@@&%=;;~:. .:~;;=%&@@
###@&%=;~. .~;=%&@###
&&%==~~... ...~~==%&&
@%;;::.... ....::;;%@
&=;;:::... ...:::;;=&
@&=~::.... . . . ....::~=&@
###@&%=;~: . . . . . . :~;=%&@###
#@&%;:.... : : : : : : : : ....:;%&@#
##@&%=;~:. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .:~;=%&@##
@&&&%=;~:. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; .:~;=%&&&@
@@@&%=;~:. .:~;=%&@@@
##@&%=;~:. 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. ..:~~===&@
@&=;~:.... ....:~;=&@
#&&=;~:::. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; .:::~;=&&#
&%;~...... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ......~;%&
&==;:..... : : : : : : : : .....:;==&
@&%;;;~::. . . . . . . .::~;;;%&@
##@&%=;~:. . . . .:~;=%&@##
@@@&%=;~:. .:~;=%&@@@
##@&%=;~:. .:~;=%&@##
&&==;;~~:. .:~~;;==&&
&%%;;::... ...::;;%%&
##@&%=;~:. .:~;=%&@##