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Post by ♫ admin on Dec 29, 2007 5:51:21 GMT 9
♫ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >>[[ooc;; I was gonna do it the other way around, but that's a good point, I'll have Bonecry come out first :3]]
Bonecry watched her sister closely. The more time passed, the more Pepperthorn seemed to relax and the more impatient Bonecry became. I may be called a warrior now, but apparently some things will never change, she realized.
As her sister dipped her head to swipe a pink tongue across the back of her paw, Bonecry could wait no longer. Containing her urge to leap, she slipped gracefully from her hiding place in the rocks. Her sister looked up immediately, seemingly abandoning her cleaning ritual.
"You're despicable," was what Bonecry found herself spitting.
Instantly, Pepperhtorn stood up, eyes narrowing, tail lashing. "If you're looking for a fight," she mewed, her voice icy, "You're getting into more than you bargained for with me," instantly, she unsheathed her claws. They looked longer, sharper in the moonlight, and they glistened eerily under the pale glow of the moon.
"I'm not looking for a fight," was Bonecry's curt response, and she took a step closer to her sister. As a response, her sister took a step back.
"Then what?"
"A discussion."
"Pfft." Tail lashing, Pepperthorn turned, lavender eyes flashing in fury, "I don't talk, Bone, you should know that better than any cat."
Bonecry followed. "So much pride," she spat in response, "you can't even talk with any cat--not even your own sister."
"In case you haven't noticed, I hate my 'own sister' more than 'any cat',"
Bonecry's eyes swelled with hurt. Then anger. And in an instant, her claws were unsheathed too, and she swiped at her sister's dark face.
Before she knew what was happening, the dark form of Pepperthorn was slamming down upon her. For a moment, Bonecry swam in darkness as razor-sharp claws were raked down her side. She tried to give a caterwaul of pain, but she was suffocated under her sister's muscular form, and couldn't make a sound.
She was then being bitten at the scruff of the neck, and was flung against a boulder, which she slid down, her whole body aching. Gasping for breath, she gave a strangled mrrrrowl.
And then she was picked up again. She was flying again, and she hit the ground with a sickening thump before skidding backwards. She unsheathed her claws, giving another strangled mrrowl as she tried to stop herself from sliding, her belly scraping painfully across the cold, hard ground.
She then felt the ground disappear from her hind legs.
This time, her cry was louder, and she scrabbled for grip at the ledge. Her eyes, wide with fear, gazed up at her sister. Surely, she didn't mean for her to die.
"H-help, [/i] it was nearly inaudible. "Stupid Bone," was Pepperthorn's equally inaudible reply, "I want for this to happen. But I won't force it. I'll just stand and watch until you loose your grip with those useless little claws!" With this, Pepperthorn spit on her sister's face, and gazed into her twins' fearful lavender eyes, waiting. Bonecry could feel the hot, sticky blood of her wounds seeping into her fur. She could sense the hatred, the anger coming from her sister, but she couldn't concentrate on it well--the world was spinning, darkening. Her grip was slipping. Soon, I will be joining SandClan.And then, her grip faltered...[/color][/center] <<- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ♫
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Post by .}{EXXI. on Dec 29, 2007 6:14:29 GMT 9
With the cliff edge nearly in sight, Stormcloud thought about what he was going to say to Pepperthorn and realised there was very little he could. What would change the mind of a cat who appeared to hate her sister more than -- what was that? He skidded to a halt, a large boulder obscuring the cliff edge from his view. Had he heard a cat cry out? The tom listened hard, thankful that he couldn't see the cliff. Otherwise it would have been impossible to concentrate like this.
Yes, there was noise. The soft scrape and scratch of a muted battle. Who was fighting on JaggedClan territory? Whoever they were, they were on the other side of that rock. It was too bad the wind was blowing the wrong way or he would have been able to scent their identiies. As it was, he was going to have to look around the rock to see. Around the rock....Maybe he should go get Bonecry or anther warrior to accompany him incase the fighters turned on him. You mean incase you're too scared to go see yourself. Replied a harsh, inner voice, filled with self-hatred. Stormcloud thrashed his tail angrily, he was a coward!
