Talia awakens slowly. She's been asleep for five hours. As she tries to blink the fog out of her head, she smells Richy's scent, feels the heat of his body, his skin against her skin and knows she's safe. Her side is stiff and sore. And when her hand feels the bandage, she remembers the way the bullet burned through her back and exploded out her front. She remembers Cougar tending her wound and the shot he gave her in her bottom without warning.

The scent of Talia's sudden anger causes Richy to stir beside her. His hand squeezes her inner thigh as he says to her, "You needed sleep."

Talia sighs as she carefully slides out of bed. Her hands cradle her wounded side as she steps into the bathroom, one above the bandage and the other below it. She sits on the toilet and a wave of relief washes over her as her over full bladder empties.

As she's washing her hands, Richy steps in and empties his own bladder at the urinal. Then he washes his hands and turns to Talia drying her hands at the other sink and checks her bandage.

"Let's get this changed," says Richy as he starts to pick at the tape of the bandage. "How's your pain?"

"Not too bad right now," answers Talia looking at him through half black orbs that allow her to see more normally, "but I can tell I'll need to lie back down soon."

Richy drops the soiled bandage in the trash. The wound only looks slightly smaller than it did hours ago. It's hard to believe she's actually standing there on her own and conscious. He tapes a fresh bandage in place over the wound. Then he tells Talia, "You get back in bed. I'll get you something to eat."

Talia frowns at the fresh bandage and ask, "It's very bad, isn't it?"

Richy guides her back to the bed. "Yeah... Honestly, I don't know how you made it here or how you're even standing here talking to me right now. Please, get back in bed for me."

Talia complies feeling a bit childish.

Richy picks up the pitcher of now warm water and tells her, "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Richy returns about five minutes later with a fresh pitcher of ice water, two large bowls of stew, a small bowl of mixed nuts, and two sliced oranges and apples on a tray. He slides the tray onto the nightstand and tells her, "I don't think these trays have gotten this much use in a while. My father would serve my mother breakfast in bed every Saturday. He believed wives and mothers should be honored more than once a year."

He sits on the edge of the bed by her legs and smells her suddenly get sad. "Why so sad, suddenly?"

Talia sighs and explains, "I know my parents loved each other. But I don't know if they ever did things like that for each other."

Richy gives her an understanding look, then request, "Eat for me. Then I want you to sleep for me."

"Sleep," Talia questions not wanting to sleep while she's wounded.

"Yes," Richy says firmly as he hands her a bowl of stew. "Sleep, you need sleep. You're here with me now. You're safe. Let me look after you."

Talia nods her agreement. She eats her stew, a small hand full of nuts and a drinks a full cup of ice water. She lies back down, looks at Richy and questions again tentatively, "Sleep?"

"Yes," confirms Richy, "sleep. You need it. I can smell you need it."

Talia wrinkles her nose and ask, "Real sleep?"

"Yes," answers Richy sliding in next to her, "real sleep."

She wriggles up next to him and agrees, "Ok." Then a few minutes later she's sleeping peacefully.

But Richy doesn't fall back to sleep. Instead, without even trying he slips into the same meditative state he found Talia in when he got home, resting, yet aware. He hadn't known he was capable of this state. And initially, he had thought maybe the injury had induced the state in Talia. But being injured isn't required, just the need to rest combined with the need to be aware. And Richy feels the need to be aware simply because Talia trusted him enough to look after her, because his mate is sleeping at his request.

Richy hears Shell's tiny footsteps as she approaches his room even though he's in that meditative state. When Shell steps into his room, the first thing she notices are his eyes are open. Though a small child, Shell senses that those eyes that seem to be seeing nothing are actually aware of everything, including her. He's resting, but could spring into action at the first sign of trouble. Still she crawls up onto the foot of the bed with her favorite ragdoll clutched in one hand and squeezes herself carefully between Richy's and Talia's legs, settling herself on the sheet and blanket as she uses Talia's hip as a pillow. Talia's hand comes down to rest on Shell's dark haired head and Shell falls back to sleep.

About 2pm, Richy gets a call from Margie. "I'm sorry, sunshine, but Sheila's at the fire station raising hell. Molly's here and I'm on my way over with her. But I never like that woman, and we all know I have a bad temper. Al's going with me, but I'ld feel better if I knew you were on your way."

