#**;;,,... ...,,;;**#
####*=;-,. .,-;=*####
#****=;-,. .,-;=****#
##*==-,... ...,-==*##
##*;;,,,.. ..,,,;;*##
#*;;-,,... . . . ...,,-;;*#
####*=;-,. . . . . . . .,-;=*####
##=;-,.... , , , , , , , , ....,-;=##
####*=;-,. - - - - - - - - - - - .,-;=*####
##=-,,,... ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; ...,,,-=##
#*;,...... ......,;*#
####*=;-,. 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. .,-;*#####
#**;-,,... ...,,-;**#
#=-....... ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; .......-=#
####*=;-,. - - - - - - - - - - - .,-;=*####
#*;----... , , , , , , , , ...----;*#
##*;;,,,.. . . . . . . ..,,,;;*##
#*;---.... . . . ....---;*#
####*=;-,. .,-;=*####
####*=;-,. .,-;=*####
####*=;-,. .,-;=*####
#=;,...... ......,;=#
#*====;-,. .,-;====*#