Then there was another cry. One of fear and pain. It was Bonecry. And that changed everything.
Not leaving himself time to think, the golden-brown tom leapt over the rock and felt his stomache drop away. Before him lay a scene of horror. Pepperpaw, her claws unsheathed and her fur on end was standing at the cliff edge, watching her sister in frozen horror...her sister who was about to fall to her death. Bonecry said something he couldn't hear, scrabbling at the cliff edge and Stormcloud's mind struggled to grasp what was happening. Before it could, however, Bonecry's grip faltered and she began to slide...
Moving faster than he'd thought possible, Stormcloud had pushed past Pepperthorn uncaringly and leaned over the cliff edge to grasp Bonecry's spotted scruff with his teeth. He had made the mistake of not closing his eyes though and the sight of SandClan so far below, along with his brother's bones somewhere among the rocks, made him want to retch. For a second, he was back seasons to when he had been Stormpaw and it had been his brother whose life had hung in his jaws. Cragpaw's caterwaul of horror as he plummeted out of life echoed in his mind and for a moment making Stormcloud sure he would fall off, taking the she-cat with him to share that painful death.
Then he remebered who the she-cat was. It was not Cragpaw this time, but Bonecry. Bonecry, his former apprentice and friend whom he would do almost anything for. History did not have to repeat itself. This time he would not let go. With a surge of strength that Stormcloud didn't think he'd had, he pulled back. Every single muscle in his body was straining to the limit. Then, when he thought he would burst with the effort, he was pulling his precious load back onto the cliff and had collapsed beside her, panting hard.
I've done it, Cragpaw! I saved her this time. He meowed silently to the skies. For a heartbeat, he thought he scented his brother but then it was gone and he was staring into Bonecry's teary lavender eyes.
He grinned shakily. "Hi."
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Post by ♫ admin on Dec 30, 2007 5:29:59 GMT 9
♫ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> Bonecry could do nothing more than gasp as her grip faltered and she began to fall. She tried to yowl but her throat was too dry, and no sound came out.
It seemed like eons, but really, it happened in an instant. Before she knew what was happening, Bonecry felt jaws tighten around the scruff of her neck. Eyes widening, heart racing, she gasped again. Her brain struggled with every concept around her, and she strained to figure out what was going on. She felt warm, sticky blood trickling down the side of her jaw, and heard the heavy breathing of a cat nearby.
The scent was familiar--but whose scent was it? Her brain was too jumbled to figure it out, but she knew the scent as warm, comforting. A friend. Happiness filled her at the recognition.
At first, it felt as if she was slowly being lifted by something, but the grip seemed to falter, struggle. What was going on in the cat's head?! Why wasn't he lifting her? Was he going to let her down? For a moment, her brain swam in panic that didn't last for long. A giant surge of energy seemed to take over her savior, and he flung her to safety, keeping Bonecry clamped in his jaws.
For a moment, her eyes swam. Then, she caught sight of who it was.
He spoke but one word.
"Hi,"
With this, Bonecry's already teary eyes watered even more, changing to full-blown tears, and she buried her muzzle into Stormcloud's fur.
"S-stormcloud!" she gasped. Her whole body shook, and suddenly, the reality of what had just happened hit her full force. Her flank where her sister had wounded her hurt more than anything she'd ever felt before, and her heart was racing, adrenaline pulsing through her system as an after-effect of her dangle off the edge of JaggedClan territory.
After a while, Bonecry looked up at Stormcloud. Her muzzle was bloodstained--apparently, that blow to the rock had caused more than just a headache--her nose seemed to be bleeding.
"Y-you saved my life. A-and...you...you braved the cliff," suddenly, Bonecry felt very, very exhausted. All she wanted to do was sleep, but this wasn't the time, and she nipped herself angrily to keep awake. This was not the time to sleep! She should be wide awake! Nevertheless, her vision seemed to blur as her lids became heavy and her brain struggled to stay conscious.
