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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxKYHkjD3L
"How are you doing?" Will asked.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rh74AeoKl
"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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERKvBkChuS
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzDtOns7ue
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVS21s5aLm
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhQdu99Tu0
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPge8SnJMGO
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?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0w4K00VtZ
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?681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbteGQUA6Y
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixKC3AInDw
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHrMF77WWA
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxTNoOLy0D
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuLFgdwfcn
"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."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL2p0Jiz8A
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT2GPra2rO
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3nXiqNwTQ
"I assume you've found me," He said.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZClhBegANq
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQYz0gRodr
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVijdGNhr1f
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tx4CO6RD7
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcSY2yYaka
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhtCVEXT8z
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFdektowOq
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDysHaBnrW
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLcGU6Yom0
"Arkansas," Ashley said.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDz3NwXzhI
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhvlynbCLy
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheRiRzHXYi
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3Ua0nckjB
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JtoKkgNT3
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10kgSklZ2q
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdITlvoFDIG
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1wOfVqzeS
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYMBWFG4uL
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKMhucZkA5
Four.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhniySQxEY
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAQbb0V1sH
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."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1dlqyqn3A
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxohIqrQAme
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJwP1bobV6
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08aiB7kY2i
"My name's Ashley."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg0F4pSziG
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?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtNY5EoccL
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0JNY51Mac
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKuZnjhlz5
"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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIMJejpv5N
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ173xQRZwh9
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXVRPay9Y8
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUu9sbXaNI
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo0kZaOwLO
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyBNyzoqT9
"Correct," Will nodded.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETXOvjiAiA
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVVcUTBtHR
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORr6KPP6AV
"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."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sAQWc6aFU
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBeEBxqK5q
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4LMRo1Wbl
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7O0xzF8Vq
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUH7EIty0BI
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfpvSIEkxT
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYCKjVl0vA
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrThJhSQSQ
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13V0RGhsDw
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvJrPp4xxq
"Stop!" She shouted.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4ugfZcU3e
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5FVPlOOTY
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6JcuxHZsK
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.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG55AXGJgNq
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YpLjIuunu
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9l37OsFM8
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yWWygAkIP
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0bRB0yNMv
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2pg8bWGjy
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2VbtwDtvI
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."681Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMl1JXjtsE
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