.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.......... ..........
.........: . . . :.........
........:= . . . . . . =:........
.......:== : : : : : : : : ==:.......
......:==$ = = = = = = = = = = = $==:......
.....:==$£ ======================================== £$==:.....
....:==$££ ££$==:....
...:==$££# 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 $==:......
.......:== DOWN BETWEEN THE ROCKS, AWAY FROM THE ==:.......
........:= BUSHWORK AND INTO THE CLEFT, THEY ARE =:........
.........: BLEEDING FROM A THOUSAND WOUNDS. AS :.........
.......... THEY DRINK FROM THE DARK WATER, IT IS ..........
.......... IN TURN DRINKING THE ANIMALS BLOOD. ..........
.......... ..........
.......... THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE, THE CONTRACT ..........
.......... CARRIED OUT; THE ANIMAL IS ABANDONED TO ..........
.........: FIND ITS OWN WAY BACK. THE BUSHES ROOTS :.........
........:= DRINK THE NUTRUTIOUS WATER. THE FAIRIES =:........
.......:== DANCE IN THE SUNBEAMS. ==:.......
......:==$ $==:......
.....:==$£ ======================================== £$==:.....
....:==$££ = = = = = = = = = = = ££$==:....
...:==$££# : : : : : : : : #££$==:...
..:==$££#@ . . . . . . @#££$==:..
.:==$££#@# . . . #@#££$==:.
..:==$££#@ @#££$==:..
...:==$££# #££$==:...
....:==$££ ££$==:....
.....:==$£ £$==:.....
......:==$ $==:......