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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUYZKTz1FT
"How are you doing?" Will asked.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqamKKfbVU
"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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ih65Hke00
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtQnIVKDDs
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZL8q4a3FQ
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDgB6jvbBe
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Crw5dbRKy
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?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG98CuSS2cp
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?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJcz0HfmJB
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBU7qAND7n
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9M8IQFjVj
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNtfdMey5a
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TVQCgzUCH
"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."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu2d3rFjsn
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfWWKaWG1x
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvk7UEAFrM
"I assume you've found me," He said.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp18tLo2T5x
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbB7vxD2PZ
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpkP90Uta9
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDJ531dHNM
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZuLlgyZhY
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8DwigGsKD
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRxbJkncSO
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu5eagx9OO
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G5SVQkmtQ
"Arkansas," Ashley said.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaU8507O99
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTu7lBsHmK
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIXg5C4qug
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIorFucrAf
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2TF38Jd0c
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmz3wUcaAA
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9xxVovCmg
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRzP8AiO8R
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLluocmLUcS
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1em3sy7Jjr
Four.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkZNjhUZN7
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy1MnS5hPn
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."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuykoJrR4g
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnCEEnrVCK
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcblRXMmyK
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmS1zhnvm5
"My name's Ashley."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKF1rdvBQS
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?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqM9SV3JDI
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29BtDFJgPx
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxqdMth63a
"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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UerBjGCpB
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3sgryir8f
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC66rf8p81r
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBOXEXDzw5
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LewemNRDN
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ult14BjE1
"Correct," Will nodded.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwb6xVAhaC
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpJSNow4Yh
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLpy9MSibL
"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."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlad13d94FG
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhAuLLlj03
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG92B0zLgV
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY3d9VxdrF
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOZKSaVKUN
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3DDewPBdP
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJG9yb8S3V
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tLqnyHsqq
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ceGmbmxXU
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8wOrn0THi
"Stop!" She shouted.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlDsr6Lj3u
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9exV04nVe
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMwATbb3Wa
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwYUSz28Wj
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCjCHKV0MU
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS6qXTrbz0
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZVf1EwRAU
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCkkVeJZB3
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LCdxph8ac
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtX5VMqtqK
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LCHEOSIwM
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