##¶§**:~~. .~~:**§¶##
#¶¶§**:~~. .~~:**§¶¶#
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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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