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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. %%««««« ##@$%†«:..
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....:«†%$@ ««««%%%%%%%%«««« @$%†«:....
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......:«†% THEY SPEAK TO THE SLOANE, CARESS IT, %†«:......
.....:«†%$ 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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