Make sure to congratulate Versailles on their promotion from c-mod in training to fully fledged chat moderator! They've worked very hard, and we can't wait to see where they go from here!
Burntpaw glared heatedly at Crowpaw "I know My Place! Do You Know Yours Cracklepaw? if anyones being stupid it's You!" he said trying to calm down "i'd be wasting my time trying to fight with a disrespectful Brat Like You! Bee-brain, how stupid do you hae to be to think what you said was okay?!!!!" he mewed snarling the last bit.
He Turned away to show he'd had more then enough of Cracklepaws Antics as He Paddled over to Dovefluff "Sorry for My Heated Words Miss Dovefluff. it was disrespectful of me, i should have just turned my back on the idiot, not pick a fight" he said with a subbmissive dip of his, which he kept low to the ground, "i don't regret telling him off, but now and here wasn't the time and i'm sorry for that. Your Grieving is just, no matter what that bee brain says. i understand how it feels to loose kinmates, and i hope someday you'll get to see them again, but just remember, theywill always be with you in your heart" he could remember his father telling him that once...
Turning back to Houndchaser he meowed evenly "i'll go to Bumblestars Den, But rest asured i WILL be protesting my case" he growed, storming off towards the leaders den
@/anyone involved to interact and also open!
Pebblepaw did not like this new clearing. Not one bit. Ever since they arrived here it has been nothing but bad, bad, BAD! First had been bad poppa Thrushstar... who seemed to be missing. Hm. Then it was Crowpaw smacking her brother! Next was Bumblebreak stripping Cinderpaw of her role - and the outbreak that followed. Pebblepaw simply couldn't handle it anymore! She missed her old home. The home that held leaders that were nice and not scary like Thrushstar or Bumblebreak. The home that didn't have Crowpaw announcing the death of a kit in the clearing.
From her spot in the shade not too far from the commotion, the tuxedo molly gasped. Echokit had gone to Starclan? But they were so young! How... how could such a thing happen? Wasn't Echokit the last of Dovefluff's children? This place must be cursed! After a moment, the molly quickly stepped up to where the body was laied and dipped her head. She was never really sure how exactly to do this vigil thing, but she wanted Echokit to know that they were loved. Why Starclan had taken them so soon... she didn't know. But why did they do anything? "I pay my respects." She murmured before stepping back.
It wasn't long after that all *ahem* HECK broke loose in the clearing. Cracklepaw was being an absolute DUNCE, Crowpaw was being scary... and Pebblepaw was getting angry! If Houndchaser hadn't already stepped in she would have. A quick Super Pebble Punch would have taken care of all them that's for darn sure! The molly did not intervene this time... all that was shot their way was an agitated huff.
It just seemed to be endless chaos in Thunderclan. Arguments, cats going missing, even more arguments, death after death after–the point here is, when would it end? She slowly trekked her way to where Dovefluff was, feeling her own chest tightening in her chest. They weren’t particularly close, but she still felt bad for her, of course. She lost all of her kits!
Normally, she doubted that she would’ve been able to hear the poor comments coming from Cracklepaw, but she could hear the apprentices bickering as clear as day. At least someone had stepped in to put the ill-mannered tom in his place, though–several cats. With a particularly hard stare at the off-white tom before she returned her attention to Dovefluff–and an apprentice that she didn’t completely recognize. Well, perhaps she looked familiar, but…
“If you wish to share any stories about her, I’d love to hear them, too,” Drizzlecloud spoke slowly, carefully as she sat down beside Frogpaw. With her head tilted to the side, her left ear lifted up and pivoted slightly towards the two she-cat’s, she offered them both a smile. “Sharing stories is the best way to keep her memory alive… Although, I know you’d never forget her. A loving mother could never forget her baby.”
But, then again–perhaps speaking of such memories would cause her even more agony? For now, at least. This was all fresh… Oh, so, incredibly fresh. “But, take your time to heal. Not everyone in this clan is ignorant–we will support you through this, okay?”
