Emerging from the underbrush, the monstrous creature came into full view. It was the size of a wolf, but unlike any beast Eamon had ever seen. Its body was covered in dark, matted fur, patchy and interspersed with segments of hard, chitinous exoskeleton that gleamed dully in the moonlight. Its six legs ended in sharp, hooked claws that dug into the earth with every step, creating a crunching sound that sent shivers down Eamon’s spine.22Please respect copyright.PENANAejmzjnoLRg
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The creature’s head was a nightmarish fusion of a mammal and an insect. It had a snout like a wolf, elongated and filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth, but its mandibles were distinctly insectoid, snapping menacingly as it searched for its prey. Long, twitching antennae sprouted from its head, feeling the air and guiding its movements. Glowing eyes, a sickly yellow, pierced through the darkness, scanning the surroundings with unsettling intelligence. The eyes seemed to burn with an insatiable hunger, their eerie light casting flickering shadows on the trees. Eamon felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine, the reality of their precarious situation sinking in. They were trapped, and their only hope lay in the beast losing interest.22Please respect copyright.PENANA5wNgLvQuxG
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The beast’s thick fur rippled as it moved, the muscles underneath twitching with a terrifying strength. Its body exuded a pungent odor, a mix of decay and earth, making the surrounding air almost suffocating. For a moment, it seemed as if the creature would move on. But then it paused, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air.
Its eyes locked onto the pair. The pounding of Eamon's heart filled his chest. A drumbeat of mounting terror accompanied each beat. He could feel Amara's breath quickening and shallowing beside him. Her grip on his arm was tight enough to bruise, a silent testament to her own fear. A stench of decay and rot wafted over them from the beast, making Eamon's stomach churn.
With a deafening roar, it lunged forward, its mandibles snapping. The beast's razor-sharp jaws were mere inches away when a sudden shout pierced the night. Emerging from the shadows, crazed villagers appeared, their veins faintly glowing blue and their eyes filled with madness. They charged at the beast with frenzied determination, wielding crude weapons and shouting incoherently.
The beast reared back, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught. It roared again, a sound of both rage and confusion, as the villagers swarmed it, hacking and stabbing with reckless abandon. The creature thrashed and snapped, its mandibles crushing anything within reach, but the sheer number of attackers began to overwhelm it.22Please respect copyright.PENANAOTx7TTT8dD
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"Now!" Amara hissed, tugging at Eamon’s arm.
Eamon didn’t need to be told twice. They scrambled to their feet and bolted into the forest, the sounds of battle fading behind them. Eamon's heart raced not just from fear but from the adrenaline of their narrow escape. He didn’t look back, focusing solely on following Amara through the dense undergrowth.
Amara and Eamon finally stopped, gasping for breath, leaning against a tree trunk. "It's too dark to go on," he panted, looking around. With a determined nod, Amara began gathering sticks and dry leaves to start a campfire.
Amara focused her energy, feeling the warmth building up within her. She extended her hand, palm up, as she concentrated on the flames of her intention. A soft glow started to form at her fingertips, gradually intensifying into a small orb of flickering fire. The flames danced gracefully, casting a warm and comforting light in the darkness of the forest.22Please respect copyright.PENANAmJHsuaos5O
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As the ball of fire hovered above her hand, Amara could feel its gentle heat radiating outwards. She marveled at the mesmerizing play of colors within the flames - vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows blending harmoniously together. Despite the intense brightness of the fire, she remained untouched by its heat, a testament to her mastery over the magical element.
