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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis8UK6d3Ul
"How are you doing?" Will asked.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBf2y3wyp7
"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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnwov6KmXU
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdUxE7bIEo
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6aAvbbrGy
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt3z1UwtB2
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzFY0UCBFK
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?680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZxtIysQml
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?680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJty1IxtgCR
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM4LMeUDQ0
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4MzO4L9HF
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TJJpDc8vM
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tsBVYY2wQ
"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."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJDpJJWWPy
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIFswMbrGF
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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86HFz0Jas9
"I assume you've found me," He said.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau5hbjgA4x
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQUENEPfcF
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlPctze7xt
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz2O9sNBde
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaLrsoW6AK
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoTpQbT0J2
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYKqLCiODU
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OdQ4jiunW
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhufm6zV8yU
"Arkansas," Ashley said.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYM2Appsvt
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIO53LYYyk
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKqzJqWqmh
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupkhW1QGR2
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkosUEvSQy4
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzVZ7dkJ6W
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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqYIqjiqTV
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFWqDdRLup
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueAUygDSJD
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MOUcrbeND
Four.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvED7HalqsU
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgmfGEyDgl
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."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOMye7uOnc
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGQBTllRnq
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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGCIrorb95
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKrUdPvkeZ
"My name's Ashley."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmLs2zqk2u
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?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEMIoaxWlM
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJuFQudnwM
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCRRlkQ1jR
"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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9h6CkpdaR
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbvImRGjKb
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGLjumoS98
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNenoMep8gE
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eP36pd3bq
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4KxnifaSC
"Correct," Will nodded.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7BeqkmZpH
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgT3McjdzC
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JRAHs3kpu
"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."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumWCAKSU9x
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTiMncXDNe
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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnV7LHKROa
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CtyaRHpL6
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVvunJ9vCU
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwkVVIIZ87
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VDUgj6dwJ
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGV0MV0YR0
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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5XdGtTbsJ
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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA7PCDR9R6
"Stop!" She shouted.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSxHUGwx85
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaTJ8DFbEG
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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxNXASQCRL
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.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmLcyHY4Q8
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pZB3zCCJr
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VrbFbigR3
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BFHP7XFBl
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuBKVK05zb
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQE9jjKVKe
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7zzjlZ034
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8z9DI4QSJ
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