Richy looks at Talia sleeping in his bed. He just changes her bandage, fed her and put her back to bed after she relieved herself. "I'll be there as quick as I can. So don't you let her goad you into anything rash."

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"Just hurry," Margie tells Richy.

Richy knows Talia woke up the moment he stepped out of the house. As he steps out of his sheriff's cruiser in front of the fire station, he can hear Sheila yelling at Cougar at the top of her lungs. All of the other fire-fighters except Cougar are outside.

Richy heads for the fire chief. "Molly," he greets with a nod.

Molly's a tall muscular dark skinned woman. She's standing there with her toddler on her hip. Her husband will be by to pick their toddler up after he gets off from work.

"Richy," Molly greets handing off her toddler to one of the full-time nannies employed at the fire station. She informs him, "Sheila got her notice of divorce today. Mr. Devonshire delivered it himself."

"Really," Richy responds. "Do you know Mr. Devonshire's current location?"

Molly points at the fire station, "Inside along with Margie and Al and a couple of his assistants. He followed Sheila over here. Probably knew she was going to fuss, but none of us expected this. Sheila started off yelling at Cougar. We started filtering out when she started throwing thing. Last I saw, she was brandishing an ax. Poor Cougar's beside himself. He really cares for her, but he can't stay married to her. She's a total nut job. Plus she's carrying his baby. Lord knows how this is his first, but because it's his first, it's important to him."

Richy nods his understanding. "I'll have Sheila out of your station in a few minutes."

Molly smiles as she says, "I know."

Richy heads inside none too happily following the sound of Sheila's voice as she screams at Cougar. He finds them in the kitchen. Cougar is backed into a corner and Sheila is holding the ax in the air screaming that he can't divorce her. Both Margie and Al have a hand on the butts of their guns, but neither has drawn. No one wants to shoot a pregnant lady, not even a crazy dangerous one.

Richy nods to Robert Devonshire and his two assistants. He recognizes the woman, Johnson, and knows she's recording the events. He motions for Margie and Al to back away from Sheila and Cougar.

"We considered tazing her," Margie tells Richy, "but we didn't want to take any action that may harm the baby."

"That's fine, Margie," responds Richy.

At the sound of Richy's voice, Sheila turns away from Cougar. "Richy," she says sounding relieved and smiling at him as if he must be there to save the day for her. "I knew you would come," and she starts walking toward Richy.

Richy grabs the ax with one hand as he stops Sheila an arm's length away with the other hand. "I'm the sheriff, Sheila," he says as he hands the ax to Al. "I had to come. Margie, cuff, Sheila, please."

"My pleasure," says Margie taking her cuffs out.

"Richy, you can't be serious," Sheila says in disbelief. "You wouldn't arrest me."

As Margie puts the cuffs on Sheila, she recites, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or are recorded saying or doing will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you."

"Wendel," Sheila calls to Cougar. "I'm your wife! You can't let them arrest me! We're having a baby!"

Cougar shakes his head. "You're my soon to be ex-wife, Sheila. And I'm taking full custody of the baby."

Sheila's face contorts with anger and hatred. She threatens Cougar, "I'll get rid of it! I'll terminate the pregnancy!"

Robert Devonshire informs Sheila, "Ms. Wilson, your pregnancy is past the point of optional termination. To do so now would be murder."

"Sheila," says Richy highly irritated because he should be at home looking after Talia, "You're in enough trouble as it is: disturbing the peace, destruction of public property, spousal abuse, assaulting a public servant, assault with a deadly weapon just to name a few. So I highly recommend you just cooperate.. Margie, take her on over and book her. Make sure she gets her phone call."

Margie leads Sheila away followed by Al with the ax. There's a cheer outside as they step out of the fire station.

Richy puts a hand on his old friend's shoulder and asks, "Cougar, are you alright?"

"Yeah," Cougar answers unhappily. "She ain't half strong enough or fast enough to hurt me, but it was still awful. I expected her to be mad, but I didn't expect this."

"Richy," Bob Devonshire concerned for Cougar and wanting to make sure everything is done properly on their end, "we need to get a restraining order against Sheila for Cougar."

"I don't know if a restraining order is really necessary," Cougar tells Bob.

