A Winter Nightmare | PLOT

[Deleted]

A Winter Nightmare

plot rp - CLOSED

The cold this leaf-bare brought with it was like nothing any Shadowclanner had seen before. The snow-filled clouds overhead unleashed snow upon the forest relentlessly, the blanket of powder only continuing to grow taller as it effectively snuffed out life in the surrounding area. Some of the Shadowclan cats had already begun to notice this disappearance of prey as they were forced to bring back long-dead rodents to sustain the clan. With this, the concern of passing along diseases in rotting meat only continued to grow. They couldn't keep eating crowfood forever.

Just last night, the deputy of Shadowclan, Fallenfox, had found their dear leader Pumpkinstar dead in his den. The short-furred tom had simply frozen in the cruel temperatures in his lonely den, wasting away all 9 lives in his sleep. Now the weight of the clan was trust upon Fallenfoxs shoulder, and the tom knew his clan couldn't hold out in this forest much longer. As the orange tom exited the warrior's den for the day, deeming the leader's den unfit for sleep, the tom briefly glanced over the empty freshkill pile before deciding it was time to take action.

Walking into the center of camp, Fallenfox gave out the familiar call to summon his clan to him. Cats began to pour from every den, shivering violently in the cold but doing their best to ignore it. What was Fallenfox here to tell them? Had he come up with an idea on how to better shield themselves from the winter? Would he dare them to advance into other territories to find the prey they needed to survive?

ulla

[Ferntrail]

just one more step, just one more step. Don’t look behind, just look forward. One paw in front of the other. Bluepaw didn’t know how much longer she could survive for. All that sneering and bitchiness, what she had thought to be a shield? It was nothing, She was nothing. She couldn’t do jackshit, not with the elements against her.
Yet the only thing Bluepaw knew to do was adapt, to change. To make herself something she wasn’t. So slowly, where had once been that bitter nature, everything turned to ice. Bluepaw was not an apprentice, she was not flirting death. She wasn’t anything important. But if she learned the games the warriors played, she could be death herself. In the dark, she found a glow. A warmth of something that kept her tethered.

Deep within the shadows of camp, lay a slumbering figure. Completely oblivious to the cold around her. One might think her dead, with a barely moving flank. She had been taught to be on the ready, no matter what situation. So she made sure that when she slept she was atleast silent, so no one would see her. Then a voice roused her up, and she opened a single green eye. Then she stretched her jaws into a massive yawn, and her blue eye peeled open.
No snarky comment came from her mouth as she elegantly got to her paws. Even with starvation clinging at her frame, she couldn’t help but keep her former grace. The tall, blue feline padded over towards where the feline stood. ”Yes, Fallenfox?” Her voice smooth and articulated, her eyes glazed with ice. Her long tail swishing against the ground, her clean (Yet lank) coat on end. Fluffed up against the cold.
She was no longer going to question the rules. She didn’t need anyone knowing what she was up too. Her end goal would forever remain a secret. She was no longer a snake, sometimes showing herself. She would be a leopard in the trees, watching, waiting. Never seen.

[Deleted]

Amber eyes shot open at voices outside, a shiver shaking his skinny body. Blackpaw unhappily uncurled himself, keeping a white tipped tail close to his body as he stretched. He plodded out into the open, flattening his ears as the cold hit him even harder. His fur was thin, ruffling in the breeze to show pale pink skin patterned with goosebumps and small claws pricked at the solid ground, tapping his toes to try and keep them warm. He felt lonely, despite being with his clan mates yet he was missing a piece. His amber gaze flickered back to the apprentices den, heart sinking when he knew his sister would not be joining them. He had believed in StarClan until this leafbare hit and he lost her to the cold and hunger, however much he tried to keep her here. The tall black tom let out a grumble, walking delicately on the cold ground to get closer to Fallenfox and the others. He still sat separate from them, never feeling a true part of the Clan without his sister, but close enough to listen. "It's too cold to be out at this time.." He mumbled, bringing a paw to rub across his face in an attempt to wake himself up. He pricked up his ears to listen but bowed his head, touching his chin to his chest for some warm comfort.

[Vipernose]

Vipernose ; Sass Queen of ShadowClan

"I thought nothing good would ever happen to me - that I was in hell after it froze over, thawed, and then burnt to the ground."

