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###*†:=:.. just off the coast to the baltic sea ..:=:†*###
####*†:=:. there's a freshwater pond, secluded .:=:†*####
###*†:=:.. among ashen and juniper. a cleft in the ..:=:†*###
##*†:=:... limestone bedrock, sharp-cut from the ...:=:†*##
###*†:=:.. surrounding plains, a ninety degree ..:=:†*###
####*†:=:. drop down, down, to the midnight-black .:=:†*####
###*†:=:.. water. ..:=:†*###
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###*†:=:.. =====†† fairies live here. ††===== ..:=:†*###
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###*†:=:.. they speak to the sloane, caress it, ..:=:†*###
##*†:=:... urge it to grow thicker, tangled, with ...:=:†*##
###*†:=:.. longer and sharper thorns. they tell it ..:=:†*###
####*†:=:. to stay just below the grass, so that .:=:†*####
###*†:=:.. the animals what come to drink the ..:=:†*###
##*†:=:... water cannot see it before it draws ...:=:†*##
###*†:=:.. their blood. closer to the pond, the ..:=:†*###
####*†:=:. sloane can grow taller, being able to .:=:†*####
###*†:=:.. hide also in the juniper. ..:=:†*###
##*†:=:... ...:=:†*##
###*†:=:.. the fairies will beckon the animals to ..:=:†*###
####*†:=:. push forward, tell them that they're .:=:†*####
###*†:=:.. almost at the water, that they may ..:=:†*###
##*†:=:... drink soon. and they will tug on the ...:=:†*##
###*†:=:.. sloane to make sure that the thorns cut ..:=:†*###
####*†:=:. deep. when they finally find the path .:=:†*####
###*†:=:.. down between the rocks, away from the ..:=:†*###
##*†:=:... bushwork and into the cleft, they are ...:=:†*##
###*†:=:.. bleeding from a thousand wounds. as ..:=:†*###
####*†:=:. they drink from the dark water, it is .:=:†*####
###*†:=:.. in turn drinking the animals blood. ..:=:†*###
##*†:=:... ...:=:†*##
###*†:=:.. the circle is complete, the contract ..:=:†*###
####*†:=:. carried out; the animal is abandoned to .:=:†*####
###*†:=:.. find its own way back. the bushes roots ..:=:†*###
##*†:=:... drink the nutrutious water. the fairies ...:=:†*##
###*†:=:.. dance in the sunbeams. ..:=:†*###
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