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 Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:04 pm
It's not fair. She could be a proper adult right now if it wasn't for him. Not. Fair. Now she has to wait even longer, and waste another moon or two waiting for the newest batch of fledglings to be ready.
So what if he wants her to graduate at a real ceremony? Nobody else cares. She doesn't care. And there aren't any parents to come and watch her proudly... nobody cares except for Hawthorn, and sometimes she wonders if he even-- No. Frustrated at her own self-defeating thoughts, the almost-adult comes to an abrupt stop and takes a moment to glare at her surroundings. In her anger she's traveled outside the Deep Woods, but that's not a bad thing. Hawthorn had suggested that she should start looking for a territory of her own, and with some of the rumours she's been hearing lately about aberrants being challenged repeatedly within the Deep Woods, well, suffice it to say that she's begun to think that it might be wiser to stay a little further afield.
But this is curious - the forest here isn't quite normal. There's something subtly off about the area around her, and the patchy freak's innate curiousity kicks into full gear (conveniently knocking her angst-ridden fussing out of her mind). What's wrong here? No... nothing's wrong. It's just too right. Those berry bushes are too full of ripe fruit, this walnut tree is hanging heavy with its harvest. There's more, further in! And, despite herself, Dodger begins to explore this astonishing phenomenon. Not once does she stop to consider that this might be someone's territory, before she starts to venture in.
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:17 pm
Despite everything, Bushfire was still bristling. Going off to confirm the rumours about Basil had been a bad idea after all, for although now she was no longer wondering... she was faced with the notion that it WAS indeed, all true. Every single word that the Seeker had told her, was true. He'd left her, dumped her, and their relationship and had run off to pursue another one! Oh, the nerve of him!
The female fluffed her plumage out as she remain perched on a random branch, her eyes, despite all that was going on in her mind, peering over her territory, as if in a vague attempt to distract herself. She knew full well that she was being horribly unfair with Basil, for after all, she'd been perfectly fine with breaking ties with him when... when... the incident had occurred. Subconsciously, Bushfire closed her eyes in remembrance of their deed; as if she honestly honestly felt that she had to pay respect to her long, dead chick.
In fact, her eyes remain closed till something at the base of her thoughts alerted her into opening them just in time to see... something whoosh by. Something that was awkwardly patched in colors, to be exact. Blinking owlishly, the Forager turned her head to follow the near adult's flight pattern, "Oi, oi!" it was called out, though the words lost their threat entirely, mostly due to the fact she'd only just noticed that something was hauntingly familiar about the stranger, "Have you no manners? A proper lady announces herself when entering someone else's territory!" any other time, she'd have been much more cordial, but she was still angry and needed to take out her ire on someone. Anyone.
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:40 pm
"Oi, oi!"
Startled, the patchy aberrant's wingbeats falter for a moment before she recovers herself and wheels about, homing in on the source of the call. She lands, her movements neat and precise, and settles herself a few branches away from the caller. A safe distance, just in case, giving herself some room to escape. She keeps her expression open, her posture unthreatening - she's not here to fight, just to observe. Harmless, completely harmless.
The stranger is a wildtype, Dodger notices automatically, dipping her head in mute apology. Out of habit and training, the youngster absorbs all the information she can at a glance. Female, a little on the small side... pretty, definitely pureblooded, and keeping watch over her territory. A very nice territory, so she must have some means with which to protect it. Her own skill, or a mate? That is impossible to tell, but the drawn-out silence will soon become too awkward or even insulting, so...
"Oh," she breathes, her interest painfully evident in her keen gaze, "I'm sorry! I had no idea, this is your territory? It's marvelous! Everything is so... so... fresh!" Bubbling over with excitement, the almost-adult shifts her weight from foot to foot, looking about herself while keeping part of her attention on the smaller female (just in case an attack is forthcoming, Hawthorn said it was always safest to be on the alert when in someone else's territory without permission).