Amber eyes opened to slits as a chill ran down the she-cat's spine. The tabby cat raised her head from her mate's shoulder, and looked out of the Warriors' Den with narrowed eyes. She didn't know why this winter had to be so cold. So damn cold, and no damn prey. Vipernose huffed, a cloud of warm air escaping from her mouth, and stood up. She was careful not to disturb Ravenfoot as she stepped out of the nest, her movements gentle. She exited the den as quietly as she could, and she gritted her teeth the second her face clashed with the freezing winter breeze. The fur on the back of her neck rose and her eyes were as wide as they could be by the time she got so far as the used-to-be fresh kill pile. Instead of grinding together, her teeth were now chattering, her body shaking from the sudden coldness. Vipernose jumped into the air, startled like she had seen a ghost, when a low voice called out from above her. She whipped her head back and forth, having no idea where the words were coming from. Then she realized what an idiot she had been. It was just Fallenfox calling the cats together for a meeting. She breathed out in relief, glad that she wasn't almost murdered or kidnapped. Then she glared at the ground, knowing that was a stupid thing to think would happen at these temperatures. Vipernose looked back up to see cats coming out of the dens with the same reaction she had had. The molly didn't see her mate exit the den, so she joined the tired mob of cats as they huddled around Fallenfox. She felt fur touch hers and turned her head to see a shivering Sootpaw. Vipernose smiled at her daughter before pulling her closer with her paw. "Don't think about the cold, love." she whispered in her child's ear. "Not thinking about it will make you forget that you're cold. Now only focus on Fallenfox, and you'll be okay." Sootpaw nodded against her mother's shoulder, and sure enough, she stopped shaking so fiercely. The silver tabby smirked as she looked around at the other cats, realizing that they were all dying from the coldness too. "Don't think about the cold," she repeated, louder, so the cats around her could hear. "Trust me, it'll help." Vipernose was feeling helpful, and she really hoped that the cats would believe her and not neglect her advice because she was known for her arguments.



Vipernose's amber gaze skimmed over the crowd once more before focusing back on the orange cat at the front. Something about Fallenfox's tone was alarming, and the she-cat wanted to know more. She craned her neck forward, her ears flicking this way and that, trying to block out the talking from the other cats. Sootpaw exhaled next to her, and Vipernose looked down at her to see that she was looking back up at her with a grin. "It's working, Mom." the apprentice purred. "Thank you." The warrior nodded at her remaining kit and looked back up at Fallenfox. She shifted her weight from paw to paw, anxious of the announcement to come. It had to have something to do with the cold, or he wouldn't have mentioned it, right? Her kitty brows knitted together in thought as she waited for her clanmates to settle down so Fallenfox could speak.

► kaigra ◄

[Deleted]

Owlpaw

Ooh woo, I'm a rebel just for kicks now.

edit 6/22/2018
i fucked up this post & its gone now LOL

oops amount of words 

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[Fawnstep]

”Anything that is beautiful, people want to break.”

                  Maplepaw enjoyed the warmth of Owlpaw curled around her. Lately the two had been sharing a nest at Owlpaw's suggestion, and the small molly agreed. It was much too cold outside to even think of sleeping alone, and almost every cat in every den had combined their nest with another and huddled close to retain heat between themselves.

                  This morning, the molly had been let off of her apprentice duties and was told to be up by sunhigh for a short hunting session. This meant one thing. Sleeping in!! But of course, something had to happen, didn't it? She was immediately woken up by Fallenfox's call, but tucked her nose right back under her tail and covered her eyes with soft, white paws. Whimpering and groaning as Owlpaw stood up, she felt the cold of the outside air hit her back fur. "Nooo, come back" She mewed, startled fully awake by her friend shaking her by the scruff. "Hey! So not needed!" 

                  Huffing and shaking out her crumpled fur, Maplepaw chased after the tom before jumping up and pouncing on top of him, paying no mind to the cats already gathered. "That's what you get for shaking me!" She meowed, baring her teeth playfully. Suddenly remembering where she was, the calico she cat rolled off of her friend and scurried closer to where Fallenfox sat. "I'm sorry!" She squeaked, tilting her hears back with hot embarrassment.

