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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY9rnxjAiQ
"How are you doing?" Will asked.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKek9zxVH7
"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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUF0rBMDVK
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg7i3H2g78
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrUQ4Cvx8q
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjCyMg3Xyw
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yUX2WOLnc
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?735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDjlyTXAqy
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?735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK3CNrqOrp
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1t5shQtt8
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO70Uc56wVf
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ikcg2srcs
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKSpVUmO8B
"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."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNK5AkYYAzu
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebHbrjVW5v
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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF304tqwklg
"I assume you've found me," He said.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zS7J73NJO
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNo4SqnQaO
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nzG9206UW
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArnmKg6peX
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzcE5t2Vld
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53l3KzzVjW
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHM96Y5Zt2
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOks968EWnK
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJGvI9qgW1
"Arkansas," Ashley said.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasvA5CGxYj
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DbTwChDS5
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4KAS6stwN
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVG8dNxiOu
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rfVw4JHqi
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sokHyYUjZ
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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzjypFPTwI
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqjhJdX51r
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm9taDSADe
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyBQLCSiyY
Four.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rppGy0WKh
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay374DhtcG
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."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMMzByhg7W
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikfYHAJUIr
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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayvRBQkZ9l
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1Dfl4Hy0W
"My name's Ashley."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMYkie5F4T
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?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAVtzpX04v
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtQbd1HSyy
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmimGZE1v2
"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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kX5pst0ph
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq0EFz4SSK
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pm900sjwL
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRReVHKRjOm
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXLci59Oyl
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRy8ps2tp2
"Correct," Will nodded.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9FfFHBxfC
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuDwyChOTV
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn8nNoFoxd
"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."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6Gj70oktQ
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M6268jmCx
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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBvCSEZi1K
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9yBZtNlkj
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GRiRpIhbK
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ21meciWka
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2it8GAjsXn
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMGIuv14yM
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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPHeD82Yv5
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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATTyZcY0QO
"Stop!" She shouted.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bOWWutzzF
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI81BLHVys
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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUQg0RNXie
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.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKX4b1Z9n8s
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCqgpw2Vrk
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkMK8jOpG0
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIpKJKMk85
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmu5wd0HVg
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CjKm61lTn
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEaPul9rfQ
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ9j2EEEm8
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