"I'm Dodger, just passing through. And you are?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:02 pm
Something, some sort of instinct, had swiftly told Bushfire that the strange sentinel was not here to pursue her territory (in all honesty, she was torn between feeling frustrated she hadn't, and feeling relieved, because while it meant the other female was not a threat, it also meant she had no reason to vent her anger on her). So thus, as soon as Dodger dropped onto a nearby branch, her pose unthreatening, the Forager let out a sigh, fluffing her plumage up, then letting it settle it back down.
She allowed the near adult to watch silently, for as the younger female watched... well, Bushfire was having her own dilemma; now that Dodger was near, it was quite apparent that she was an Aberrant. Not just any Aberrant either, but one that was hauntingly familiar in ways she could only hope did not show upon her features. Restless, the Forager shifted her position, trying to calm the memories that were swiftly assaulting her, "Yes," she finally answer, "Yes, well, that would be because a Forager's territory NEEDS to be that way. Otherwise I would never meet the quota, now would I?" her head tilted to one side even as she answered, faltering just a tad, "I grow these myself; look over them. It's not strange that someone would come challenge me in an attempt to take the area for themselves. Proper ladies should announce themselves when in strange land," she scowled, but there was an almost motherly tone to the words.
Deep down, what she wanted to know, was how this sentinel had survived. How was it she was alive? Why? Why was it this creature was here, when her own child was dead?
Drowning down her question, she closed her eyes for a moment, settling herself deeper into herself, as if to show she wasn't about to lash out, "Bushfire," she breathed.
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:13 pm
Confused at first, Dodger quickly attributed the older female's unease to a few obvious factors. First, her own patchy plumage tends to complicate matters. Second, the wildtype female is quite a bit smaller than herself, so even with her age presenting the handicap it does... well, Dodger is probably a little intimidating, since she's noticeably larger than average. And finally, Bushfire has been caught off-guard.
Pleased to have sorted that out, the youngster nods once to herself and then settles in to do some post-flight preening. See, nothing to be afraid of! These feathers are just like normal feathers, except they are white. No bugs, no weird flakes or signs of disease. Just.. white. And preening is an entirely non-threatening gesture, so with any luck they can both relax a little and, more importantly, give Dodger the opportunity to learn more about this fascinating place!
"A forager? I've heard of that! So you grew all of this? How much time do you spend on the ground? Is it hard? How--" And she stops abruptly, clicking her beak shut with an audible snick. Abashed, she grins and dips her head. "I'm sorry, my beak is running away with me again. And I would have-- should have announced myself, you're right. Can I claim my admiration for the amazing results of your hard work as my excuse for that lapse?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:07 pm
It was sad to note that while on a normal situation Dodger's observations would have been correct... at the current moment in time, Bushfire was slightly more caught up in the past than she was in the present. No matter how she looked at her, Dodger was the living image of her chick. In fact, she was sure that had the chick in question lived, it'd have been round about Dodger's age. Puffing her plumage out again, almost as if in an attempt to calm herself, having swiftly noticed the movement was rather therapeutic, she tilted her head to one side.
Her eyes remain focused on the young adult as she preened, and then, as if her own manners had decided to kick in, Bushfire followed suit, stretching out a wing to pick at her feathers. Despite that though, her eyes remain trained on Dodger, watching her feathers, though for different motives than the other female could have phantom-ed, no doubt. She was snapped out of her pondering by the rapid barrage of words and questions, and for a moment, the Forager stood still, blinking owlishly at the other female, her beak stopped between two feathers.
There was something almost... endearing about how the other sentinel acted, and Bushfire tried, for the life of her, to push that thought and those feelings as far away from her mind as she could. This was not her chick, and it would not do to forge some sort of emotional bond. Try as she might though, she couldn't help it, and the older female found herself torn between mild mirth and something akin to nostalgia, "Yes, I grew all this. Though technically that's not correct; I alter the environment to fit my needs... and the crops' needs. It grows by itself. I just aid it," despite herself, a small flash of that mirth, showed in her eyes as she took her head away from her wing, resettling herself into a more comfortable pose on her branch, "I spend a lot of time here. Tending the crops, not to mention keeping the vermin away from it," there was a small twitch of of an emotion upon her face; it might've been the ghost of a smile, but it was swiftly gone, "You may. Just make sure you announce yourself next time."
