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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6hrAOYrfp
"How are you doing?" Will asked.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKJINak6uu
"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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUDGAN36mJ
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqcin2oQpi
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfgxcR58Cu
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewGgMeBsOk
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT3hAkin6Q
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?653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyFS4HLKOa
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?653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1qfUjb5bp
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbU491gXYz
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI3LAtIBnd
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvUFTLhoCw
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z04yzSSHe
"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."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIz2soNWc4
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRok0JIyJ8B
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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqkqcSasuk
"I assume you've found me," He said.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDm8MuzStB
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0ubrnuGnW
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD2soAVHXw
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR80JwwCVX
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSDL1fnJsC
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLu4eSOkzN
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3PuJR9Vmu
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu3RReRUn5
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzCkQ4zWr4
"Arkansas," Ashley said.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9p5NNXkV4
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkhYgMeYUA
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJMZKmYZZs
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYwSI1YXvA
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVLJjHIrCp
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7fszHfcn8
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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX6nX5JKZL
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XOXDf48Vg
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaEN7ekpot
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ7pDDtEs1
Four.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZSVOgxU4F
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoPO0OYhN7
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."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzcJsG4bVj
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2VTH1fWxI
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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAunXv3rbrk
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkl6rL7huy
"My name's Ashley."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpi5GUxzI4
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?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgk1fKNRFY
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMbm6UUnKK
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlt2uKAP5V
"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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflwyJUIYED
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2pSJcIBXt
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94SvNjOYhe
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHfCTM6GZ8
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hb5WqkMOi
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGEaXLSlWp
"Correct," Will nodded.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoI1mtYq2A
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENhmO7fd2Z
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr2UM276Hi
"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."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyq4MlIMzXE
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNC9jo0Flk
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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYFuyf4WF5
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaHKDROquH
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBzrzsTv5c
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRRlA8aJp6
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiH2fR1005
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU2IjJFRuR
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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaSauryTPX
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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDU5Kd1MBeo
"Stop!" She shouted.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtWHaqnywi
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE0AY5KLAQ
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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwVvcIGudm
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.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbzZ4598M3
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbwBjsaagu
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ862zvRRaBq
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEggNQZfo0
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja9S0QaxrF
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo4Yoxh4Ec
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3bAR8MlPJ
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."653Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD46oaNKdu
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