Leaf didn't quit understand what was going on, she was in the nursery rolling in their nest trying to see if it could make it softer. Now she had evidence that it happened since a shred of moss was sticking to her dark colored fur. She also looked to have ruffled fur from the rolling around, and now she was out here after hearing that crow guys call. Of course nothing could go nicely for once, yelling at a meeting and now this big cat was being a rude jerk about miss dove's actual kit. "Crackle tooth needs to stop being a big mean jerk and learn to be nice to others or keep his stupid mouth shut!" she gave a tiny little kitten growl. She may have not interacted that much with miss dove but she knew the big cat didn't deserve those words, nor the other kit who seemed to be asleep. Leafkit didn't quite understand what death meant, but she could tell it wasn't good either. "It's okay you can always still talk to her in the sky right?" she said aloud when she got close.
• Springpaw •
long-furred, oriental-shaped, gray-and-orange calico molly with blue eyes, torn right ear
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Springpaw’s lips remained curled before her eyes quickly darted upwards towards Houndchaser, oceanic blues quickly dilating as she almost felt her legs buckle beneath her. She… she was only at least trying to make sure Cracklepaw didn’t cause any more trouble than he already was. Of course, her ears quickly pressed against her head as she heard the loud voices of Crowpaw and Burntpaw echo from around her, guilt rapidly rising in her chest. Her eyes drew themselves away from Houndchaser’s as they glanced sideways towards the ground, silence drawing unsettlingly towards the young calico. She… she didn’t mean to cause a sudden upbringing of drama to the field. She was only just trying to help. A bitter taste of bile rose up at her throat from the sudden thought, claws slipping and digging themselves into the dirt below.
Why bother to help when all it did was get her in trouble? Her mind screeched that question like a cassette player, echoing and echoing. Each time it echoes, the more daunting it felt. The more difficult it felt for the molly to even sit there and try to pay her respects for the deceased kit after accidentally causing a sudden argument. One little action makes a big difference, that was all it took. “Of… of course Houndchaser,” she softly mumbled, not making eye contact with the older feline, “I understand. I’m sorry for… starting this.” her voice weakly shook and cracked as she spoke, nervousness prickling at her insides. Speaking with an adult that she wasn’t fond of just made the young molly feel nothing but nervous. Scared. Alone. Just like how her own mother left her when she was only four moons old. Springpaw hadn’t bothered to think of the memory much, the memory only casting a shadow over the young calico.
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@Solar [and everyone else involved because I don’t know who else-]
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━━━━━━━━┛ ✠ ┗━━━━━━━━ “You're either living or you're not. You ain't little, you ain't a girl, you ain't a boy; you ain't strong or smart. You're alive.”
⊱ my carrd ◦ future roleplay tracker ◦ future character bio ⊰
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Numbly, the queen stumbled up beside Crowpaw, staring at her daughter as he laid her body gently on the ground. She forced her voice to stay soft as she responded shakily. "Thank you. I'm sorry about your family." Dovefluff's voice was soft and hoarse as she answered, afraid that her voice would grow into a mournful shriek if she said any more. And she truly was sad for Crowpaw, she had seen so much of his struggles, especially with his father, but she didn't want to absolutely lose it.
But then Crowpaw announced her daughter's death, and she crumbled, her legs failed her and she fell onto her belly, nuzzling Echokit. Sobs shook her like spasms as she listened to cats approach, and she knew she looked pathetic and broken, but any voice that she didn't immediately recognize became white noise. Burntpaws kind words were nice to hear but she couldn't muster up the ability to answer, loud sobs breaking the brief silence of shock throughout the clearing before they came over. Cats were sitting close to her, close to her baby, even though they never knew her. But she couldn't move, the tried locked her limbs and kept her crumpled next to Echokit's body.
Then, little Lightning came over and nuzzling her, and the queen sobbed loudly at the touch, reaching her tail over to wrap around the young molly, still clinging to the tiny body in front of her. Sootfurs wary question had the queen letting out a strangked, muffled wail, a paw reached out for her kit. "She's gone. They're all gone." the queen wailed softly, feeling Sootfurs touch, but it brought her little comfort. The kindness was deeply appreciated by the heartbroken mother, but it didn't quell the burning pain in her heart and the absence of her entire litter with Echokit's death.
"I don't even know what happened, she wasn't sick or hurt o-or cold or too hot are anything I don't know why-" her voice broke off into a gut wrenching cry, and she buried her face back down. How could StarClan be so cruel? She was a mother who couldn't be a mother, and that was the worst pain of all.