+
Pepperthorn hissed in rage as Stormcould leaped from his hiding place. She should have known that he'd follow her! She should have known that he'd be stupid enough to brave the cliff. He pushed her out of the way and she toppled to the ground, hitting her head against the stone of JaggedClan territory.
"Unh..." she sat up slowly, staggering foreword in an attempt to push Stormcould off the cliff. His jaws were tight around Bonecry's scruff, and Pepperthron gave a wheezing laugh.
She was about to fling herself against the lingering Stormcloud when he seemed to be filled with strength and energy, and he surged backwards, away from the cliff, bringing Bonecry with him.
"NO!" she hissed, stopping herself as she teetered at the cliff edge. She then collapsed onto her side, hissing in rage.
"NO!" was her long, angsty caterwaul as she dragged unsheathed claws across the ground in front of her.
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Post by .}{EXXI. on Dec 30, 2007 20:25:18 GMT 9
Still panting, although his shortness of breath had more of a mental root than a physical one, Stormcloud could not reply. Instead, as she pushed her musslze into his fur, she gave her ears a comforting, affectionate licking until she had pulled herself together a bit more. He felt some deep satisfaction pounding in his heart, along with a tingling sensation he was slowly begining to decipher. Stormcloud didn't say anything about that yet.
As the she-cat spoke again, Stormcloud snapped back to reality, and realised that the danger might not be completely over yet. Bonecry looked about to faint - who could blame her? - and they were still a ways from camp. And they were next to the cliff which although, he was pleased to find, did not send mindless fear coursing through him anymore, it was not the safest of places to be with injured cats.
Rising to his paws, Stormcloud bent down to try and nudge Bonecry to hers. "It's okay now, Bonecry, but we should still be getting back to camp." He meowed gently, trying not to show any anxiety, or mention the fact that it appeared she was falling out of conciousness due to the huge wound on her side. She must have scraped herself very badly when she fell off that cliff. If the golden tom had not been filled with concerns about his former apprentice, he might have realised that the wounds were claw-marks, but he did not. He was focused on getting back to camp, and not worrying Bonecry any more.
Then the tom turned to Pepperthorn, knowing he would need her help to support the spotted cat back. He saw the anger in her eyes as she drew her claws across the floor but mistook it for the same anger he'd held against himself all those years when he'd let Cragpaw fall to his death. Pepperthorn had been lucky that he had been here this time too, or she might be in his old position of cliff-fear and guilt. "She's safe, Pepperthorn, she didn't fall." He told the sister, thinking it would be good news, "Come and help me get her back to camp though." Perhaps this near-death experience would bring the sisters back together, maybe now they could set aside their differences at last. In any event, he was sure no cat would blame Pepperthorn for being frozen with horror as he had all thsoe seasons ago. In a way, Stormcloud actually felt sorry for the greyish she-cat, he (thought he) knew what she was going through.
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Post by ♫ admin on Dec 31, 2007 6:13:07 GMT 9
♫ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> Bonecry stood slowly on trembling legs as Stormcloud nudged her to her paws. She had to get back to camp! She had to! She then gave a mental recoil at Stormcloud's words.
"She's safe, Pepperthorn, she didn't fall. Help me get her back to camp, though."
No, no, NO! Bonecry's whole body surged with anger at the thought of her sister helping her. After trying to kill her! She gave a quiver of rage, and as loud as she could muster with a weakened body and set of lungs, she screeched.
"N-NO!" she then gave as ferocious a hiss as she could before turning to Stormcloud, eyes wide with grief and agony. "D-dont l-l-le-let her t-touch me!" she mewed. Her brain was swimming in panic. She wanted to stay as far from Pepperthorn as possible! "D-don't even l-let her n-n-NEAR m-me!"
Here, she collapsed on her legs, and, hissing in frustration, stood up to lean against Stormcloud, gazing up at him with desperate lavender eyes, she added a soft,
"Please."