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[Deleted]

Fallenstar Leader of ShadowClan Fallen son. Risen God.

The orange tom ruffled his pelt as he stood before the remaining clan members that had dared to venture out of their dens.         The weather was only beginning to get worse and big, fat, white snowflakes were blowing past the eyes of all cats. The dark and gloomy sky had been gray for many days now and with each passing day, the sun refused to show. This, mixed with the deepening snow and biting, sharp wind, made for dreary days and frozen nights which had already exhibited their power over the clans with the fall of ThunderClan and RiverClan.     There were whispers among the felines of ShadowClan and rumours of a rising power near the city. WindClan was returning but at what cost? Would they be able to rise? Survive? Or possibly thrive? The tom who had been deputy for some moons had feared that he may need to send patrols or even search out this rising clan for himself and his clan's sake. For worse was coming.     And he had already witnessed it.     The tom paced back and forth beside a sleeping Froglegs whom had previously been snuggled up to his large frame but Fallenfox needed to move. He needed to check and know. This is why the pacing steps found themselves now in front of a snowed in den entrance. For days now, the den entrance had been blocked and to no avail had any cats been able to clear away the heavy, frozen power. But this morning, a wind had blown away some of it and one of the warriors had awoken him to come see.     The deputy had made those digging out the den entrance promise him they would not enter until he had witnessed what may be inside for himself and this was it. This was what he had been waiting to see.         Oh, but not in this way. He had not wanted to see what he did in this way, shape, or form.     A figure lay motionless off to the left side of the den and the biting wind was still able to seep into the dark, dirty den that was littered with the bones of small creatures. Fallenfox's eyes drifted over the body and noticed the feline's eyes were open but dull. There was a sheen of frozen ice already forming over those eyes from the buildup of moisture that they had accumulated in them and the curls of the leader's pelt were whipped up in frozen peaks and even the wind could not rustle them.     Death.     The entire den smelled of death and yet no scent of decay was able to be detected. For it was too frigid for any body to even began the decaying process. The deputy stood still before turning his body and whipping his tail around in the air.     His black paws carried him out of the den and he sighed, a single tear escaping his left eye before it froze into his facial fur.     The able bodied tom stood strong and steady before opening his jaws again and let the drawling words slip out and into the air around the ShadowClan camp.     "It is with a heavy heart and a sad mind that I tell you all, the good cats of ShadowClan, that my...your...our...leader...has fallen. Our leader lost his life to the freeze of Leafbare and I regret to announce it like this, in this way, but, as standing deputy, it is in my title."     He paused before clearing his throat and then spoke again while letting his green eyes scan the group ahead of him and he dropped his gaze to Froglegs before nodding his head. He needed comfort and within the eyes of his mate, he was able to find it.     "You shall now all see me as your acting leader. I have seen it in my dreams from last night. StarClan has chosen to take a life and give forth new leadership. From now on, I have been named Fallenstar." He moved his gaze from Froglegs to Owlpaw, another familiar, almost familial gaze between the new leader and his apprentice.     "I fully accept this position and I hope that I am able to pull us all through this season. This cold cannot, will not, and will NEVER bring down ShadowClan! It may attempt to claim our bodies and out lives, but I shall promise you that I refuse to allow it to take anymore of us! We SHALL survive! And we SHALL THRIVE!"     His voice was deep, rumbling, and drawling out each vowel. Power held itself strong in his voice and he sharpened his gaze before giving each feline figure a once over.     ShadowClan would survive. And now they would lead. And they would seek out this rumoured rising WindClan. And for once, ShadowClan would help another clan thrive if possible too.     For Fallenstar had something many previous leaders of his clan did not have and even though the tom had been hardened and sharpened and carried himself a bit darker than he used to before his deputy position, he still had a passion and kindness buried deep within him and he longed to prove to himself and his clan that it was still there, waiting to spark up yet again.

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[Ferntrail]

He didn't know where he was. He didn't know what day it is. He only knew that is was cold. That every limb in his body had turned to ice. He couldn't think straight, didn't know what was happening. But he kept walking. For days the kit had survived on nothing but melted ice, but the lack of nutrition was getting to him. He should have arrived at the city by now, the direction his mother had sent him in. 'run, and never look back' and he had run, for a little bit. Until he had grown tired and he could barely crawl. His usually clean brown and golden fur was matted and soaking wet, he was just so cold.

