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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgcvQxFTYb
"How are you doing?" Will asked.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6YzNJ9bLS
"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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzUs64LSrb
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJmTDakZ7U
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9AcVNAIVn
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICfaFr5au2
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo4NfIHKG9
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?679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LIeopf6nm
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?679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTImcFmfJkn
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOuJPTHAdV
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd49w9huDf
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK5vWsAoCO
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhcjT0DNAk
"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."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPjmMETOID
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ns94mIjnD
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNWIxPgJpM
"I assume you've found me," He said.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdviMPzKj3
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3DO5j7Ayy
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgOfGQmgB2
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7huS3LrgDU
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIV5cIx4eo
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLytZCEfbTn
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yTXDZm5JN
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppltfbeoSA
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN6yXoGfei
"Arkansas," Ashley said.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCqroqmLbo
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRRG4qvoYs
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSqVruXMVL
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzA5WpWDDzX
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6xIsZ5yfL
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfs81rPF2j
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyTSM9JCnl
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KeAMIJElY
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo2sV0GOBt
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9U9J3FLqMY
Four.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA5LkXnfu2
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNM1ziNxdk
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."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1vvjljMtN
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcRC264SK1
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4YzINupIf
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAocUOlld3X
"My name's Ashley."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGz0e23BlF
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?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB8t5fYmWC
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTngn8M7Bz
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xXABpMYIw
"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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6NMmuogHh
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i0U8ppLyD
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzKmVH32NH
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmIopkWEi4
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQk4Razcas
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0Gg78nVMx
"Correct," Will nodded.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1u3LDV3yiF
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm0I00MTNc
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W1f5ZgWqI
"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."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mApO5aH7y
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfy3aEp7aZ
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeEs3l0NPX
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQQnWjUFUN
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS7atSj0Hs
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ99hy6oMYL
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTrxkW32Tg
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WwEo5gi6q
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzKiBop4xV
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstXeHY7fic
"Stop!" She shouted.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzpQ3mpdEe
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc39bW3Rce
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S5aCuvDAS
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.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWa5P1T8Q7D
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c7wBldjVV
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUujVHh0jHY
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPtABda65V
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeXE5Z7azB
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHVdCwi705
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2ZZLBUAiL
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQWD7ZrLmB
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