+
Pepperthorn stared in awe at Stormcloud. Did he really have no idea what had just happened?! Was he really taking her as a good sister, trying to save Bonecry rather than kill her? Did the coward "feel her pain"?
Here, she gave a quick tremor of joy and stood up slowly, eying the tom as he asked her to help bring Bonecry back to camp.
This is the chance to redeem yourself, Pepperthorn. No cat will believe that blubbering basket case Bonecry. She'll sleep, and when she wakes up, she'll think she imagined me trying to kill her. She'll think it was all a dream. No one has to know.
Another voice inside her recoiled at the idea, spitting in rage.
Don't act good! Don't act like a hero! You're not one, why fake it?! It's revolting! Stand up for what you did! You did it, didn't you?! Why hide it?!
These two voices left Pepperthorn standing staring into space. What would have been a brow was furrowed as she considered the ideas. Cunning and sneaky, or harsh and brutal? The second was more her identity...but it would also get her kicked out of JaggedClan.
You can't have that if you want to lead it.
Still, she stared into space, weighing her options...
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Post by .}{EXXI. on Dec 31, 2007 18:57:03 GMT 9
Stormcloud tensed with alarm as Bonecry began to shout and looked around wildly for an an enemy. There wasn't one, was there? He opened his mouth to offer words of comfort when he suddenly realised she was talking about Pepperthorn. Why? What would make the spotted she-cat so determined that her sister should not help her? It wasn't making sense. He must have missed something. The golden tom wanted to stop and ask both sisters what actually happened but judging by Bonecry's collapse, there wasn't time.
He had been about to ignore Bonecry, for her own good, and ask Pepperthorn to help again. But something in the smoky she-cat's eyes made him falter. Soem sort of innner turmoil he couldn't even begin to guess at. And strangely, he could detect no guilt. A soft 'please' from Bonecry made up his mind. Stormcloud trusted even a slightly addled Bonecry more than he did Pepperthorn. He gave his old apprentice's ears another swift lick and turned his head to face her sister,
"Actually, I think you'd better go back camp ahead of us. Ask Wildstar to send a couple warriors...please." His tone was even, no longer warm but not cold either.
Could he trust Pepperthorn to go back and get help, or would she just run off? He hoped for Bonecry's sake she wouldn't.
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Post by ♫ admin on Jan 1, 2008 1:44:07 GMT 9
♫ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> Pepperthorn was brought back into the present at Stormcloud's change in orders. Her fur bristled in rage as he began bossing her around. "I'm not an incompetent kit!" she spat. At least, though, she didn't have to solve this herself.
A senior warrior has given you orders, so you might as well follow them, she decided, and, throwing Stormcloud another scathing glare, darted ahead to JaggedClan camp to do as Stormcloud said.
She didn't particularly like following orders from the mouse-brained tom, but she realized if she didn't, she would look far too suspicious.
Once she was far enough away to not be seen, she slipped into a crack in the rocks and gave herself a thorough cleaning, licking away all of her sister's blood which had been smeared in her fur and on her claws. Hopefully, it had been too dark for Stormcloud to notice it. She was careful to eliminate all traces of her sister's fur and scent from her body.
Once she felt she looked presentable, she slipped out and continued racing to camp as fast as her stout legs could carry her.
[[ooc;; Pepperthorn to camp]]
+
Bonecry gave a sigh of relief. This certainly wasn't over--but at least Pepperhtorn was gone. She felt, though, that she owed Stormcloud an explanation, and as they walked, she fought through her exhaustion to try and tell him what had happened.
"Stormcloud, I followed her to the cliff, and there she was..." here she faltered, tripping on a rock. She tried to compose herself quickly. "An'...an' we got in an argument...an' I tried to scratch her. An' next thing I knew, she was....she was..."
Bonecry remembered the sudden anger that had so easily taken hold of her sister, and winced at the memory of Pepperthorn's razor claws slashing through her fur and flesh. She turned and rasped her tongue over her bleeding side, tasting her own bitter blood, and shuddered.
