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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXDX2Kn0m4
"How are you doing?" Will asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VtmY7Rodt
"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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ97VuxeDKI
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHKecCXfKF
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQXpFzgejV
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmc9Np3YMB
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSvoG0cGmb
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?691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHgm1DrkY3
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?691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC2oVytkCf
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINKUmmK5Cr
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPnHVXst4p
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0ChPoeDVF
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B55YdJczy
"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."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh92XaCk0Ar
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZupHEhh1Ez
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTnoOKzlh6
"I assume you've found me," He said.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKx8wDdATO
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBVKjTN6j6
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlxMx3WbhT
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTITgRwaBfT
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaQaAGnT0u
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKZksPGYDZ
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uVC25joCz
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AzhedKPuN
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy2VovYlO3
"Arkansas," Ashley said.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5epvFTXzd
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMFq6MVGkP
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKtyZ85iGF
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftdXnwD8mN
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wJPiinvQc
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8qwRLUxv9
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu9I4YEu1O
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSF88YXrRr
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZo40jaSdS
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXTskYJAK3
Four.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRSQDDDbj5
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs6ibrLozK
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."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxWvsqRtL3
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0snVbIKxS4
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49qcxbq2xA
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtB0Wjb6mkQ
"My name's Ashley."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAJYr0yA6U
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?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZe2CTLcYY
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv2j5wj0gp
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKbIVfaHfU
"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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUvnXpFHDX
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUFLPLwdZj
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFb5a7Cisl
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1GYUCf2Vc
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxPEn1Xp2g
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1Y9k06Od7
"Correct," Will nodded.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wLoRSmKs3
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCrU7dMlug
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfOIz9gUMU
"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."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9OGaT8uZ0
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGRMoAgxdx
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7FLqlqQJM
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvNs4nkPgp
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNMi890pke
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT72i0UlRWn
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQviDNaRJZR
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKNXyF7lMw
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjHvrgSoDm
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67UtlYhjm5
"Stop!" She shouted.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6dbSipPwU
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B6fPvNzcX
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDakoHgp3ST
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.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNFHeXrKRp
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6YamNS7at
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj3qdH1sXV
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82S2biX92v
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumAygPLCG4
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqNJL0W92x
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPBsuhvaqi
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXlyC5KBct
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