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¨-~*$$@¶## **************************************** ##¶@$$*~-¨
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¨-~*$$@¶## JUST OFF THE COAST TO THE BALTIC SEA ##¶@$$*~-¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨~$@ THERE'S A FRESHWATER POND, SECLUDED @$~¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨-~*$$$@¶¶ AMONG ASHEN AND JUNIPER. A CLEFT IN THE ¶¶@$$$*~-¨
¨-~*$$@### LIMESTONE BEDROCK, SHARP-CUT FROM THE ###@$$*~-¨
¨¨--*$$$@# SURROUNDING PLAINS, A NINETY DEGREE #@$$$*--¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~$$@¶ DROP DOWN, DOWN, TO THE MIDNIGHT-BLACK ¶@$$~-¨¨¨¨
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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. ¶$$~-¨¨¨¨¨
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¨-~*$$@¶## 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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