"You may be stronger and faster than Sheila," Uncle Bob placing a hand on Cougar's shoulder, "but you still have strong feelings for her, and she's carrying your child. This makes you weak against her. She came here knowing you would never raise a hand against her, not even to defend yourself. You did fine at dodging an ax. But you're still not Superman. Even you can't dodge a bullet."

Cougar slouches as his fire chief, Molly, steps into the kitchen of the fire house with her toddler back on her hip. She says, "Boy," as she looks around at the mess, "Sheila sure can have a hissy fit." She steps over to the corner where Cougar allowed Sheila to corner him so she can get a closer look at the ax holes in the wall. She shakes her head, "I don't care what you say, Cougar. I respected your wishes this time. But if she pulls a stunt like this again, pregnant or not, I'm tossing her out on her boney ass."

"I'm sorry, Molly," apologizes Cougar.

Molly responds understandingly, "It's not your fault she's a nut job.. Go home with Richy and relax."

"I'm alright right, Molly," insist Cougar. "I need to help clean up this mess up."

"Nope," Molly tells Cougar, "go with Richy and clear your mind of this. I'll get one of the subs in here to cover you. We'll see you your next rotation."

Richy gives Cougar a tug, "Come on. Let's go take care of the paper work for the restraining order. I want to get back to Talia."

"Talia..," says Cougar recalling. "I'm so sorry they called you out here for this. She needs you right now. How's she doing so far today?"

"Better than I expected," shares Richy as he walks with Cougar, Uncle Bob and his two assistants. "She's either wide awake right now or self-sedated."

Uncle Bob is listening closely and asks, "When the restraining order is in place, may I accompany you back to your home to see Talia?"

"Of course," Richy answers Uncle Bob with a smile as they walk up the block to the peace station.

"I've brought an overnight bag," Uncle Bob informs Richy. "I just need to check into the local inn. Will you take me by there before we head to your house?"

Richy smiles broadly as he answers, "Nope."

One of Robert Devonshire's assistants gasps in shocked disbelief that Richy won't take Talia's uncle by the inn.

But Cougar begins to hop up and down excitedly alongside Richy as they approach the peace station and says, "Oh! Oh! Oh! I'll share my room with Uncle Bob."

Richy opens one of the doors and Cougar hops inside the peace station calling, "Margie, Uncle Bob's coming home with us."

Richy smiles as he faces Bob Devonshire and informs him, "Uncle Bob, you're family. Family doesn't stay at the inn. Family comes home." Then Richy follows Uncle Bob and his assistants inside.

When they arrive home at Richy's, minus Uncle Bob's two assistants, Talia's awake. Richy knows she didn't sleep while he was gone and he can smell she's in pain. Yet she's sitting there in the middle of his bed, propped up on pillows, wearing one of his t-shirts, reading to the children. Beaver's sitting on one side with shell in his lap. Minnow is on her knees on the other side braiding sections of the tiny braids into fat braids while Clam is sitting next to her.

"Uncle Mist," calls Clam crawling on the bed toward Richy, "we've been helping take care of Aunt Tali."

"You have," says Richy picking Clam up. "And I bet you've been doing a good job."

"Weally good," Shell tells Richy.

"Who's that guy," asks Beaver suspiciously with a wrinkled nose.

"He's not like us," says Minnow as she walks on her knees and stops at Talia's feet. "He smells different and his clothes are funny."

"Kids," says Richy putting a hand on the man's shoulder, "this is Uncle Bob. He's Talia's Uncle. He's family. He smells different because he's domesticated. He's wearing a suit. It's what he wears for work, like I wear a uniform."

Uncle Bob sits on the bed and takes Talia's hand. He may not be able to smell how tired Talia is or how much pain she's in, but he can see the strain around her eyes.

"Come on, kids," calls Cougar from the doorway. "Go on outside and play now. Dinner will be ready soon. Thanks for looking after Tali, but me, Richy and Uncle Bob will take over for a while."

The children obey without a fuss.

"Talia," Uncle Bob says on the edge of tears. His face, voice and scent are all full of his worried concern for her wellbeing.

"I didn't want you to know," Talia tells her uncle. "I know how much you worry about me as it is."