He didn't know how he could continue. There was no light at the end, there was no end. Just endless winter, never ending chill. He wanted it all to stop. He may have stopped, let the chill end the pain. If not for a faint meow. He couldn't make out words, but he heard it. Someone was near, Someone was here to save him. "Help, help I'm over here!" His voice cracked and spluttered, his tongue feeling like it was coated in dust. "P-please help me" He whimpered.

He could still hear the shouting, but it wasn't getting closer. Maybe they were telling him to come. Pushing through the snow, barely able to keep his head above the snow, he followed the meows. His ears started ringing from the sudden movement, his vision blurry. But still he rushed forward. "Help me, help me!" His weak child's voice growing louder as he hoped to be heard.

Before he knew it he stumbled, his paw catching the ground as he tripped smack dab into the middle of the Shadowclan cats.

[Vipernose]

Vipernose ; Sass Queen of ShadowClan

"I thought nothing good would ever happen to me - that I was in hell after it froze over, thawed, and then burnt to the ground."

The tabby molly silently watched as cats gathered. She recognized Owlpaw, who was quickly followed by Maplepaw who pounced on the young tom then rolled off of him in embarrassment. She said something to Fallenfox that the warrior's ears didn't quite catch, but she knew it was none of her business, needless to say she didn't really care. 

As she heard the orange tom at the front of the crowd start to speak, she gave her full attention to him. Her ears took in every word he spoke, and then her brain proceeded to fully comprehend everything he was saying. Pumpkinstar was dead? Fallenfox was the new leader? Vipernose felt no sorrow or grief for the fallen leader; she had never met him or had any ties to him in any way.

Fallenstar. The name was foreign to her lips as it was to everyone else's. "Fallenstar! Fallenstar!" she cheered for him.

The former queen smirked as the new leader mentioned the weather never bringing ShadowClan down. Vipernose raised her head and shouted in agreement. She had faith in Fallenstar. She knew he would be a good leader and he could help the clan thrive. But every good leader has a good deputy... They needed a deputy! Had Fallenstar forgotten? Vipernose was about to say something about it when she heard a wailing sound. Her head whipped to the side. 

It sounded like a kit.

Was it a ShadowClan kit, lost in the snow? It couldn't be; there weren't any kits in the nursery young and daft enough to go into the icy cold. 

Vipernose's amber eyes darted to the front again as a small ball of fur appeared in the snow. She gasped and rushed forward, leaving Sootpaw by herself. The tabby's eyes searched the kit, trying to see if it was still breathing. Being experienced with kits, Vipernose knew what to do. She sniffed it and knew it was still alive, but very cold. Her tongue caressed it's fur, trying to warm the poor thing up. A worried expression came upon her face as the kit shivered and whimpered, and she sat down and brought it into her embrace. "It's okay, little one," she whispered. "You'll be okay. You're safe now. I'll keep you warm." 

Vipernose covered the bundle with her paw, her tongue still rasping over it with love and care. 

The tabby looked up at Fallenstar, an apologetic look in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, just for the tom to hear. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I just needed to make sure this kit survived."

She dipped her head to Fallenstar and walked back to her spot in the crowd.

► kaigra ◄

[Deleted]

Blackpaw Blackpaw drew his tail closer as the biting wind ruffled his fur. Ears flattened so close to his head to keep them warm, he barely heard the words Fallenstar had spoken, but perked up as they cheered his new name. He only joined in briefly, eyes glancing around to the others. The clan was feeble and small, killed off by the snow. He was afraid they would lose more before this leafbare ended. He couldn't help but feel pessimistic for his own future. Would he ever gain his warrior name after a winter like this? He shook away the thought, dusting more snow off his paws. Amber eyes shot to commotion where Vipernose was rescuing a kit, he only rolled his eyes with a huff. What was the kit doing out in the open? Silly child. Moving on, he hadn't cared much for the last leader, and probably wouldn't for this one. He seemed too quiet, timid for a leader of ShadowClan, even though he spoke of such strength. Who would be his deputy? That would come by little difficulty, there being such few warriors left. Someone strong, at least in appearance and mind. His thoughts wandered, thinking of those in the Clan to prove strong leadership, there were few...