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Post by ♫ admin on Jan 1, 2008 5:37:01 GMT 9
♫ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> Pepperthorn raced over to where Stormcloud and Bonecry were slowly attempting to make their way back to camp over the pointed rocks of JaggedClan. Hopefully, she bled to death already.
Apparently not. Her sister was standing, and seemed to be blubbering about something or other to Stormcloud. They were both idiots, as far as Pepperthorn was concerned, and she gave her sister a smug glare, who gave a retort of a ferocious hiss.
This took Pepperthorn aback for a moment, but soon enough, she was back on her feet, returning the gesture with a dismissive sneer and mewing loudly, "This is the place, Wildstar,"
+
Wildstar padded foreward. "Indeed it is, Pepperhtorn," she mewed, slightly suspicious of the she-cat's suddenly helpful demeanor.
Well, they are sisters, after all, she reminded herself. It wasn't very effective.
When she noticed Bonecry's hiss at Pepperthorn, she decided to take action.
"Thank you, Pepperthorn," she mewed, "I'm sure this has been exhausting for you--please, return to camp," she said it with a certain hardness to her voice. It was an order. She then gestured with her tail for the she-cat to go.
Obviously, exhaustion had nothing to do with her dismissal, and she noticed that Pepperhtorn knew it as she slunk away grudgingly, shooting a scathing glare at all the cats around her before breaking into a run.
Once Pepperhtorn was out of the way, Wildstar found it easier to concentrate.
"Alright, we need to find a way to help Bonecry back to camp," she directed, and strained to see if Fernpaw had accompanied them or not. If she had, it would be best to close up the wound before moving Bonecry.
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Post by void on Jan 1, 2008 6:58:34 GMT 9
Palmtree was being lame in the medicine cat den, so, he decided to go out. The tomcat walked around endlessly until he came to the Jagged-Snow strip. He shrugged, as he got a idea. He smirked to himself as he looked up at JaggedClan territory. The tomcat flickered his tail and then shoved his way up the rocks, looking at where his paws were to not. He made his way up the slope before the silhoutte of Pepperthorn came into veiw. "Pepperpaw!" He mewled. Of course, he still thought Pepperthorn was a apprentice. His voice was kind, as it was when they talked at the strip the other day.
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Post by ♫ admin on Jan 1, 2008 7:11:52 GMT 9
♫ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> Pepperthorn stopped dead in her tracks, anger flashing in her ferocious lavender eyes. She was so angry, whichever cat had dared to call her 'Pepperpaw' was in for it! Her eyes scanned the area, flashing with anger, until she saw a shape between two rocks. Sure that it was this cat who had called her Pepperpaw, she flung herself at him.
Sandthorn was lucky--Pepperthorn's claws had missed him by no more than a mouse length, and she scented his familiar SandClan tang soon enough to stop herself from attacking him again.
"Sandthorn!" she gasped, seeing his dark sandy form in the darkness of the rocks. "W-what are you doing out here? You're going to be killed! There's an overprotective patrol helping my sister back to camp now!" here, she sunk down against the ground, mewing softer, "And, I'm not Pepperpaw any more. My name is..." here, she faltered, examining his face. Pushing her words on, she continued. "I'm Pepperthorn."
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Post by void on Jan 1, 2008 7:29:25 GMT 9
Sandthorn waited for her to reply, and, his reply was a attack. He hissed as he unsheathed his claws, and then hissed at her insticivly. How could she! The tomcat was about to snap out of her before her claws almost hit him. He blinked and the unsheathed as he waited a few moments, seeing she wasnt going to attack again. He sighed as he spun around, smiling at the she-cat, and then sat down. "Eh." He said, after she said he may be killed. It was worth a try to come out here and see Pepperthorn. He blinked as she talked again. Not Pepperpaw anymore? "Well, whats your warrior name?" He smiled happily at the she-cat, as he pushed himself up and walked up to her before she talked again, freezing and stiffening a few mouse lengths from her.
