...-»:§$§# #§$§:»-...
....-»:§$§ §$§:»-....
.....-»:§$ $§:»-.....
......-»:§ §:»-......
.......-»: :»-.......
........-» . . . »-........
.........- . . . . . . -.........
.......... - - - - - - - - ..........
.......... » » » » » » » » » » » ..........
.......... :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ..........
.........- -.........
........-» JUST OFF THE COAST TO THE BALTIC SEA »-........
.......-»: THERE'S A FRESHWATER POND, SECLUDED :»-.......
......-»:§ AMONG ASHEN AND JUNIPER. A CLEFT IN THE §:»-......
.....-»:§$ 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 $§:»-.....
......-»:§ BLEEDING FROM A THOUSAND WOUNDS. AS §:»-......
.......-»: THEY DRINK FROM THE DARK WATER, IT IS :»-.......
........-» IN TURN DRINKING THE ANIMALS BLOOD. »-........
.........- -.........
.......... THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE, THE CONTRACT ..........
.......... CARRIED OUT; THE ANIMAL IS ABANDONED TO ..........
.......... FIND ITS OWN WAY BACK. THE BUSHES ROOTS ..........
.........- DRINK THE NUTRUTIOUS WATER. THE FAIRIES -.........
........-» DANCE IN THE SUNBEAMS. »-........
.......-»: :»-.......
......-»:§ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: §:»-......
.....-»:§$ » » » » » » » » » » » $§:»-.....
....-»:§$§ - - - - - - - - §$§:»-....
...-»:§$§# . . . . . . #§$§:»-...
..-»:§$§## . . . ##§$§:»-..
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...-»:§$§# #§$§:»-...
....-»:§$§ §$§:»-....
.....-»:§$ $§:»-.....