"Magic!" Eamon exclaimed, but the tone of his voice caught Amara off guard. "You know the blight—"22Please respect copyright.PENANAP7aTt5lhSW
Amara interrupted him with a cough, quickly covering her mouth. "This small flame won't hurt me," she said, steady despite the interruption. "Besides, untrained magic can drive you mad faster than any blight. It's powerful but unpredictable. I assume you already know this." She used the fiery orb to light a campfire. With the campfire lit, the fire in her hand vanished, and the flickering flames cast shadows on the forest floor.22Please respect copyright.PENANA0TRrAZRS1h
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"I was never taught magic. I read this spell in a book I stole from a merchant. My family are poor farmers. We couldn't afford to live in the city, and many humans don't like our kind," Amara said. Eamon's gaze pierced her soul, his eyes filled with frustration and sorrow.22Please respect copyright.PENANA3ATJOU5m41
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"I didn't ask for this," he said quietly, his voice trembling. "I was trained as a cleric, but I could never live up to my parents' expectations. When I turned twelve, the blight hit. Everyone thought I was supposed to be some kind of savior."22Please respect copyright.PENANAaw3pje3Q8E
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He paused, taking a shaky breath. "But neither my wealth nor the little healing I know could make a difference. I feel so helpless, Amara. This magic... it terrifies me."22Please respect copyright.PENANAcHHETBV4FJ
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Amara’s expression softened. She reached out, gently touching his arm. "Eamon, I understand. The blight took so much from all of us. Magic is a dangerous path, but we have to keep moving forward. We can figure this out in the morning."22Please respect copyright.PENANAKyExlWNuDc
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Eamon nodded slowly, still weighed down by his fears, but Amara's words brought a small measure of comfort. "Thank you," he whispered, the flickering flames casting a fragile light in the surrounding darkness.22Please respect copyright.PENANANCnfWIWdt9
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They settled down next to each other, the warmth of the fire providing a small respite from the chill of the night. Amara lay on her side, her back facing Eamon, while he stretched out on his back, staring up at the canopy of trees above.22Please respect copyright.PENANAz3SD8skCAW
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The night was quiet, the sounds of the forest a distant murmur. Despite the lingering fear and uncertainty, the exhaustion of their ordeal began to take its toll. Eamon felt his eyelids grow heavy, the rhythmic crackling of the fire lulling him into a sense of temporary peace.
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Amara’s breathing steadied, and Eamon felt the tension slowly drain from his body. The proximity of another, someone who understood his plight, brought an unexpected comfort. He let out a slow, deep breath, allowing himself to relax.22Please respect copyright.PENANAdNsq3tvB4u
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As sleep overtook him, Eamon’s last conscious thought was of the journey ahead, and the hope that together, they might find a way to cure the blight. Beside him, Amara drifted off as well, the fire casting soft, dancing shadows around them as they succumbed to the welcome embrace of sleep.
Eamon's eyelids fluttered in the darkness, his brow furrowed in a silent struggle against unseen forces. Within the depths of his mind, the twisted silhouettes of the trees swayed ominously, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers in a macabre dance. Amidst the murky haze of his dreams, he stood solitary amidst the crumbling remains of what was once a place of joy and laughter - the Duskwood Estate now a mere shadow of its former glory, consumed by flames and time.22Please respect copyright.PENANA9CzJ21q6Ev
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The air was thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning wood. Eamon walked through the remains of the garden, where flowers that once bloomed under his mother’s gentle spells now lay withered and blackened. The sky above was a swirling mass of dark clouds, mirroring the turmoil within his heart.22Please respect copyright.PENANAG1Twg3YFjr
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"Mother? Father?" he called out urgently, his voice echoing eerily through the empty halls. There was no answer, only the hollow sound of the wind whispering through the shattered windows.22Please respect copyright.PENANA4N0Cs3gHCr
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Suddenly, he heard a faint, rhythmic chanting, growing louder and more insistent. He followed the sound, his steps heavy with dread, until he reached the grand hall. The walls were lined with flickering candles, casting long, sinister shadows. At the center of the room, a group of hooded figures stood in a circle, their voices merging into a chilling incantation. They wore dark, hooded robes adorned with intricate, red mysterious symbols.22Please respect copyright.PENANAWaExC7RZ8B
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Eamon's heart pounded as he watched the scene unfold. The figures parted, revealing his parents kneeling in the center of the circle, their hands bound and eyes filled with a haunting mixture of fear and resignation.22Please respect copyright.PENANAhEm6NZy3qu
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“No!” Eamon screamed, rushing forward, but an invisible force held him back, binding his movements. He struggled against the unseen bonds, tears streaming down his face. “Let them go!”22Please respect copyright.PENANA7GJGr7togJ
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One of the hooded figures turned towards him, and as the hood fell back, Eamon was met with a face he did not recognize but felt a deep, instinctive fear of. The man’s eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and a cruel smile played on his lips.22Please respect copyright.PENANAQhQqzZ802e
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“Eamon,” the figure hissed, his voice dripping with malice. “You cannot save them. You couldn’t save anyone.”