"..Pepperthorn" He said, using 'thorn' stronger. He blinked before he nuzzled the JaggedClan warrior. "Thats odd, but, I'm glad your a warrior." He drew his muzzle away from hers. ----- The small body of Bluefrost stalked around the area, as she hid in the bushes and leaves she could find, searching for some plant she could use for the clan. But, she failed, as she heard the mumblings of the clan as she popped her head up curiously. She blinked as she came out of the bushes, the first person she noticed was Bonecry. "Great StarClan!" She yowled.
[/left]
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Post by Aririkateku on Jan 1, 2008 7:37:41 GMT 9
Angrily, Nightshade pushed himself forward and settled himself on the other side of Bonecry. "What in the name of Starclan did she do to you?" He whispered. He looked at the wounds on Bonecry's flank. Those weren't injuries made by sharp rocks, but claws!
Nightshade growled, staring at the blood welling from the deep wounds. "Wildstar, what do these wounds look like to you?" He asked, "Wounds from sharp rocks? Or claws?" The tom glanced up at Wildstar. "Pepperthorn did this to you, didn't she, Bonecry?"
Nightshade gave her ear a friendly lick and let his worried eyes travel over the she-cats scratched and injures body. "Wildstar, we can't sit around much longer." He murmured.
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Post by Folf on Jan 1, 2008 8:48:37 GMT 9
Veiledeye's fell into place on the side of the patrol, trying to keep her gaze ahead and stiff, not her nature at all. Her eyes has shrunk back to her normal size (if it can be called normal), and soon they lost the stiffness and were looking around. Okay, Nightshade was also accompanying Wildstar with her, and Pepperthorn was leading them to the cliff. Cliff. Oi, hopefully Bonecry wasn't really bad...at that moment the salty tang of blood hit her nose.
She focused ahead again, and recoiled in shock. The green eyed she-cat had been looking away, and came in to see Bonecry hissing (and bleeding), Stormcloud supporting his former apprentice, and Wildstar taking the situation by the horns...again. In seconds Pepperthorn was dismissed, and slinking off testily. Well, whatever works for her. She trotted over to Bonecry, Stormcloud, and Nightshade, who was studying the injuries on the spotted she-cat's side.
She came over as well, long tail going straight as she noticed the ragged wounds on Bonecry's side. Rocks did that? She wasn't the oldest warrior, but she knew... "Wildstar, what do these wounds look like to you? Wounds from sharp rocks? Or claws?" Exactly. "If I...may speak up, those are claw marks to me. Some cat raked their claws along her side." she meowed softly, but she was at close enough range to be heard.
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Post by void on Jan 1, 2008 8:52:29 GMT 9
Feeling ignored, the medicine cat walked up to Bonecry, and then she lightly shoved Nightshade out of the way to look at her cuts. "Claws." She said right after Veildedeye's did, and then she looked around. "I need cobwebs, marigold, and some others.. maybe a dried oak leaf." She said to herself, so she could remember them when they got to her den. She looked at Stormcloud. "Thanks." She said to him as she waved her tail and then walked over to Wildstar. "Wildstar....she smells of Pepperthorn." The she-cat said.
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Post by Folf on Jan 1, 2008 9:13:21 GMT 9
Veiledeye's looked over her shoulder as Bluefrost joined her meow. "Oh!" The ashen warrior exclaimed in surprise. "Bluefrost, perfect! Fernpaw must be behind us, she was bringing the supplies..." she meowed, spirit going up as she realized the medicine cat was here. "Uhm...perhaps we should wait to see what Fernpaw brought? And...she smells like Pepperthorn.." she meowed, getting distracted as Bluefrost, who looked threateningly unstable as the wind gusted, mentioned Bonecry sister's scent. Scenting had never been her strongest trait, but even Veiledeye's could catch the grey she-cat's scent on Bonecry. ooc; That was uber short. D< But, I needed a follow-up, so...excuse it.
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