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.