from his previous bout with Gash stinging as he darts straight for the veteran warrior. The instant he enters her reach, with a fearsome hiss, Hornet bounds forth to meet him, front paws outstretched to secure her mark, ensuring the chance to deliver a bite that could end the fight right away. Talon slams down his right front paw, just as Hornet's claws grip him. Raising to his hind legs and bringing his full force down, Hornet's jaws snap shut, only catching some of Talon's chest fuzz between her teeth. Seeing an opening, Talon bites Hornet's right front leg, with a firm pull removing her paws claws from his shoulders and flipping the tortoiseshell warrior onto her back. Before he can further capitalise, her other paw, only accelerated by the motion, smacks him squarely in the side of his head. Send reeling to the side a step, Talon eases his hold on Hornet's paw for but a moment, which suffices her to forcefully pull it from his jaws. His ear ringing, Talon does not permit his opponent's attempt to get back up however, immediately bounding back in an attempt to pin the veteran warrior. Misjudging the strength of his leap just a little, right as his front paws find their mark, pressing down on the large she-cat's ribcage, he finds the fact that part of his belly is above her punished as she kicks up and pushed with her left hind leg. Forced to shift more to the side, the air partially knocked out of his lungs, Hornet attempts to strike back. After a swift swipe against Talon's right front leg, further destabilising him towards the left, she bites down on the leg, trying to twist it off of her and get herself back onto her paws in a single motion. Unable to fully stop her, Talon crashes to the ground, but not before hooking his left front paw's claws into her right shoulder, leaving Venom unable to do more than a half-roll. Neither of them willing to waste time and let the other get an advantage, Talon tries to return to a pinning position by pulling himself towards Hornet by the claws embedded in her shoulder, while the tortoiseshell warrior strikes out upwards, battering Talon's paw off of her. The dark pelted leader is left, back on his paws, but too far for an immediate pin and too close to safely find a new angle of attack. Her paw coming down hard, Hornet catches Talon's collar in her claws, pulling his head down. His neck well exposed, Talon thrusts forth his left front paw, catching Hornet's already forth shooting teeth, the pure force of the collision sending her fangs into Talon's pads, drawing blood. He barely feels it, as he uses the brief window to bite down on Hornet's chest, bringing his right front paw down on her exposed bely, claws unsheathed, in a position to tear open a terrifying wound.

The two warriors remain motionless for a brief moment, only the huffing of their laboured, nasal breaths, before at last Hornet lets her head fall back with a mildly disgruntled huff. Talon releases the veteran warrior, retrieving his paw from her belly before pulling the other from her maw once he has a stable stance again. Blood has already stained Hornet's chin, the she-cat licking part of it off as she rolls onto her paws. Sitting down, Talon inspects his paw, crimson dripping from two deep pierced wounds, the sting of which only beginning to set in. Lapping away the continuously leaking red, he can see both Hornet looking over, while Gash and Rat, whom had ultimately joined them, come over. Though Hornet says nothing, her gaze holds the question of how the wound is faring. It should not have happened. Never the less, the sting only a small, numb throbbing, Talon shakes his head in response.

„Not worth the mention. Good fight. Good counter to the pin"

She nods, wiping the last droplets off her chin with her paw, before lapping the paw clean.

„Mhm. Your defence was better. Not bad."

Brief and still somewhat stern, Hornet's voice is somewhat mellowed from it's usual fierceness, now with the rush of battle still coursing through her, accompanied with the old familiar taste of blood upon her tongue. The rogue she once was on display as the aftermath of the fight visibly calms the fierce veteran warrior. Stepping close, Rat observes the wounds over Talon's shoulder.

„Still, might be better to get Venom to patch it up. Nobody's served if it gets infected. None of us at any rate"

Talon nods, giving it a few more laps before responding

„Probably, yes. Still plan to do some walking today and I'd rather not step on some pointy pebble or salt near the thunderpaths with this"

Rat pulls a little face at the mention, seemingly well able to imagine the discomfort that might bring. Gash, sitting a taillength further away nods in agreement.

„Well, who's next? You sitting one out, Hornet? Then I and Rat can…"

The she-cat turns to face the brown tom before his last sentence has a chance to be finished, her thick tail lashing behind her

„I can keep going. Are you going to fight me, or will you, Rat?"

Rat recoils slightly with an uncertain smile

„I don't think that'd be very fulfilling for either of us… Gash, you wanna…?"

With a small sigh, the scarred, green eyed warrior nods, leading Hornet and himself a bit away from Talon and Rat. Talon watches the two of them sink into their battle stances before rising to his own paws

„Well, I should go. I've had my share for today."

Rat flicks his tail as he sits down and gives a small bow with his head. With a quiet hum, Talon walks a bit further, sitting down by the neatly piled up dogteeth, beginning the process of reattaching his. Rat observes the ongoing bout between Gash and Hornet for a while, slightly tilting his head, only looking back at Talon after a while.

„Going back to the alley?"

After fixing the last of the reinforcing claws in place, un- and resheathing his claws a few times to see if they sit comfortably, Talon nods.

„Straight to Venom. Still have other places to be today. You?"

Rat returns his gaze to the fight for a moment, before scratching at one of his scarcely furred patches.

„If Gash wants, I might still go a round, but if not I'll probably go see if any patrol could use me. Scourge guide your claws though, Talon!"

„And may he guide yours, Rat."

Talon waves his tail in goodbye as he leaves. The sting has grown a little stronger, each time Talon puts pressure on the paw, it somewhat spikes. Though it remains manageable. Better to make sure it indeed does not get infected though. An image of Wicker, delirious and writhing, sneaks it's way briefly into the back of Talon's thoughts. No, too much to do still. No way that he'd allow himself to die like that. Not at all, if possible, but not yet regardless. Too much still left to do. Though, the pressure, as it mounts in Talon's mind briefly, soon finds itself soothed. Both the prospect of a calm patrol with Grail, as well as the well deserved evening by the river are pleasant outlooks. Though it becomes difficult to tell, which he looks forward to more, before coming to the both amusing, yet sobering realisation, that that may well rest upon him. But while he has no plan on what to expect for the patrol, he does know that it will be interesting to see if the brutish Dark Forest training is indeed strengthening Ashfur, or not. Their training tonight shall provide an answer. Both on that, as well as the faction's next target… A productive evening lays before the red eyed leader, as he pads alongside the thunderpaths, back to his alley.