...:~=$$@# #@$$=~:...
....:~=$$@ @$$=~:....
.....:~=$$ $$=~:.....
....:~=$$@ @$$=~:....
...:~=$$@# #@$$=~:...
..:~=$$@## . . . ##@$$=~:..
.:~=$$@### . . . . . . ###@$$=~:.
..:~=$$@## : : : : : : : : ##@$$=~:..
...:~=$$@# ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ #@$$=~:...
....:~=$$@ ======================================== @$$=~:....
.....:~=$$ $$=~:.....
....:~=$$@ JUST OFF THE COAST TO THE BALTIC SEA @$$=~:....
...:~=$$@# THERE'S A FRESHWATER POND, SECLUDED #@$$=~:...
..:~=$$@## AMONG ASHEN AND JUNIPER. A CLEFT IN THE ##@$$=~:..
.:~=$$@### LIMESTONE BEDROCK, SHARP-CUT FROM THE ###@$$=~:.
..:~=$$@## SURROUNDING PLAINS, A NINETY DEGREE ##@$$=~:..
...:~=$$@# DROP DOWN, DOWN, TO THE MIDNIGHT-BLACK #@$$=~:...
....:~=$$@ WATER. @$$=~:....
.....:~=$$ $$=~:.....
....:~=$$@ ~~~~$$$$$$$$~~~~ @$$=~:....
...:~=$$@# ~~$$ $$~~ #@$$=~:...
..:~=$$@## ~~~~~$$ FAIRIES LIVE HERE. $$~~~~~ ##@$$=~:..
.:~=$$@### ~~$$ $$~~ ###@$$=~:.
..:~=$$@## ~~~~$$$$$$$$~~~~ ##@$$=~:..
...:~=$$@# #@$$=~:...
....:~=$$@ THEY SPEAK TO THE SLOANE, CARESS IT, @$$=~:....
.....:~=$$ URGE IT TO GROW THICKER, TANGLED, WITH $$=~:.....
....:~=$$@ LONGER AND SHARPER THORNS. THEY TELL IT @$$=~:....
...:~=$$@# TO STAY JUST BELOW THE GRASS, SO THAT #@$$=~:...
..:~=$$@## THE ANIMALS WHAT COME TO DRINK THE ##@$$=~:..
.:~=$$@### WATER CANNOT SEE IT BEFORE IT DRAWS ###@$$=~:.
..:~=$$@## THEIR BLOOD. CLOSER TO THE POND, THE ##@$$=~:..
...:~=$$@# SLOANE CAN GROW TALLER, BEING ABLE TO #@$$=~:...
....:~=$$@ HIDE ALSO IN THE JUNIPER. @$$=~:....
.....:~=$$ $$=~:.....
....:~=$$@ THE FAIRIES WILL BECKON THE ANIMALS TO @$$=~:....
...:~=$$@# PUSH FORWARD, TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE #@$$=~:...
..:~=$$@## ALMOST AT THE WATER, THAT THEY MAY ##@$$=~:..
.:~=$$@### DRINK SOON. AND THEY WILL TUG ON THE ###@$$=~:.
..:~=$$@## SLOANE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THORNS CUT ##@$$=~:..
...:~=$$@# DEEP. WHEN THEY FINALLY FIND THE PATH #@$$=~:...
....:~=$$@ DOWN BETWEEN THE ROCKS, AWAY FROM THE @$$=~:....
.....:~=$$ BUSHWORK AND INTO THE CLEFT, THEY ARE $$=~:.....
....:~=$$@ BLEEDING FROM A THOUSAND WOUNDS. AS @$$=~:....
...:~=$$@# THEY DRINK FROM THE DARK WATER, IT IS #@$$=~:...
..:~=$$@## IN TURN DRINKING THE ANIMALS BLOOD. ##@$$=~:..
.:~=$$@### ###@$$=~:.
..:~=$$@## THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE, THE CONTRACT ##@$$=~:..
...:~=$$@# CARRIED OUT; THE ANIMAL IS ABANDONED TO #@$$=~:...
....:~=$$@ FIND ITS OWN WAY BACK. THE BUSHES ROOTS @$$=~:....
.....:~=$$ DRINK THE NUTRUTIOUS WATER. THE FAIRIES $$=~:.....
....:~=$$@ DANCE IN THE SUNBEAMS. @$$=~:....
...:~=$$@# #@$$=~:...
..:~=$$@## ======================================== ##@$$=~:..
.:~=$$@### ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ###@$$=~:.
..:~=$$@## : : : : : : : : ##@$$=~:..
...:~=$$@# . . . . . . #@$$=~:...
....:~=$$@ . . . @$$=~:....
.....:~=$$ $$=~:.....
....:~=$$@ @$$=~:....
...:~=$$@# #@$$=~:...
..:~=$$@## ##@$$=~:..
.:~=$$@### ###@$$=~:.