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.