ⒶⓀⒾ

[Ferntrail]

He could tell something was wrong. There was not one familiar scent in the air, nothing he could comfort himself with. He was in a winter nightmare. Sure, he had found cats, but where was he? Once he found the cats, what was he supposed to do? Where was his mother? She should be here, she said she would be here. His ears pulled back in distress as he shivered, flinching away from the sounds. A cat was bounding over, but his eyes were squinted against the cold, and he couldn't make any features? Mother! He pulled himself towards her, joy making his little heart quicken.

Then a rancid scent flew over him, and he knew this cat wasn't his mother. He wanted to flinch away from the weird smelling feline, but mother had always told him to be polite, installed good morals in him. Maybe if he listened to her, she'd come back. It wasn't his fault... right? He didn't make her run away. Maybe she wanted him to get lost in the snow. He whimpered again, features twisting into an expression of pure horror and distress. Still, he let the molly groom him.

It was nice, to be groomed like that. The heat rushing beneath her touch, although it kinda stung. Then she pulled him into an embrace, murmuring some words. It was hard for him to concentrate, everything was a blur. Looking up with an expression of confusion he went over what she said, slowly, in his head. She'll keep me warm? How am I safe here? He was a curious kit, and even in a time like this, a billion questions loomed in his mind.

Instead he took a deep breath, forcing the words out, tongue feeling thick and heavy in his mouth. "M-mother s-said she'll b-be here. Where is s-she?" As the cats body-heat fought away the cold, he felt his limbs getting sleepy, his eyes flickering, as if trying to shut. No! He couldn't sleep now. "My name is O-otterkit. She's probably a-around here somewhere, looking for me!" Maybe he could convince them to go out looking for her.

Then she started talking to a cat, the leader? maybe. And he was reminded that they were in the middle of a meeting. Again the tears and heartache threatened to spill, but he sucked it back. After the meeting he could confront the leader and explain his situation... yes.

He just needed her to be okay.

[Fawnstep]

Maplepaw sat there, caught in the middle of a word whispered to Owlpaw, her mouth hanging wide opened. The news of her leader's death rang in her ears until she felt like she needed to run. Go somewhere, anywhere other than this freezing hellhole of a clan. She tensed, knowing she couldn't just burst up at this proclamation. She stayed put, staring up at Fallenfox. This tom, her father figure, was now acting leader. He soon would have to make the journey to receive his nine lives, but with the scarcity of food, would that be safe- or even possible? "Fallenstar" She mumbled, after hearing Vipernose begin to cheer the tom's up-in-coming name. It felt strange on the tongue, but she felt a pride rise within her that she didn't know was there before. Fallenfox was a strong willed and able-bodied cat. No cat could lead them better in this time of crisis than he. Maplepaw smiled a small, crooked smile, with tears pricking the edge of her eyes in mixed emotions at this morning's outcome. The small she-cat turned, nudging a crying kit towards her own fluffy coat, hoping to warm the kit up and quiet his tears. "Shh... everything's going to be alright..."

[Deleted]

Blackfang The black tom shifted his gaze across the clearing, glancing at his clan mates. If they were to survive, they would have to move. And fast. He only hoped this new leader, Fallenstar, would give them more hope than the last leader. He needed to see strength, even if there was none. Anything to help the clan out of this pit of sorrow and death. He grumbled once again at the cold seeping into his body through his paws on crumbling ice and snow.  Blackfang shuddered as a cold breeze flew through them, before turning his orange gaze back up to the new leader. His voice was almost lost to the cold and the wind, but he tried to speak up. "What are we going to do now, if the frost has already taken our last leader, who is to say it won't take you too?" the bitterness in his voice was clear, gaze narrowed as he spoke up to Fallenstar. "Who's to say it won't catch us all if we stay here much longer?"

