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..:~†%$¶## . . . . . . ##¶$%†~:..
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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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