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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9TaBVuNRf
"How are you doing?" Will asked.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5xcwGUpwv
"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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6CQVmlGyK
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dtrLTF3vj
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrp0SZMAgj
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf23yup2oR
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgc1EpIFz1
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?870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYNZHnxAzp
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?870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu2jPqdrjm
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMzXFSrX3P
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbctsip1zM
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rlQCO2KOR
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsKDWGN7MH
"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."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjxxQOiecp
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ttWjqbCkH
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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CcT0YWzU1
"I assume you've found me," He said.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOM2IwzqQXA
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtjWBkVhUk
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8JI3Ms0oE
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjbHcUe5XF
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxfXpdeNxa
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT5BGEUawY
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8c6B9d15I
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kRLN58xil
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURFrpsAYf1
"Arkansas," Ashley said.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwloGYDRlO
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRhxSqUzCy
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6110Tj0As
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHCaOA82Ig
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtC2tfRds5
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j0Y79EMYa
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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiQla4pAbS
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsj2kBDqbn
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObXjPNwfXp
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zcOfjztNq
Four.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3goCbYcbt
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6J6O3FgBv
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."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsat499t3T
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzt5tEUyIE
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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshpz2Zf069
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8y9I4ir5T
"My name's Ashley."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ICqJOiSfH
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?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1ALYrP9uk
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWN8zidTRdn
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrc5RSu6Gc
"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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7qPpTachM
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L9QYIU4iO
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBQpWfyTPk
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0WBJdqC9V
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8kEyZ6VeN
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxT3EBpGb3
"Correct," Will nodded.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYfLuiylLx
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLIZOS9KQa
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6q6HnNYCRt
"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."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1rcf2R9ab
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAQwhJ0v8d
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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWHWh09kZC
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOKJORXlBE
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmplOAvFTSj
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyFevZ1vr1
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7wxQ7A2AF
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8kUmcHuHN
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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6S23lhh3W
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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVNTiaVed8
"Stop!" She shouted.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2IC6HkcqS
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2KIzVYnsv
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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgoAWaBOUj
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.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLciAR8EIy
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbYwhC3wnL
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9953dh6Zy
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1YMeJiv5F
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FBJi0bF5j
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9keSRK52yF
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxvyQHHN1V
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."870Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ140soxkXbL
ns216.73.217.110da2
and then Add to home screen.