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.