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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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