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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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