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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sln398BG8
"How are you doing?" Will asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAXoz2WUCD
"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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUxxbX7L4m
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIO8ceV8pPl
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWoTMgPe5d
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPqEFOib9z
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtCQhR657Q
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?691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FttZHeVhV
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?691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0JKQ7joCH
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJZU1SckYa
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHWD8JIcXD
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bqgsxqpgC
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxviARCcru
"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."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuBFEYiUEP
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SdoM4Hw0R
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbv2rFkLum1
"I assume you've found me," He said.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukY8c26yRY
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rpkMlmshV
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVXIJKxB1u
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1VaNUkKO3
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4xWGIcLWZ
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7Lk72GR3i
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37JR1jh4Ea
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D0TvL0dzS
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRMqvpzZOY
"Arkansas," Ashley said.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtvzuJIYC7
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeBsiYcEGL
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY93WxWQ6y
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnwM4UeNro
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweRRo9nq2m
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzVJCCzyDX
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6l3QFhdrv
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmojVYxAfZq
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM123XN7hKi
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqPZASHRcg
Four.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIXOxNiPn9
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyZm7mycJF
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."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntxjtSNqw6
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKJLuY9wiE
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4agh00sA9
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6k5CK7HYL
"My name's Ashley."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtStfNDzN4F
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?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyKsJ3fNp9
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKH1zhOY9D
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFESiBI8fHA
"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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5Ehelaisl
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgoNcXvNK4
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGBC90PGrv
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoV7OzlQPe
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9BHLDKanA
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBDkYNSK7k
"Correct," Will nodded.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2h7XMf22A
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT272p2jTt
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbaQdXOahk
"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."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmfKkfz6LB
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSon1AeUyI
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9zj4wd1d5
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlNHZEBPQS
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErghoc7C7Z
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o0fCuZp1v
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7g1C6tPJe
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTFPuIdzH9
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEj77SjTPK
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2FVaI6VTf
"Stop!" She shouted.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zk2CEJjTa
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlxdazO0HX
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiMp9XfgnP
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFY1lDuTSc
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxoyIhTCXA
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnGguyRdKI
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7dKQQpgFp
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8Dr84lnYv
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62Jm94ecXP
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ224gjO6lkm
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SRXF7PaKN
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