And it only got worse with Cracklepaw's cruel words. Chuck it in a hole? Fury pulsed through her as she looked up at the apprentice in shock, but before she could snarl at him, the grief washed over her like a tidal wave, and she pressed her face into her paws, sobbing as she laid on the ground.
A hollering call from inside the camp immediately caught Lioncrest's attention as he sat posted at the camp entrance. Spinning around to see what had happened, the words of young Crowpaw barely had time to sink in before apparent chaos flared up amongst the youth gathered in the clearing and clustered around a clearly grieving queen and her...
Stars the kit was so small...
An aggressive blink brought sense back into the unusually still tom and large paws abruptly kicked into motion. Firm, purposeful steps brought the large golden cat towards the squabbling group; amber gaze focused solely on the grey queen sobbing into her paws alongside her kit. Physically shoving any-cat (if any) who dared to impede his progress (and shooting a pointedly feirce look at the screeching apprentice who had spoken so callously), Lioncrest slowed as he approached Dovefluff. Firm strides turned softer, and his movements more fluid. No sudden movements; the large tom didn't want to startle or intimidate the she-cat who was clearly overwhelmed and mourning.
"Dovefluff..." The mildly familiar name rolled from his jaws with an uncharacteristically soft tone. This queen was his cousin's friend; he would help if he could. "You are not at fault for this... this tragedy. No cat truly knows why such things happen... but perhaps the stars had need of your little one sooner than expected..."
"Cover your ears from that child's vitriol. This is a heartbreaking moment and should be treated as such."
Slowly- ever so slowly, Lioncrest lowered himself into a solid loaf next to the grey queen on the ground. He was more than willing to be a wall to shield her from the chaos of the clearing; queens were the foundation of the clan, cats to be protected at all costs. Unless she wished him gone he would stay. A rock in the tempest of this storm.
[ @jupiter @/anyone else who the boi may have hustled out of the way ]
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“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
Staring at the body of her last remaining kit, the young queen felt a hollowness in her that was frightening. A chunk taken out of her heart, her life. What was she supposed to do now? Where did she even begin picking up the pieces? She had given birth to the kits days before the sinkhole, and had just recently stopped producing milk. Did she go back to the nursery? Did she start being a warrior, and learn the ways of this new forest immediately? How could she stop being a mother? Her whole life revolved around the honor of motherhood, and now... now what? When she saw Hawkbite at the gathering and he asked her how many kits she had, what did she say? Was she obligated to say she wasn't a mother anymore? That she was a mother of three? But she couldn't stop, because she knew she'd never be anything shorter than a mother of four kits.
The dream of watching her kits become apprentice and flourish in the "safe" new Clan she had fled to 5 moons ago was shriveled and dead, as well as the dream of bringing her family here for a safe new beginning. And now, look at her. Alienated and falling to pieces in front of her adopted Clan. God, she was a mess. This life was a mess. What was the point of fleeing Darklight to keep the kittens safe if three-fourths of them would be out there, unsafe. He didn't want to harm them like he did to her, she knew, he just wanted to have them to himself. Keep them and never let her see them. Perhaps this was her punishment for thinking she'd be able to start a new life somewhere else.
Staring at the limp body of Echokit, her legs still failing to hold her up, she heard multiple cats bombard Cracklepaw with threats and anger, the Russian Blue longhair moggie was silent, through it. Casting a hollow, grateful glance to Springpaw, Burntpaw and Crowpaw, then unable to look up from staring in shock and unbearable sadness at her daughter even as as Burntpaw nuzzled her and murmured condolences, she felt her stomach churn with nausea from the shock of it all. "Thank you, Crowpaw." She whispered. He wasn't going to try and make her talk, he wasn't going to pressure her. She made a mental note, through the grief-filled haze, to check in on him and thank him later.
Later. When her baby was buried and she was left groping in the darkness of life, searching for her kittens but never finding them. Her chest tightened with another hopeless sob, and she barely heard Houndchaser's words, nodding a lurching shake of her head in response miserably, still unable to look away for much longer than a few moments. Confusion pierced through the haze as the warrior then took Crowpaw and Burntpaw to the leader's den, and reprimanding Springpaw. Did they even have the authority to do that? The weight on her chest was too heavy to speak, and she would have to go to speak to... someone about standing up for the three innocent apprentices. Later.