Eamon felt his knees weaken under the heavy impact of the man's words. In an instant, the surroundings transformed, and he found himself amidst a wide, desolate field, with a gloomy and ominous sky overhead. The echoes of his parents' distressful cries blended with a haunting chant in his ears.22Please respect copyright.PENANAeLtUlKZwlz
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Eamon felt the ground giving way beneath him, plunging him into a dark abyss where his terrified scream was silenced by the void.22Please respect copyright.PENANALh72vvM6Z5
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Just as the darkness threatened to consume him completely, he jolted awake, gasping for breath. His heart raced, and sweat drenched his clothes. He sat up, looking around frantically to assure himself that he was still by the campfire, with Amara sleeping peacefully beside him.
Eamon jolted awake, his breath coming in ragged gasps, heart pounding like a drum in his chest. The images from the nightmare clung to his mind, vivid and relentless. His parents' haunted faces, the hooded figures, the ominous chanting—it all felt too real. He glanced around, the dying embers of the campfire casting faint, flickering shadows. Amara lay beside him, sleeping peacefully, unaware of the terror that had invaded his dreams.22Please respect copyright.PENANAnMZ38Xjxfk
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Without hesitation, Eamon reached out and shook her shoulder. “Amara! Wake up!” His voice was urgent, almost desperate.22Please respect copyright.PENANAUW7JHFYSxp
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Amara stirred, blinking groggily as she tried to make sense of the sudden disturbance. “Eamon? What is it?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep.22Please respect copyright.PENANAai6hih3sh5
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“We need to go,” Eamon said, his eyes wide with fear and determination. “We need to get back to the city. Now.”22Please respect copyright.PENANAP9gUYEmycD
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Amara sat up, rubbing her eyes. “What are you talking about? It’s the middle of the night. What’s wrong?”22Please respect copyright.PENANAVMvF7mwddF
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Eamon swallowed hard, his mouth dry. “I have a feeling... something bad has happened, or is going to happen, to my parents. I can’t explain it, but we have to hurry.”22Please respect copyright.PENANAmsQQFHG6aT
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Amara's expression changed from confusion to concern as she looked into Eamon's panicked eyes and heard the urgency in his voice. "Are you certain? What type of feeling?"22Please respect copyright.PENANA9A1rVnCfKL
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Eamon nodded, but uncertainty lingered within him. "Amara, I can't ignore this feeling. We must return immediately."22Please respect copyright.PENANAhvL2QP2E9S
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Amara glanced around the dark forest, then back at Eamon. With a yawn, she spoke hesitantly, "I'm really tired. Can't we wait for the morning?" However, as Eamon stood and started started to stumble through the darkness, Amara quickly changed her mind and got trying to keep up with him.22Please respect copyright.PENANAL0WIcZhQSM
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The forest seemed even more foreboding in the darkness, the shadows deeper, the silence more oppressive. Eamon led the way, his steps quick and purposeful, driven by a fear he couldn’t fully articulate.22Please respect copyright.PENANAWQRqZ8EbFz
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As they made their way through the dense underbrush, Eamon couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, that the nightmare was somehow bleeding into reality. The urgency of his steps grew, and Amara matched his pace, her own senses on high alert.22Please respect copyright.PENANAa2iSM9VCYZ
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They moved swiftly, the path ahead illuminated only by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the canopy. Eamon’s mind raced with thoughts of his parents and the ominous foreboding that had gripped him.
