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