.....,~;%$ $%;~,.....
....,~;%$§ §$%;~,....
...,~;%$§@ @§$%;~,...
..,~;%$§@# #@§$%;~,..
.,~;%$§@## ##@§$%;~,.
..,~;%$§@# . . . #@§$%;~,..
...,~;%$§@ . . . . . . @§$%;~,...
....,~;%$§ , , , , , , , , §$%;~,....
.....,~;%$ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ $%;~,.....
......,~;% ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; %;~,......
.......,~; ;~,.......
......,~;% JUST OFF THE COAST TO THE BALTIC SEA %;~,......
.....,~;%$ 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. #@§$%;~,..
.,~;%$§@## ##@§$%;~,.
..,~;%$§@# ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; #@§$%;~,..
...,~;%$§@ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ @§$%;~,...
....,~;%$§ , , , , , , , , §$%;~,....
.....,~;%$ . . . . . . $%;~,.....
......,~;% . . . %;~,......
.......,~; ;~,.......
......,~;% %;~,......
.....,~;%$ $%;~,.....
....,~;%$§ §$%;~,....
...,~;%$§@ @§$%;~,...