"I'm a grown man," Uncle Bob reminds Talia. "I don't need you to protect me. And I have a right to sit at your bedside and hold your hand while you heal. Please, don't ever deprive me of that."

Talia simply nods her understanding to Uncle Bob as she gives his hand a reassuring squeeze. Then she focuses on Cougar and informs him, "I'm not happy about that shot you gave me without warning." But she's very tired and in pain which keeps her anger from truly flaring.

Cougar would feel better if she actually had the strength to get pissed at him. "Talia, I'm gonna have a look at your wound. Richy, get me a fresh bandage for her wound, please. Uncle Bob, you can step out and wait if you want to."

"No," says Uncle Bob firmly, "I'm staying."

Cougar understands. He won't try to shoo Uncle Bob out of the room. He turns down the covers to Talia's hips and pulls up Richy's t-shirt to expose the bandage. Then he carefully removes the bandage revealing the open wound. Uncle Bob's pulse increases as how he feels seeps into his scent. And Richy learns that even attorneys have a cop face.

"Slow healing," comments Cougar unhappily. "But no signs of infection, that's good."

Cougar puts on the fresh bandage Richy hands him. He tells Talia, "You need sleep. The waking-sleep's not enough. You need real sleep."

Otter walks in carrying a tray of food for Talia, sits it on the nightstand and leaves without a word.

Cougar orders Talia, "You eat. Then you sleep."

"I'll make sure she sleeps," Richy tells Cougar.

Cougar gives Talia a very serious look as he adds, "You'ld heal faster and be in less pain if you amped it up a few notches."

Talia sighs and rolls her eyes.

"Does he mean your gift," Uncle Bob asks Talia.

"Yeah," Talia confirms softly while looking away.

"Well use it girl," insist Uncle Bob firmly. "Do as Cougar says."

Talia seems to shrink into the pillows behind her.

Since Uncle Bob is already aware that Talia has the gift, Cougar tells Talia, "You don't have to become your full guardian. Just amp it up a few notches."

"Are you afraid for me to see you in your gift form," ask Uncle Bob.

Talia nods yes and her voice is soft as she explains, "The only ones who've ever seen me are my parents and maternal grandparents. Not even Roar has ever seen me like that. I don't want anyone to be afraid of me. I might be really scary. Plus, a wounded guardian can be just as dangerous and unpredictable as any wounded predator."

"Your guardian form would be best," Cougar reminds Talia. "But right now, I'ld just be happy if you brought it up a couple of notches."

"Please, do as Cougar says," pleads Richy. "Bring it up a couple of notches."

Talia nods to Richy and closes her eyes. The claws that were barely noticeable on her petite hand lengthen slightly along with the ones on her toes. There's a subtle but barely noticeable gentle shift of her face. She opens her eyes revealing completely black orbs.

"Now," Cougar ask Talia, "don't you feel better?"

Talia nods yes, but she's frowning.

Uncle Bob rubs the back of her hand as he ask, "Why so sad now?"

"Because I can't see you," answers Talia, "not properly anyway. I see how hot you are here, how cold you are there, but not your distinguished grey, not the blue of your eyes, or your happy wrinkles when you smile. I like seeing those things. I like seeing the way Shell's nose wrinkles when she giggles. And I don't want the children to be afraid of me. I smelled how scared they were, so I took it down as low as I could bare."

"Don't take it down for them," Richy tells Talia. "They'll get past their fears.. Now I hate to throw you two out, but Talia's going to eat for me, then sleep. Once she's sleeping, you're welcome to come back in and sit with her Bob."

Robert Devonshire's not a man who usually takes orders, but he doesn't know what's best for Talia in this situation. He just knows that a hospital might do her more harm than good.

"Come on Uncle Bob," invites Cougar reverting to his usual jovial self. "I'll introduce you to everybody and show you around."

Uncle Bob squeezes Talia's hand reassuringly and kisses her forehead, "Get some rest."

Talia can hear them after they step out into the hall.

"This is your room here," Cougar informs Uncle Bob. "I hope you don't mind sharing a bathroom with me."

Richy turns Talia's face toward him and gives her a deep kiss. Talia smells his arousal and smiles, "I have a hard time believing you really want me right now while there's a big ugly hole in me."

"From what I understand," says Richy with his voice gone husky with desire, "you're my mate, and it's natural for me to want you and you to want me. So, you need to eat this acorn stew, rest and get well soon, because I ache for you."

