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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnCvoB62ki
"How are you doing?" Will asked.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8LOlOK4aR
"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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdnj93k8xL
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPXo28GPAI
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sAWyOV09F
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuhaSFY4YQ
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNkpvH0Yhz
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?658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDv5je6PSo
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?658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCurg5EgIFL
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UuEgW3t3h
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskIp1lfmx5
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1fgKR5zJm
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52uqLAH8Wl
"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."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJzfBDdNNL
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡng08IVGCXV
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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrpVe9PVzi
"I assume you've found me," He said.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwMAj7G1sY
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxQYxMM26O
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJngbUM4j2
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYGmaMJd24
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogvpk4XlEI
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuufmRNnSe
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthOiLT3R3h
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XAEN5qC8w
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXL1e3UPN1
"Arkansas," Ashley said.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDquCNsgZ7h
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9EivkOUmh
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkEKoypYJa
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKqMA2QII7
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgrdLHhuol
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFOXqxQhv0
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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4rZ0Sdadm
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ010rxk7X
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TsVLt4xRs
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPs8QqjgGje
Four.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8pUDag3SH
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNUz7uMCqg
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."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0fy6T8uEJ
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07phT5of7L
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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDInV7AYCu
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEdaV3aqVy
"My name's Ashley."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUTcrJ4YUR
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?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4Eyr9nVWX
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWKdV4wZi6
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlodzKnmmz
"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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXcjaGEJxr
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AD5PU3rPB
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOw9vfmSf6
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjDQSZqjU2
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznjcpN1G6x
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbM3b0Leig
"Correct," Will nodded.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0UOZpqyQg
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YU0b2McV0
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYo0JAOnm6
"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."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o7YrLRIpd
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YWFQkwz1i
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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaozODJ5b1C
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvDgZZj4cu
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWFqrPZNCi
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZqwleQJ34
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFfQTHoF9u
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0KU7KeGYo
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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXFdlqPguH
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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeMErYqRE8
"Stop!" She shouted.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wiLR5jv8n
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflVvEcDe0u
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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcjzxA37aW
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.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztETF3huWB
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3psOnCOB1e
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVAvygmwUg
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlm0MMsjGF
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJcRiMTmof
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5IxjZiXF2
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy1C6ibZCN
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."658Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWVv9WePMQ
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