That sounded suspiciously like an invitation.
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:44 pm
It's possible that Dodger would have noticed there was something else hidden beneath the wildtype's unease, if she hadn't been so distracted by... well... everything. The combination of a new discovery, relief at not being attacked, surprise at having a pleasant (so far!) discussion with a stranger, and her own natural and boundless enthusiasm means that the aberrant's mind is running in far too many directions at the moment. And, despite all of Hawthorn's efforts, her beak keeps trying to run along.
Each morsel of information that Bushfire drops is just enough to spawn another flood of questions, and the effort required to restrain herself and keep silent until all of the answers have been offered is clearly visible. She's excited. And interested. And tonight is turning out to be far more profitable than she could ever have hoped for; the prospect of returning to Hawthorn with all of these new experiences to share makes her want to puff with pride. But for now she simply nods in response to the adult's words, blinking rapidly and pulling her head back in surprise when the almost-invitation is extended, and then pauses to consider her next questions more carefully.
"How many different things do you grow? Does that change throughout the year? I noticed that some berries are only available in certain seasons. And do you let other people hunt here, if they don't hurt your crops?" These questions come at a much more measured pace, all carefully thought-out and structured, and the eager youth waits to be enlightened.
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Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 12:39 pm
It'd been quite a long while since someone, anyone, had offered such an amount of curiosity for her work, and Bushfire found herself enjoying the sensation. Granted, the pleasant feelings were somewhat dimmed by the fact the female she was talking to kept on summoning the skeletons out of her proverbial closet just by being there... however, at least, she was no longer entirely focused on Basil. It was a distraction, albeit it being a slightly bittersweet one, it was welcomed without a doubt.
For the first time in the past few nights, Bushfire was no longer dwelling in what her ex was doing, and found herself focused on what was going on around her. Needless to say, the young adult's barely contained excitement was contagious, "Many things," she told her, "I decided to specialize in a small variety of them, rather than keeping a more broad selection. I noticed that it was easier to manipulate thing to suit a smaller number of species, rather than a lot. I could do a lot, but the quality would be more sloppy, and I can't have that!" the last word was punctuated with pride, for if anything, Bushfire took pride in what she did.
Oh, but Dodger WAS inquisitive indeed! The more time she spent there, the further torn that the female felt. On one wing, she probably should have shoo-ed the aberrant away, but then again, on the other wing, she so reminded her of her long lost chick... and surely there was no wrong in indulging in her presence, was there? There was no wrong at all! After all, this chick was NOT hers, and thus, her presence here, or anywhere, for that matter, could not mar her lineage (not to mention it would not trouble her family). Idly thinking this, the Forager allowed herself to enjoy the situation, if at least minimally, "Oh, bright, aren't you?" it was not said as a jab, amazingly enough; the female extended a wing, signaling a further off bush, "That one only blooms after summer, but it needs care all year around. The products are wonderful though," she retracted her wing and looked thoughtful for a moment, "Actually, I've been meaning to find a hunter, or a trapper, that would like to use this territory for such a purpose," came the muttered answer, "I've just had no time to do so; for now, I've been doing the hunting myself," there was a pause as Bushfire turned her eyes back upon Dodger, staring at her intently, "Are you particularly interested in Foraging? Or is it simply natural curiosity."
Again, that sounded... suspiciously like an invitation.
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Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 1:00 pm
It's safe to say that unless something enlightens her to the truth of the situation, the patchy aberrant will remain entirely ignorant of the dilemma she has inadvertently caused. Having lived for so long with others always acting at least a little 'odd' around her means that it's easy for the youth to shrug any strangeness off as being caused by her white illness.