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As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, they emerged from the edge of the forest, and the stone walls of Athia came into view.
Amara caught up with Eamon and quickly grabbed his shoulder, causing him to turn around. "The guards won't simply allow me to enter the city," she said. Eamon inquired, "Well, what do you propose we do to gain entry?"
The sound of wheels crunching on dirt made Eamon spin around. In the dim light, he saw a merchant caravan slowly making its way toward the city gates. The early morning light was just beginning to creep over the horizon, casting long shadows that stretched across the landscape like grasping fingers.22Please respect copyright.PENANAtqlqAaekHb
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“There,” Eamon whispered, pointing to a large cart laden with goods, its sides bulging with crates and barrels. “We can hide in one of those carts.”22Please respect copyright.PENANAL5SokssOMy
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Amara nodded, her eyes scanning the caravan for the best option. “That one,” she said, pointing to a cart covered with a heavy tarp, its contents hidden from view. “We can slip in there without being seen.”22Please respect copyright.PENANAGwZZwLz45C
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They moved quickly and quietly, keeping to the shadows. The caravan came to a brief halt near a grove of trees, the merchants pausing to adjust their loads. Eamon and Amara seized their chance. They darted toward the cart, slipping under the tarp and burrowing themselves among the crates and sacks, their breaths shallow as they settled into their hiding place.
The cart came to a halt in front of the gate, the creaking of its wooden wheels fading into the early morning stillness. Two guards, one on each side, approached the cart that concealed the pair. "May we see your merchant papers?" one of the guards demanded, his voice firm and authoritative. The other guard stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he added, "And we must inspect your goods for any contraband."22Please respect copyright.PENANAaqnpks88QN
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The atmosphere was tense, the air heavy with anticipation. The guards scrutinized the travelers and their cargo, their eyes sharp and expressions unreadable. The stonework of the gate loomed behind them, a silent witness to countless inspections and the secrets they might reveal.
As the guards approached the cart, their movements sluggish from the exhaustion of their night shift, Eamon and Amara held their breath, their hearts pounding in their chests. Concealed in the shadows of the cart's interior, they remained perfectly still, scarcely daring to even blink.22Please respect copyright.PENANAgY7hI2Brlp
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With a weary nod, one of the guards motioned for the merchant to produce their papers. As the merchant fumbled with his documents, the other guard stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crates and barrels stacked in the cart.22Please respect copyright.PENANAeqUUgUmgvj
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"We'll need to inspect your goods," he announced, his voice weary but firm.22Please respect copyright.PENANAvq77lqrgNE
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The atmosphere crackled with tension as the guards began their inspection, their eyes darting from crate to crate, searching for any signs of contraband. Eamon and Amara remained hidden, their hearts pounding in their ears as they held thir breath to remain undetected.22Please respect copyright.PENANAAl1yJbHjir
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Minutes passed like hours as the guards meticulously examined each box of food and every piece of cargo. The exhaustion etched on their faces was evident, their movements slow and methodical.22Please respect copyright.PENANAABn5YTs9tr
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Finally, satisfied that the cart posed no threat, the guards straightened up, their shoulders slumping with weariness. With a nod of approval, they signaled for the merchant to continue on his way.22Please respect copyright.PENANAT0qSsweIEq
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Relief flooded through Eamon and Amara as they realized they had narrowly escaped detection. Silently, they watched as the cart rumbled forward, carrying them into Athia.
