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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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