Dovefluff didn't even bother to wipe her tearstained face as Nightgaze tried some comforting words of her own, the weight growing heavier still. She didn't want her kit to have to be remembered, she wanted her daughter here with her, making friends and growing up... not this. Not the 'we'll always remember her' promises, then forgetting her right after. It was a nice sentiment, but she knew how this process was. She had lived it. Her father's promise to remember her mother had been rendered a lie, no one in her family spoke her moms name after the funeral.
The grieving young mother was then approached by an unfamiliar molly with an odd scent, and her paws reached out for Echokit once more, out of reflex. Pain filled lapis colored eyes still wouldn't tear away from her kit, like if she kept looking maybe she would catch movement that would tell her that the death was a lie and her daughter was alive. "My daughter." She croaked, clamping her mouth shut to keep from wailing aloud once more. Frogpaw. New cat, maybe? She didn't have many stories. She only had her daughter for a short while, a few days before the sinkhole. And the stories she did have, watching all four kits roll around together and play and have their first steps... the molly's face contorted into a wince, as if remembering anything right now brought her immense physical pain, a weepy breath escaping her as Cracklepaw started screaming out horrific threats, and the pain and weight in her chest grew.
The last time the Clan would see her daughter and this was happening. The weight grew, it felt like there was a boulder planted on her chest, and any attempts to stand were smothered by her legs shaking too hard to support her. Burntpaw approached her, and all she could do was choke out the words, "Its okay." Her words sounding even more strangled and heartbroken as she tried to focus on her kit, tuning out Cracklepaw's screams, no matter how horrified they made her. Looking up, she saw young Pebblepaw paying her respects to Echokit, and the broken mother nodded to the apprentice in appreciation, before turning as Drizzlecloud spoke to her, also asking for stories. It would help, right? Then why did saying more than four words make her want to fall to pieces? "Thank you." She whispered as the other molly conceded that it was okay for her to take time. Stars, she needed time. The memories were flashing in her head, the what-ifs, and they added to the pressure in her chest.
Turning to Leafkit as the young child spoke, her mouth curved upwards in a forced, rueful fashion. "I suppose I could." She didn't say it, but it wasn't the same as having her daughter here with her. Sinking into the sadness, the building pressure of it all and Cracklepaw's words and the absence of Morningcall and the uncertainty of everything and trumping it all, the loss of her daughter was drowning her, and she felt the grief and immense heartache filling her, like a balloon about to explode. Before she could try to come up with anything to quell the pain, she was made aware of a tall figure above her. The scent reminded her vaguely of her best friend, Morningcall, which while she knew this wasn't her, the scent brought the tiniest dash of comfort.
The slightly familiar Lioncrest crouched at her side, like the golden sun eclipsing the silvery moon, and Dovefluff didn't know what compelled her to do what she did next, she was clearly not in her right state of mind because typically she'd be horrified to be this close to a male that she didn't know or trust, but something about his kind words or his scent that was similar to Morningcall's had the weight collapsing in her chest, and she folded into him, letting out an agonized, distressed sound as she crumpled into the slightly larger warrior. "It hurts." She sobbed, whatever composure she had left shattering into shards as the grieving mother wept. "She's gone, they're all gone." If she was a better mother, this wouldn't have happened. If the kittens hadn't been cursed to be her offspring, then they would be living fruitful, long lives. Her whole life all she had wanted was to be a mother, to raise them with someone who she loved and who loved her, and that came true as an evil doppelganger of her childhood dreams.
She was given kits by the cruel tom who still terrorized her to this day, she was given an opportunity to give them good lives and she had failed. She had tried so hard, then she failed. She lost all her babies, he was still out there, half this Clan had thought she was a murderer, and now she didn't know where Morningcall was. Was Morningcall okay? Her mind was thinking of so many things, and her head and stomach hurt from the deep sobs that still rippled through her body like a spasm, and she didn't know what the future held.
