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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 &&=;«~....
.....~«;=& 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. @&&=;«~...
..~«;=&&@@ @@&&=;«~..
.~«;=&&@@# ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; #@@&&=;«~.
..~«;=&&@@ « « « « « « « « « « « @@&&=;«~..
...~«;=&&@ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ @&&=;«~...
....~«;=&& . . . . . . &&=;«~....
.....~«;=& . . . &=;«~.....
......~«;= =;«~......
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