[Sharkfang]

The wind howled outside, screaming and crying. Inside the warrior's den, Froglegs lay peacefully next to his mate, Fallenfox. Their warmth combined was merely enough to forget about the cold,  winter winds that frequently blew into the den. Fallenfox left the tabby tom's side, but Froglegs took no notice, as he was sound asleep.     Sleep. That's all he seemed to do. He just wanted to sleep this winter away, wake up where the sun was shining and flowers were blooming... But, every time he woke up, it was the same, cold, dark den as the time before.      The sun didn't show it's self to the clan for what seemed like a week, it was absolutely terrifying. No one could tell when day turned to night and everybody feared the camp would be buried in snow.      His dreams ceased when his body began to grow cold without Fallenfox by his side, and he slowly opened his emerald eyes to the dark den. The tom looked around and saw that cats were huddled towards the back of the den, where the winter winds wouldn't touch them. Froglegs stared, appalled and heartbroken as they shivered. Shaking his head, he quickly rose to his paws and ignored his aching bones as he shuffled out of the den.      The first thing Froglegs did was look for Fallenfox through the crowd of cats that stood in the clearing. He circled around them, leaping through the thick snow all the while shuddering against the endless winds that whipped at his face.      Fallenfox was near the recently uncovered leader's den, frozen like ice. He'd never seen him so still, and his eyes held such a deep sorrow, and it caused Froglegs' heart to sink down in his stomach. The orange tom turned around and he saw a tear fall down his cheek.      Froglegs' head bowed as he took in a shaky breath. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that Pumpkinstar was in there, dead. Froglegs' heart pounded against his chest.      Pushing forward to close the gap, he could feel the tension in the clan as he announced the leader's death and Froglegs sat a couple of tail-lengths in front of the deputy, his posture solemn but his face sympathetic.      As Fallenfox declared his position as leader, a chill ran down his spine. Nonetheless, he joined the howls of the clan in accepting the tom as their leader, a smile on his face.      The two toms locked gazes for a second, and Froglegs got up and stood next to Fallenfox, fluffing his thick, matted fur to provide warmth and comfort to the tom. Froglegs placed his head on the back of the tom's neck, breathing in his scent.      "I know you can do this." He meowed in the toms ear, a quiet, tired rasp.

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[Deleted]

Fallenstar Leader of ShadowClan Fallen son. Risen god.

The new leader shivered slightly, both with excitement of his new position but also with fear of what some cats were now saying. He decided it would be best to confront the fears that one cat, he recognized him as Blackfang, spoke up.     "My Clan. I know you fear of what this Leafbare might bring. For the body of our fallen leader lays beyond the entrance to this den and you have proof of what this snow and freeze has the ability to do. Please, keep your minds strong though, along with your bodies. We will need this strength; the strength of all of us, to work together and push through." He paused and flicked his tail before setting his gaze upon the single black tom who had spoke out against him.     "As long as my clan still stands, I shall refuse to fail you all. And as long as I stand, I refuse to allow this clan to fail." He ruffled his long orange and white pelt and leaned slightly into Froglegs to try to steady his mind.     "Now, I know this may be moving fast but we have no time to wait for the next gathering, as I can see there will not be one in the coming moon. Therefore, at this time, I shall name my deputy." Fallenstar's sharp green eyes scanned over the small group of felines and already had a figure in mind when his vision fell upon them. He let a small smile slip through and then spoke with his gritty voice.      "I have seen this cat grow stronger even though the cold has also grown stronger. I have watched this cat through the passing moons and they have showed many qualities that I believe Pumpkinstar saw within me. And I believe that if I shall come to perish one day, this cat will be able to hold the soul of ShadowClan alive and well. This cat has love, compassion, and vitality and I believe she will be able to follow within my own pawsteps and the pawsteps of leaders past. As you have just witnessed, her heart is strong and she holds a care for all felines, which I believe is something this clan has desperately come to need."     Pausing, he let his words sink in and held strong eye contact before calling out the cat's name. "Vipernose! I call upon you to take your first steps up here and stand beside me as Deputy of ShadowClan!"     Now to address another concern. A kit had stumbled into the clearing and he turned to look in its direction. "Little one, please do not fret. For you have wandered into ShadowClan territory. Maplepaw, please watch this young thing. You seem to have a slight liking to it already." He nodded at how she was currently comforting it.     Now he swung his head to gaze upon the cats again, catching Owlpaw's gaze for a moment with a loving look that a mentor would give their apprentice.           "I know this may seem hard to process at this moment in time, but we need to leave. These grounds are no longer safe."

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