Talia takes the bowl of acorn stew from Richy and eats it. Then Richy helps her slide down off all the pillows and puts one under her head. He lies on her good side and strokes her head until she falls to sleep, which doesn't take long. Then he carefully slips off the bed, takes off his uniform and throws on a pair of shorts. He finds Uncle Bob sitting outside with Cougar, his aunt and cousins while the children are playing on the jungle-gym and swings.

"You've created a little piece of paradise here," Uncle Bob tells Richy.

Richy shakes his head, "My parents created it. We just maintain it."

"We spend more time here with Mist than with the tribe," shares Aunt Seal.

"Talia has given me the impression that tribal life is every bit as difficult and complicated as domesticated life," shares Uncle Bob thoroughly enjoying being here. He's changed clothes at Cougar's urging, yet still seems over dressed in his khaki shorts and polo shirt.

"A tribe is only as good as its leader," shares Bass, "and our current chief is a cruel selfish bastard."

"Is he the one called Fjord," ask Uncle Bob.

"Yeah," answers Otter surprised. "How did you know?"

"Talia has mentioned him," shares Uncle Bob. "Talia's not one to rush to judgments on other people and rarely does she truly dislike someone strongly. Yet of this man, Fjord, she once said to me, 'he seems to be the only man on the face of the earth that wants me, and I will never let him touch me.' That was extremely harsh coming from Talia."

"You don't know Fjord," Cougar tells Uncle Bob. "Me and Richy went to school with him until about fifth grade. That's when his mother gave him to his father because she couldn't handle him anymore.. What do we know for a fact about Fjord? He was a smart kid in school."

"But he was a bully," adds Richy. "He was mean and angry and took it out on any kid that got in his way."

"Except for Richy," Cougar smiles, "because Richy kicked his ass in the third grade and the fourth grade. And every one became Richy's friend because Richy protected his friends.. The story is: Fjord, formerly known as Tad Brody that his mother and some other sorority hopefuls got dropped off in tribe territory individually with a map, compass and a canteen of water. The task: find their way out by dark and it was only supposed to be like a day's hike."

"I think I know the sorority," recalls Uncle Bob. "Alpha Omega Kappa, the AOKs, they failed to report the young woman lost. Even after her parents reported her missing, they didn't say anything. They lost their sorority-ship behind it."

"Yeah, that's the sorority," confirms Richy.

Cougar continues, "So apparently, Fjord's mom, Lisa Brody, fell like down a hill or somethin'. And in the process, broke her compass, lost her map as well as sprained a wrist and an ankle along with a few cuts and bruises and is officially lost. So, she wanders around for a couple of days, when a guy from the Water Tribe finds her."

"His name was Surf," shares Seal. "He was a cousin to the previous chief, Shark, and a few years older than me.. It's not unusual for adults to go off on their own occasionally for a day or two. But when Surf was gone for a whole week, people started to worry. Shark and a few other males tracked Surf. Found him with the wounded domestic girl. She wasn't seriously injured, but very lost and very scared and they said she clung to Surf. It was too far for her to walk on the twisted ankle. That needed time to heal. Shark gave Surf permission to continue to look after her until she could walk properly, then he was to lead her to town and make sure she got help from there.. Surf had her to himself for over a month. I don't know if he was already mating with her when Shark first found them, just that Shark had to tell Surf that even though the girl wanted to stay with him, he couldn't keep her. But by then, Surf had been mating with her every day. The girl wasn't aware she was pregnant yet, but Shark and Surf knew. Surf wanted to keep her as his mate, but Shark made him lead her to town.. When they got to town, the girl knew where she was. She had an aunt in Bayberry, and she showed Surf where her aunt lived. She went back to school, but when the pregnancy started to show, people started to talk. Surf kept going to the aunt's house to ask after her. He kept expecting the aunt to be upset with him, but she never was. She would read him letters Lisa wrote to him and called Lisa for him. Her parents tried to talk her into termination, but she refused. They wouldn't let her come home, so she ended up staying with her aunt and doing classes on line.. Surf liked having Lisa at her aunt's so nearby because it allowed him to visit her regularly, watch her belly swell with their child. She was the only woman he wanted, and she felt the same way about him from what I understand."