[ @SpiritedWarrior @Leafí @Dabi @Solar @ares @Loveless.Fawn @Poprock @Omari @Jayvines @Leafie @The Doctor - ok ok if i missed anyone pls pls lmk, this is just everyone who's mentioned me/interacted with Dove since my last post with her this morning so just mentioning everyone she's responding to. side note, sorry about the chaotic dove post, I blame climate change for the messy last half of my post ]
The molly stumbled into camp after dropping Darkpetal's body off at the burial spot, blood smeared over her paws and chest- the product of her attempting to revive to dead tom. Shaking slightly, she lifted her tail to try and gather the attention of the Clan, the former ShadowClan queen cleared her throat, voice sounding quite strangled. "ThunderClan... I-I hate to be the one to bring the news, but Darkpetal has passed on. I believe that he was... attacked by a rogue in the territory. He was already gone long before I found him. I didn't bring his body in as customary because it's in a... very rough state and I didn't want the kits to see, instead I took it to Willow's Rise where anyone able to leave camp will be able to pay their respects." Avoiding the words "dead" or "killed", for fear of frightening the kits, she also didn't mention any of the... very specific markings, she assumed that any warriors or authoritative figures would want to ask her about the death, but she didn't want to disclose the information to the prying eyes and ears of the younger cats. From what she had seen and heard, they had been traumatized enough.
Wiping her mouth, she was surprised to see that the blood from his neck wound was smeared over her maw and throat, and she tried to wipe it away the best she could. From afar, she looked like she was very seriously injured, and that wasn't what she wanted it to appear like. She didn't want to startle or freak anyone out, but if she had had time to clean herself up, she would have. It was either a very bloody, sick looking Dovefluff or a mangled corpse in the clearing, so she decided that the first was... less horrifying.
[Here is the link to recovery post, though it contains themes of gore and cannibalism, so be cautious if either topics make you incredibly uncomfortable ]
Something was very wrong today.
Sootfur was grooming himself when Dovefluff raced into camp with her fur soaked up in the blood. Pelt bristling, he immediately got to his paws but then realized the queen was not in a hurry.. She didn't seem to be followed, or even injured. However, her expression was terribly miserable.
As he heard the unfortunate cat's name, he realized his old mentor had died. And not only that - but murdered in one of the worst possible ways in their own territory.
Sootfur slowly walked up to Dovefluff, his face a mask of stone as he tried to keep his emotions under control. He'd never imagined Darkpetal dead, especially because they weren't as close as he'd wished for. But now it was real, and it hit him like a sharp claw through his chest.
The gray tabby touched the gray queen's head with his for a few moments, keeping the silence in a thankful gesture that he was sure she would understand before disappearing in the undergrowth, heading for Willow's Rise to see what had remained of his former mentor.
"Oh, dear... dear Dovefluff..." He whispered in sorrow, too shocked to say anything else. Why had he brought her here? What if she'd stayed in Shadowclan instead of fleeing, following the advice of a young, inexperienced warrior? Would Echokit still be alive?
Guilt gnawed at Sootfur's bones and crushed his chest. Seeing the queen so miserable was almost unbearable.
He lay down with her for a while, silence between the two as other cats came and pay their respects to the fallen little kit and her poor mother in pain. He lowered his head and prayed that wherever he was, Starclan would take care of Dovefluff's last kit as the most precious treasure from Thunderclan.
A drink. That was all he'd wanted. To take a few quick laps of water from the gentle stream that flowed in the clearing. But evidently that was too much to ask for. No sooner had his tongue poked out from its toothy prison, the camp exploded. Well... not literally. No no. These cat's homes only imploded if we were talking in literary terms. But explosions? Those were only metaphorical. Or at least... he hoped they were only metaphorical. A quiet, peaceful, boring haven his ass. That stranger had lied to him, and he had words he wanted to exchange with 'em.
Okay, that wasn't true. He had a word. One. Anything more was a waste of time. Oooh but he would make it count. Mark his word. Fudge always made his words count, no matter how sparse they were. No. Wait. Not Fudge. Sprucekit. A sneer of contempt almost formed on the chocolate colored kit's deadpanned face, threatening to break the emotionless expression he always carried. Almost. It was too much effort to actually bother with it. Especially considering all the infernal jabbering the others had incurred upon themselves and others. Couldn't they just be quiet? Just once? The fluffy kit supposed that was too much to ask. Imagine. Changing your name with every bowel movement you took. No wonder they were all mad.
