##£=*=~... ...~=*=£##
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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 .......~=*
=*=~...... 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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