The trees were thick and tall, but the fog that weaved through them made the scenery truly confusing. There was no telling one direction from the other. Even more fascinating was how the sky was completely devoured by both fog and forest. Ground and sky were as distinguished as the directions and that was what terrified Ashley the most.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0h1ZcCs5C
"How are you doing?" Will asked.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zSh18YAs9
"Okay," Ashley lied. She tightened her grip around his tail. It wasn't until she was walking behind him that she realized that swirling black stripes that decorated his fur were moving.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZfvjFul32
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpHFK79SHf
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tn4eMcyjN
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslTdlPVKNh
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jogg7TaGm
Then the next step Ashley took, she found her self falling. Somehow she had lost her grip on Will's tail and was tumbling down a hill. When she finally stopped, she held her breath and tried to keep her tears back. Slowly, very slowly, she stood. She couldn't see anything more than fog and trees and was terrified of moving anymore than she already had. Would they be able to find her if she moved?702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVhlA7q3aq
Ashley remembered a teacher of hers saying something about a situation like this, but she couldn't remember exactly what they said. Did they say to move? Or did they say to stay still?702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQBquRjjgg
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCNqqrCDZo
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFreg1Jmz1
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lo4rPDb3Y
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0BnZia82r
"I would love to," He said, "But there's a bit of a problem. Well, I think it's a problem. It's hard telling anymore. Hell, I could be dead and just cursed in my own ever loving afterlife."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeqcJnmDbP
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJSolOb6Qr
The stranger was a tall man that was tied to a tree. He was bent forward with a leather bag over his head that was tied around his neck.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv1pYnCVfG
"I assume you've found me," He said.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZrTmZPWLy
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHeTqOyQZM
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3mqRPkfd0
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYCRTS7uJX
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRumjTPqcad
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Li7DsPLWI
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdik2Tbtx1
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GAkRKijSx
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin8b9p65cL
"Arkansas," Ashley said.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDpmR0QJGk
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtjcggGtQi
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAnruhfoDk
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPhDUMMBts
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCAbedraKK
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADx3Uv99Nk
Quickly, Ashley started to untie the knots. If the man had been a normal height, Ashley would have had no problems reaching his head. However, she found that due to his outlandish height, she had to stand on her toes to reach the thread that tied the sack on his head.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6uzPVh9tI
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR2Numx5wk
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFUUUOmAdj
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFk6L0wWAP2
Four.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjtzoORw4P
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvV5KlppEi
The corners of the man's mouth, quite literally, were nearly touching each ear. "I can't tell you how nice it is to see the world again...I hope you won't mind it too much if I ask that you do the same to the other rope, too."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6gypQVyqR
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ue3Gz0t6d
The man stood, towering taller than anyone Ashley had ever met, and stretched. She could hear all kinds of bones crack as he did so.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyYb2dCLEN
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTFvFZasg8
"My name's Ashley."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYIDPreMsw
The man bowed deeply. When he stood upright again, he said, "I've many, but I've been going by Tommy recently." Tommy looked around, "So you were with Will...I don't suppose you remember which way you came from?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QGDxiDw5M
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNbjLo8Rnd
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9yI1e5dTe
"It's a good thing you don't need to recall, isn't it?" Will asked as he came into view from the thick fog.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fexwXxbrv
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pOmuxOrbv
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm67w4cGjj
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1xeFXfRf0
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCU1mPjOAM
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ275uMp6kzZ
"Correct," Will nodded.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFJ3uxSzPM
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUcFKlsrfg
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG4A0GXZGU
"This hat is a little more special than most," Tommy said. "It protects me from light...because, you see, light does a lot of harm to me and I could very well die."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKQzD5tang
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6Yq5StX80
Tommy smiled, revealing rows of sharp, pointed teeth. "Light and I have never really gotten along. You see, most of my work is done in the dark and, after a while, light became dangerous. The only reason I'm fine without it now is because of the fog. It's protecting me for the time being.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhW6Zw42SZ
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAep6BuIJ0
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXNoQ02VcF
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiXCsGCamW
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sQCTOBzhj
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKiN9BfvVu
Tommy bolted after the runaway hat and Ashley followed without a second thought. Will, on the other hand, curled up into a tight ball and closed his eyes, but kept his ears perked and fully alert.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FVjmV1yK3
An idea popped into Ashley's head that forced Ashley into a dead stop. She saw the dark hat emerge from the thick fog, Tommy following it immediately. Ashley grabbed a low-lying branch pulled it back.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9oZDDEE5y
"Stop!" She shouted.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1IN0hL2jc
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeWgQpjmR4
She waited, keeping her eye on the hat. When it was close enough, she released the branch. It swept forward and knocked the hat high into the air.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ0y7cryPG
Realizing what Ashley had done, Tommy jumped and caught the hat. When he landed, Tommy dusted the hat off and guided it to his head. An arm then emerged from over his head, it looked like it came from his neck, then grabbed the hat and placed it on his head before shrinking away.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBC4d4cGKP
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0deBVox4q
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhav3eZ8zCE
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwSkxiAjKI
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfljFPfZEG
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14hZNGhBqx
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem3LDhvgP3
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."702Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UQN14Zp2h
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