With a sigh, Fudge - he still had enough sensibility to call himself that even if the others hadn't a clue as to what his actual name was - took his drink, emerald hues pointedly glaring at the screechers who insisted on raising their voices to the heavens. He wouldn't tell them they should shut up. Fudge wasn't daft. He knew that would be the equivalent of talking to a wall. And he would prefer avoiding a beating if he could. He knew these cats claimed to be above such things, but honestly... who knew when Honeyapplecrunchytastymeal would finally go rogue? With a snort, he padded some space away from the rowdy bunch, choosing a mossy patch of floor that best reminded him of the soft, warm bed of his first moon - back when his ma had still loved and cared for him - before pointedly looking away from the rabble. Maybe if he pretended they weren't there he'd be able to get some semblance of peace.
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| Open |
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Lightningstorm is WindClan's current medicine cat.
She has a semi-closed den policy.
The muscular gray tabby straightened himself and welcomed the kits with a strong purr: "Hello, hello everyone! We'll have a lot to talk about, so let's start as soon as possible, shall we?" He made sure that everyone was listening, then remembered something else. "Right. I kindly ask all of you to keep quiet as long as I'm explaining things, and only speak when I ask if you have any questions. In turn, of course.
"Etiquette" means "good behavior", so this is already a way to show me how well you can behave yourself during important moments.
He sat down comfortably and relaxed, clearing up his throat before speaking. "...Gatherings. An opportunity offered by Starclan to us, where a peaceful meeting is held between the four clans at the Seastones every full moon. My goal is to teach you the best behavior in opportunities such as this one."
"Remember, kits. When you're participating in a Gathering, each one of you is individually representing Thunderclan. Your actions, your words, your choices. It's not only essential to be respectful in those situations, but to stay clever as well and protect your clan's best interest." This might be a bit complicated to understand for the younger kits, but he was sure the mentors would do a good job with it anyway.
"Gatherings are an opportunity to share news and meet new cats from other clans - I said news, not secrets." This was particularly important, so he glanced at each one of them before continuing. "First. Cats don't talk while leaders and high ranks are speaking. They listen.
Secondly. You must treat every other clan cat with the same respect as you treat your own. Be careful, because not all cats from the other clans always follow this rule... but again, not all of them have good etiquette. This means they also put their clan in a bad light.
...Thirdly." And again, but he wanted to repeat it as much as needed to make sure nothing would be spilled by mistake. Especially now, with so much tension with Shadowclan. "No clan cats may share or reveal secrets or whatever piece of information with others that might put Thunderclan in danger. This might mean our camp's position, our special battle moves, our clan's hunger state, or even our health. How many prey and herbs Thunderclan has is Thunderclan's only business."
This was the most essential, he decided with satisfaction. However, thinking back at some memories brought other suggestions for the young kits to hear. Yes, that might be useful as well. "Mh. Fourth. You always follow your leader and their orders. You can't join the Gathering if you're not led there by a high rank, got it?"Stars, it sounds so stupid but still, cats do that every now and then."Always follow your clan and stay in line. Don't wander. Don't play during the travel. Don't get lost."
"But the most important rule of all is... that no matter what, the truce shall be held under the full moon at the Seastones. Never, and I say never, provoke Starclan by going against this law." But then, had it even some meaning anymore? What would these kits think when they'll get to know Dawnstar and her ways? Sootfur felt utterly alone when mentioning Starclan, as if no one in Silverpelt was actually watching over him, nodding in approval.
"I think that's it for now. I'd suggest all of you, when you first become apprentices, follow your mentors and not get split up by your clan during your first time. Listen to your older clanmates, and never forget that you're behaving for the whole of Thunderclan. Never for yourself alone."
And unfortunately, that was a thing Sootfur had had to learn by himself during Sparrowstar's leadership.
The gray warrior took the chance to get to his paws and stretch his body with a loud yawn. "Any questions?" He asked then.
Re: ThunderClan Clearing
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