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# ..,,~~::. .::~~,,.. . ,
. .::~~,,.. ..,,~~::. #
..,,~~::. .::~~,,..
::~~,,.. ..,,~~::
####*%:~,. .. .. .,~:%*####
####*%:~,. something lies glowing .,~:%*####
#*:~...... on the ocean floor... ......~:*#
#*%%:,,... .. .. ...,,:%%*#
#*:~...... ..,,~~::. .::~~,,.. ......~:*#
#%%~~..... .::~~,,.. ..,,~~::. .....~~%%#
####*%:~,. %%*##*%% .,~:%*####
#*%:~..... .....~:%*#
###%%::~,. on the ocean floor, a dangerous and .,~::%%###
####*%:~,. caustic and sweet sweet thing, it .,~:%*####
#####*:~,. glows, it lures you closer. a creature! .,~:*#####
#####*%:~. .~:%*#####
#####*%:~, it's almost otter-like, but like lava, ,~:%*#####
##*%%~~~,. a liquid shaped like a living thing, .,~~~%%*##
####*%:~,. and when it raises an arm, its fingers .,~:%*####
#####*:~,. are dripping with fire. with its song, .,~:*#####
##%::::~,. it lures you closer yet. .,~::::%##
####*%:~,. .,~:%*####
####*%:~,. it's in a state of bliss! it's a flame, .,~:%*####
#*%::~.... lit by the sun! and this pleasure is to ....~::%*#
#*::,..... be shared, shared with others. .....,::*#
####*%:~,. .,~:%*####
#####%:~,. and the creatures of the sea creep .,~:%#####
####*%:~,. closer, hypnotized and curious, and the .,~:%*####
###%%%:~,. sludge extends a hand, and they take it, .,~:%%%###
#**:,..... .....,:**#
###%:~~... writhing with joy, accepts them all. ...~~:%###
####*%:~,. they step inside, taking the shape of a .,~:%*####
####*%:~,. squirming otter, now a stretching cat, .,~:%*####
####*%:~,. now almost humanoid. although suddenly .,~:%*####
#%%:~,.... it all liquifies completely, now just a ....,~:%%#
####*%:~,. burning puddle, lit not by the sun, but .,~:%*####
#####*%:,. by some internal fuel hostile to life. .,:%*#####
##*:~,.... ....,~:*##
####*%:~,. .::~~,,.. ..,,~~::. .,~:%*####
####*%:~,. ..,,~~::. ..,,,,.. .::~~,,.. .,~:%*####
.. ..