Eamon and Amara breathed a collective sigh of relief as the cart came to a halt. Through a small tear in the tarp, they saw the bustling city streets and a merchant stall nearby, its colorful wares displayed enticingly. They began to climb out, eager to blend into the crowd, when a sudden cry shattered the air.22Please respect copyright.PENANAkOyB1Wcv3h
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"Caven raven!" came the sharp cry, echoing through the busy market square.22Please respect copyright.PENANAOD91jAC3fR
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Eamon's heart plummeted as he realized they had been discovered. With lightning speed, he and Amara scrambled to conceal themselves further among the crates and barrels, but it was too late. The merchant had caught sight of them.22Please respect copyright.PENANAQCmtn2Euhq
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"Thieves!" he bellowed, his face contorted with rage. "Get out of my cart, you filthy rats!"22Please respect copyright.PENANAPzIgndtJA4
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With a swift and practiced motion, he reached for his sword, brandishing it menacingly as he advanced towards them. Panic surged through Eamon and Amara as they caught the glint of the blade.22Please respect copyright.PENANAh0yD8n69DX
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They jumped from the cart, immediately breaking into a sprint while the merchant's enraged yells reverberated from behind. - Their pulse quickened as they navigated through the busy streets, skillfully maneuvering between market stalls and swiftly avoiding surprised bystanders. The noise of their hurried steps merged with the lively commotion of the bustling marketplace as they hurriedly sought refuge.
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The merchant and his companions chased after them persistently, their cries catching the notice of nearby guards and merchants. Eamon and Amara realized they needed to shake them off swiftly or face being caught. With a burst of adrenaline-fueled determination, they veered into a narrow alleyway, their pursuers hot on their heels. The alley was dimly lit and cluttered with crates and debris, but Eamon and Amara pressed on, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they fought to put distance between themselves and their pursuers.22Please respect copyright.PENANAgzxFBlHXfo
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With a sharp turn at the end of the alley, they ducked behind a stack of barrels, their hearts pounding in their chests as they listened for any sign of their pursuers. Seconds stretched into eternity as they waited, straining to catch their breath and steeling themselves for whatever came next.22Please respect copyright.PENANAOjC2M7OxPp
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But to their immense relief, the sounds of pursuit faded into the distance, swallowed by the bustling chaos of the city streets. Eamon and Amara exchanged a wordless glance, their chests heaving with exertion but their spirits buoyed by their narrow escape.22Please respect copyright.PENANAALQj8qlBqw
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They knew they couldn't stay in the city for long, but for now, they allowed themselves a moment of respite, grateful for the chance to catch their breath and regroup before the next leg of their journey.
"Follow me. I know the way to my home." Eamon managed to get out through gasp of air.
As Eamon and Amara hurried through the familiar streets of Athia, the weight of his nightmare still lingering in his mind, they drew closer to his home. But as they rounded the final corner, Eamon's heart lurched in his chest. Smoke billowed into the sky from the direction of his house, dark tendrils snaking ominously through the air.22Please respect copyright.PENANAsPnE6gDvet
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He stood still, his breath hitching in his throat as a wave of dread swept through him. Time appeared to crawl as he gazed at the far-off columns of smoke, his thoughts consumed by fear and doubt.22Please respect copyright.PENANATuqTORdZ7i
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Amara's hand tightened on his arm, her voice barely a whisper. "Eamon, what's wrong?"22Please respect copyright.PENANAOekQUqJ5dc
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He turned to her, his eyes wide with horror. "It's my home... I was right."22Please respect copyright.PENANAZyOBx0roUz
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Without another word, they broke into a run, their footsteps pounding against the cobblestones, echoing through the deserted streets of Athia. The urgency in their movements was palpable as they raced toward the source of the smoke, drawn by an instinctual dread that gripped them both.22Please respect copyright.PENANAgV9A00q2bi
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But as they drew closer, the flames leaping hungrily into the night sky, Eamon's heart sank like a stone in his chest. A crowd had gathered around his home, their hushed murmurs blending with the crackling of the inferno. The air was thick with tension, and the distant sounds of a struggle reached Eamon's ears, causing a knot of unease to tighten in his chest, like a heavy weight pressing down on his ribs accompanied by a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Eamon realized that his nightmare was a warning.
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