...:»*$@££ ££@$*»:...
..:»*$@££# #££@$*»:..
.:»*$@££## ##££@$*»:.
..:»*$@££# #££@$*»:..
...:»*$@££ ££@$*»:...
....:»*$@£ . . . £@$*»:....
.....:»*$@ . . . . . . @$*»:.....
......:»*$ : : : : : : : : $*»:......
.......:»* » » » » » » » » » » » *»:.......
........:» **************************************** »:........
.........: :.........
.......... JUST OFF THE COAST TO THE BALTIC SEA ..........
.........: THERE'S A FRESHWATER POND, SECLUDED :.........
........:» AMONG ASHEN AND JUNIPER. A CLEFT IN THE »:........
.......:»* LIMESTONE BEDROCK, SHARP-CUT FROM THE *»:.......
......:»*$ 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. $*»:......
.....:»*$@ @$*»:.....
....:»*$@£ **************************************** £@$*»:....
...:»*$@££ » » » » » » » » » » » ££@$*»:...
..:»*$@££# : : : : : : : : #££@$*»:..
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....:»*$@£ £@$*»:....
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......:»*$ $*»:......
.......:»* *»:.......