As the answers are offered, she listens intently and nods when it is appropriate, looking towards the berry bush when it is discussed - waiting until Bushfire has answered everything before she responds. The comment about being bright does elicit a startling response; she flinches, eartufts flattening to her skull. Just a little, and just for the briefest of moments, but the almost-adult is so used to being attacked that she can't help but hear the jab that wasn't there. But then an instant later she recovers, leaning forward and listening as if nothing had happened.
"You would want someone else to hunt here? Why would you-- oh, I get it. To stop things from eating your crops, right? I'm surprised nobody has asked you yet, this looks like a great place to hunt!" Dodger pauses, then, tilting her head to the side and offering an abashed grin. "I'm just really curious, I'm sorry. I can't help but ask questions, I'm surprised my teacher didn't tumble me from his tree after the first night. As for your question, I, heh," she laughs a little, turning her head away to glance askance at the forager, "I don't think I'd be cut out for gathering or foraging, I hate being on the ground. I'm hoping to be a scout when I graduate, or maybe a hunter!"
The dual admission of a) being uneasy on the ground and b) having yet to graduate has made the youth a little ashamed, but she covers it reasonably well with youthful bravado.
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Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:19 pm
Bushfire was intent on keeping the other female in the dark about her past. At least, that was what she hoped to do, even if there was no telling if her past would catch up to her at a later date. So thus, for now, the Forager was content to note that Dodger was blissfully unaware of the effect she had on her, well aware the Aberrant was probably used to causing some sort of commotion where ever she went.
Sadly, the notion did not seem to budge Bushfire any less from at least wanting to get to know the other female. Only slightly. Just so, really.... just enough so that she could somehow phantom how her own chick might have been had it survived, "Of course!" came the hooted reply, "If there is a hunter here, I can focus on tending the crops without having to bother with the vermin that threatens to eat them on a constant basis. They are obnoxiously persistent," she'd noticed the way Dodger had winced and found herself shifting her weight guiltily; it was obvious by that soul movement that she hadn't meant it as a jab, "It's fine. After all, they do say that knowledge is power," a small chuckle as she rearranged her feathers, sinking into a comfortable position on her branch, "Noctus only knows what you could use this information for, as a scout or a hunter, but still, very few ever come here to ask me much. They just come in, trade and leave," shifting again, Bushfire lifted her head, the air blowing through her nares in a mild snort, "Or they come in to challenge me for the land. Just because I'm small doesn't mean I can't defend that what I own. It's not about size. It's about knowing what you're doing," a pause as she watched the youth puff up in pride, "And not being too cocky. Pride comes before a fall."
And oh, what a fall it had been; it was ironic she was even telling the aberrant any of this. Whom was she to talk about pride before a fall? Despite it all, the words were said in an almost motherly tone, a small wave of her wing to emphasise on them.
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Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:38 pm
"Vermin," she repeats quietly, her gaze dropping to look for scurrying mice or other such things. The youth quickly realizes her lapse, however, and returns her attention to the forager - watching intently, again, listening and learning.
"I'm not sure what I could use it for myself, to be honest. But Hawthorn has always told me that my curiousity can be useful, and that the smallest piece of knowledge can make the difference if used correctly." Dodger shrugs her wings a little, as if apologizing for the vague nature of her explanation. it's clear that she doesn't really understand why her teacher places the emphasis he does on knowing random tidbits about anyone and anything, but it has proven to be convenient in the past; he always knows who to go to for the best bargain, or to collect on favours owed.
"That's something else he--" she begins eagerly, before the rest of Bushfire's words sink in. ...too cocky. Pride comes before a fall... Duly chastised, she blinks and dips her head to acknowledge the fault. It's a difficult situation for her, being so eager to prove that she's more than just the unnatural colour of her feathers now that she has a somewhat willing audience. But that eagerness turned into a desire to show off, and the older female has called her on it. Frustrated at the lapse, Dodger allows her silent acknowledgment to stand for itself and does not offer any excuses.
