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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmUfj0ibPQ
"How are you doing?" Will asked.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt84Mxc2Of
"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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1t7VTGyI2O
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLYRRJozyc
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5LHVAvmj1
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Xk1o6xSom
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDBRVZGxTI
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?652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB2JfrySCC
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?652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjpkGaHdpt
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtIVv5xBQv
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG9rBeQTKs
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVnwDd9Dwx
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqABfLtBYV
"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."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4MfY1tJnS
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcODGI2i8JB
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRioc3ysry
"I assume you've found me," He said.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sCYxq1EL0
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtt3qARaMV
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyikrriKxkC
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDnoOVgly4
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsKFGaLqKH
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV5nZTPanE
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmja41YdrIb
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBr8b9XY0T
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd0GtOV5q6
"Arkansas," Ashley said.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHr3YDvyWQD
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08oooYtMuf
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkswiSiLK0
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fm6fJwInm
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hMJCBtf08
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcTu8BpMdR
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwdr6Q8tLh
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5w3CTR8dC
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAgeSgKl0a
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTar0SXYGXB
Four.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTaVky3tzE
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfERc7Q3yF
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."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOcFmKi3JL
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gckNs6LpX
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfeLe9VfMI
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWaO0EDoTs
"My name's Ashley."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZzc87pNzp
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?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0oota70A4
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpIESlCMtS
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJitaGL02oU
"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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBptI49Wb1
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRveS2cHnP
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36V1uL42Le
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx8kFStpr1
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW7qaRiEHo
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxZCGP5EGI
"Correct," Will nodded.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NMxUbGYwN
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hhEYdeb7z
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3hbutfzhL
"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."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhzKtmRFax
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqHAHJTYAv
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFBYBocuMR
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCduHBxvro3
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9c0YySFsh
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjWVSKbY9T
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqilmBy6jgO
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhoxT8UaaY
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCuuV4YiC2
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7GhLsaAli
"Stop!" She shouted.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSDrVOQ82M
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0bvNWnKZa
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEvNtcByjr
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLszHaz9qvJ
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeF8veQh7t
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDdBZzYSau
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH5P8vgn8A
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83p43f1hXM
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfPaF60FE8
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NKo9BYZYb
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG5KdyGXPF
ns3.137.172.252da2
