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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 ..:::~†§§#
####§$†~:. LIMESTONE BEDROCK, SHARP-CUT FROM THE .:~†$§####
####§$†~:. SURROUNDING PLAINS, A NINETY DEGREE .:~†$§####
##§§§$†~:. DROP DOWN, DOWN, TO THE MIDNIGHT-BLACK .:~†$§§§##
####§$†~:. WATER. .:~†$§####
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####§$†~:. THEY SPEAK TO THE SLOANE, CARESS IT, .:~†$§####
####§$†~:. URGE IT TO GROW THICKER, TANGLED, WITH .:~†$§####
#$$~...... LONGER AND SHARPER THORNS. THEY TELL IT ......~$$#
#$†~...... TO STAY JUST BELOW THE GRASS, SO THAT ......~†$#
####§$†~:. THE ANIMALS WHAT COME TO DRINK THE .:~†$§####
##§$$†~:.. WATER CANNOT SEE IT BEFORE IT DRAWS ..:~†$$§##
##§$†::... THEIR BLOOD. CLOSER TO THE POND, THE ...::†$§##
####§$†~:. SLOANE CAN GROW TALLER, BEING ABLE TO .:~†$§####
####§$†~:. HIDE ALSO IN THE JUNIPER. .:~†$§####
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####§$†~:. THE FAIRIES WILL BECKON THE ANIMALS TO .:~†$§####
####§$†~:. PUSH FORWARD, TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE .:~†$§####
####§$†~:. ALMOST AT THE WATER, THAT THEY MAY .:~†$§####
####§$†~:. DRINK SOON. AND THEY WILL TUG ON THE .:~†$§####
#####§$†~. SLOANE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THORNS CUT .~†$§#####
####§$†~:. DEEP. WHEN THEY FINALLY FIND THE PATH .:~†$§####
##§§†~:... DOWN BETWEEN THE ROCKS, AWAY FROM THE ...:~†§§##
####§$†~:. BUSHWORK AND INTO THE CLEFT, THEY ARE .:~†$§####
##$~:..... BLEEDING FROM A THOUSAND WOUNDS. AS .....:~$##
##$†~:.... THEY DRINK FROM THE DARK WATER, IT IS ....:~†$##
####§$†~:. IN TURN DRINKING THE ANIMALS BLOOD. .:~†$§####
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###§†:.... 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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