"He's said that as well," Dodger grins slightly, then takes the opportunity to look around at the forager's territory again. "Do you have many challengers here? Once I realized that this was a territory I assumed that you - and your mate, if you have one - must be quite capable of protecting it. I'm surprised others would even dare!" But then the aberrant does have a slightly different perspective on things. While she is a bit larger than average for a wildtype (for that's what her base type must have been) her teacher is a shadow, known for their smaller build. And she would never dream of being able to best him in a challenge for a territory.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:27 am
"I am not sure I am acquaintanced with this Hawthorn you speak of, but he certainly sounds wise enough," then again, she wasn't particularly acquaintanced with most of the Sentinels that lived in the Deep woods, where surely this young adult nested. Even those that she did know were soon forgotten; she was used to dealing with quite her fair share of customers each days, and their faces could easily become blurred in her memory.
Still, the way Dodger dipped her head, acknowledging rapidly when she was chastised, made Bushfire nod. Despite all that was 'wrong' with the young adult, she knew when to stop, and she also knew how to correct her behavior. While it was true Bushfire had absolutely no right to feel the way she did (surely, after they'd done what they had done to their chick... she shouldn't be allowed to even look at Dodger), the female could not help herself. The motherly instincts were still there, and they were being triggered quite effectively by the other sentinel. The fact Dodger looked like a mirror image of her chick had a lot to do with this, yes, but there was something else there too. Bushfire felt that, to her horror, she actually liked this young adult. Dodger had a lot to learn, yes, but she'd learn in time, and seemed perfectly willing to acknowledge her mistakes... to learn from the in turn.
Puffing out her feathers coat, the Forager blinked owlishly at her own self-discovery, her eyes glued on the other female. She was startled slightly out of her reverie as Dodger spoke again, "Challengers?" kicking her mind back into gear, Bushfire took the moment to stretch a wing, picking at the feathers to arrange them neatly. The movement gave her just enough time to rearrange her scattered thoughts, "At times, I do. However, I am alone. I have no mate... anymore at least," some of the earlier anger and sadness slipped through, but the Forager swiftly waved it away in favour of continuing her explanation, "That is why I should spend some time finding a hunter, or a trapper to help out. Alas, there is little time to spare as of late," puffing up proudly, the small wildtype placed her wing at her side once more, "Those that had tried to challenge me have left this place with quite a few missing feathers and a lesson to learn," letting out a small hooting sound, she sneered, "The nerve of some people."
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 12:13 am
Fortunately, Dodger has long-since grown used to the idea that not everyone is as familiar with Hawthorn as she is. As foreign as it seems to imagine that someone might not know of her illustrious teacher, she simply smiles and nods when Bushfire admits her ignorance.
It's sad but true - the forager's inner monologue is entirely lost on the youth. She's taking advantage of the lull in conversation so that she may more thoroughly examine her surroundings, you see, since the changes she can see in the plant-life around her are extremely interesting. Suddenly she is reminded of when she first met Hawthorn, and how she questioned his sharpened talons... only to immediately think of the detrimental effects of having such a feature. This territory - it's like sharpened talons. While it makes some things easier, it can also make things more dangerous and awkward. This territory - it provides food in quantities that no other territory can boast, but it also drives the larger prey items away.
"Oh-ooooh I see," she falters, tripping over her tongue a bit when Bushfire admits that she is without a mate at the moment. Without an appropriate social response to that circumstance, Dodger is left to fidget aimlessly while she makes a mental note about how she must ask Hawthorn about what is best to say in such a situation in the future. Fortunately for the both of them the forager continues to speak, and give the aberrant something else to respond to. "How did you learn to defend your territory?" Yes, she's curious... more curious than she has a right to be, honestly. But she's young enough to be able to claim ignorance, and pretend that she doesn't know that those sorts of questions are impolite.
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 5:51 am
Awkward, she decided.
