&.&.&..&.. .&&..&&.&.
&.&.&.&&.. &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& . . . &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. . . . . . . &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. - - - - - - - - - - - &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& 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. &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. - - - - - - - - - - - &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. . . . . . . &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& . . . &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&.&&.& &.&.&.&.&.
&.&.&..&.. &.&.&.&.&.