The sounds of birds chirping filled the night-time forest air, a flurry of doves flying away. A cat watching the doves silently cursed to themself, but it was not because they were hunting. The cat looked towards a grey spotted tabby waltzing their way to a stretch of pebbles against a lake, smelling faintly like bindweed.
The grey tabby was moments away from where the hidden cat stood. They seemed to scent the air before turning around to look directly at the hidden figure.
“It’s a good thing you requested that we smell like something unmistakable but easily forgivable in the eyes of any wanderer,” the molly spoke softly, unfazed by the prospect of being watched by another cat in the deep shadows. There was a slight hesitation that the hidden figure took notice of.
“There is one thing that I am curious about,” she reluctantly continued. “When the time comes to enact our plan, how will we know it is you?”
The figure remained in the shadows. “Believe me, you will know.”
The figure’s voice remained low and stable, unmistakably and intentionally androgynous. “I’ll make sure our ally sees me, and — when they tell you who I am — only then will the plan be ready for enforcement.”