"I know she never married," adds Cougar. "Her parents were assholes. I heard they actually referred to Fjord openly as 'The Bastard.' That they only came to visit a couple of times and wouldn't help her out at all. If it wasn't for Aunt Millie, Lisa wouldn't have had anybody. Ya can't get child support from a guy in the woods."

"Surf did what he could," insist Aunt Seal. "Surf adored Lisa and Fjord."

Richy shares, "I just remember how pretty she was, and how sad she was all the time. It must have been tough raising a child with a part-time dad and your parents won't give you a hand, and call their own grandchild 'The Bastard.' Fjord had to have inherited that mean, hateful streak from his mother's parents."

"So what happened to his parents," ask Uncle Bob.

"When we were about twenty," answers Richy, "his mom died from lung cancer even though she never smoked. They found it too late. His father was a mess at the funeral. Her parents were like stone statues. Aunt Millie shot them some dirty looks while she tried to console Surf. What went down made me thankful for my own family."

Cougar had attended the funeral too and shakes his head as he recalls, "Apparently, her parents had never met Surf before. And had done their best to never meet him. Lisa's father said to Millie, 'So this is the animal that ruined our daughter.' But I always liked Millie. She just said, 'No, this is the man who has loved your daughter unconditionally.'"

Seal informs Bob, "A couple of weeks after Lisa's death, Surf wandered off. He threw himself off a cliff not far from where he originally found Lisa."

"That's when Fjord really started to get mean with the tribe," shares Otter with haunted eyes.

Bass's observation, "Up until then, he had been ok living with the tribe."

"My opinion," shares Cougar, "once the two people he actually loved and respected were gone, Fjord was free to be himself."

"And Aunt Millie," questions Uncle Bob.

"She expired from natural causes last year," answers Richy. "She left her house and stuff to Fjord. But as far as I know, he doesn't use it."

"Who knows," Bass shrugs. "When he goes off on his own, no one ever goes looking for him. When he's gone, it's the only time the tribe functions normally now."

"How did he end up being chief," asks Uncle Bob.

"Tribes gather together," explain Richy, "and it's not unusual for the chiefs to go off together to hang out and discuss chief stuff. About five years ago, there was a rock slide that most of the chiefs didn't survive."

"Is that the same rock slide that killed Talia's father," ask Uncle Bob.

"Yeah," answers Cougar, "that's the one."

Richy explains, "Once the position was open, Fjord named himself chief. There was no one to challenge him within the tribe."

"He's not what we want or need as a chief," says Seal sadly. "The first person to pose an objection to him as chief, he killed. And he's made it clear on more than one occasion that anyone that's going to challenge him better be prepared to fight to the death. Because if they don't kill him, he's going to kill them."

"Scary guy," comments Uncle Bob thinking. "I don't like the thought that Talia's ever been within a hundred meters of him. And technically, we're in Water Tribe Territory, right?"

"Don't worry Uncle Bob." Cougar assures him, "Fjord doesn't come here, just Richy's family and occasionally other tribe members needing a break from Fjord. Occasionally other tribes pass through. But everyone that comes here respects and loves Richy."

Aunt Seal smiles proudly, "When word gets around that you have found a mate, Mist, all will come with gifts and there will be a celebration."

"It'll be nice," Otter speculates, "to be able to interact with other free people without the shadow of Fjord."

"Mate," questions Uncle Bob. "What mate? I thought you were interested in Talia, Richy. She's not the kind of woman to be someone's mistress, and she doesn't deserve that."

"Of course not," responds Richy slightly amused and slightly offended. "Talia is my mate." Then he stands, "And I need to check on my mate."

Uncle Bob watches Richy slip inside through the sliding glass doors. Then he asks, "I offended him, didn't I?"

Cougar pats Uncle Bob's shoulder companionably, "Yeah, just a little. But Richy doesn't hold grudges."

Otter leans forward resting her elbows on her knees and her chin on her fists, "Uncle Bob, Talia and Richy are mates, true-mates."

"But they've only known each other a couple of weeks," responds Uncle Bob.

Cougar tells Uncle Bob, "You're thinking like a domesticated person. Richy and Talia were mates before they met each other. Do you believe in true love or the possibility of love at first sight?"

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