..:~==$§@# #@§$==~:..
...:~==$§@ @§$==~:...
....:~==$§ §$==~:....
.....:~==$ $==~:.....
......:~== ==~:......
.....:~==$ . . . $==~:.....
....:~==$§ . . . . . . §$==~:....
...:~==$§@ : : : : : : : : @§$==~:...
..:~==$§@# ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ #@§$==~:..
.:~==$§@## ======================================== ##@§$==~:.
..:~==$§@# #@§$==~:..
...:~==$§@ 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. @§$==~:...
..:~==$§@# #@§$==~:..
.:~==$§@## ~~~~========~~~~ ##@§$==~:.
..:~==$§@# ~~== ==~~ #@§$==~:..
...:~==$§@ ~~~~~== FAIRIES LIVE HERE. ==~~~~~ @§$==~:...
....:~==$§ ~~== ==~~ §$==~:....
.....:~==$ ~~~~========~~~~ $==~:.....
......:~== ==~:......
.....:~==$ 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. @§$==~:...
....:~==$§ §$==~:....
.....:~==$ ======================================== $==~:.....
......:~== ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ==~:......
.....:~==$ : : : : : : : : $==~:.....
....:~==$§ . . . . . . §$==~:....
...:~==$§@ . . . @§$==~:...
..:~==$§@# #@§$==~:..
.:~==$§@## ##@§$==~:.
..:~==$§@# #@§$==~:..
...:~==$§@ @§$==~:...
....:~==$§ §$==~:....