That's what this whole meeting made her feel like; extremely awkward. Then again, it was not Dodger's fault, and Bushfire could hardly begrudge the young adult for being curious. In a way, it was such a nice change of pace from what she was so used to. Lately, those that came into her territory, came attracted due to the rumours they'd heard about she and Basil, or came to challenge for the lands. Granted, there were customers here and there, but the Forager hardly felt like dealing with them, what with the angst she was building up inside.
The Aberrant's intrusion was providing a rather nice outlet for her pent up emotions, and it was clear she she was not even aware of the effect she was having on Bushfire. Which was something the Wildtype was hugely grateful for. Something about the whole ordeal made her wish to get to know Dodger better. After all, while the other was not her chick, she was so similar she could have been it's twin. The fact Dodger was not related to her allowed Bushfire to ponder the idea of getting close to her for it would have no repercussions on her social life (little to none anyhow - nothing compared to the pressure she'd felt from both her and Basil's family when her chick had been born).
Happy in this knowledge, she answered the young adult again, one of her feet lifting up to show her claws, "Oh, it takes practice, but you learn to take the disadvantages and turn them into advantages," she told her, "Like the terrain; I know this territory better than any outsider and can use it to my advantage. Also, while I am small, it also means I can do things those large, cocky sentinels that come threaten me can not," her foot settled back down on her branch, the talons digging into the bark, "Their downfall is usually that they are cocky, impatient and blinded. I take advantage of that. The larger they are, the heavier their fall," after a moment, she cocked her head to one side, arching a feathers brow at the Aberrant, "Enough of that; quid pro quo, don't you think? Isn't your teacher expecting you back, Dodger?" a small pause followed the words before the Forager turned her head to look down at the fruits and nuts she'd grown, "Here, take this," using her Will, she snapped a couple of well selected nuts and fruits from some nearby trees, suspending them near Dodger's form, "This way you can try some, and take some back to your Teacher. I'm sure he won't mind you visiting me, if you can learn something in return."
It was no longer even a hint of an invitation, but a full blown one. Noctus help her... what was she getting into?
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:26 am
Endlessly curious, the aberrant edges closer when Bushfire displays her talons, tilting her head to the side to get a better look. And she grins, as understanding gleams brightly in her eyes. "Hawthorn is smaller, smaller than me at least. I mean, he wasn't always, but I kinda outstripped him as I grew. He's a Shadow," Dodger states in explanation, and then snicks her beak shut when she realizes that she is babbling. One deliberate breath later, she re-orders her thoughts and begins anew. "He's smaller than I am, but I still wouldn't dream of trying to fight him. He knows things, things he's been teaching me, but he's so amazing. I watched him kill a huge Waral, single-talonedly!"
If it wasn't for the clear innocence and straight-forward nature of her speech, it would be easy to think that the young adult has a crush on her teacher. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course. She just worships the branch he perches on, and believes (rightly so!) that she owes everything that she is today, to him. But she knows that she can still learn from others, so when Bushfire mentions the common downfalls of her challengers - cocky, impatient, and blinded - she nods, filing that information away to be digested at a later time.
The casual display of Will captures her attention so thoroughly that the offer of a fresh harvest is almost lost on the youth. The forager has a much further reach and more dexterity with her Will than she does, Dodger notices, and her mind wanders to the root of those differences, wondering what it is that makes everyone so--- oh! She startles, blinking at the food dangling in the air in front of her before tilting her head at Bushfire. It seems to take more than a few moments for her to understand what the wildtype has offered.
"Oh, okay! Thank you!" The offered treats are tucked away beneath her talons, and she fidgets excitedly. The dismissal is clear (and accurate, Hawthorn would be wondering after her by now) but she still feels that she owes Bushfire... something. Serious now, she settles herself to stand more formally and inclines her head in a slow nod. "Thank you, Bushfire, for your time, knowledge, and the harvest you share. I hope I will see you soon!"
And with that, she readies herself to depart. What a remarkable night this turned out to be!
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