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.498Please respect copyright.PENANASyg0s9Knbf
"How are you doing?" Will asked.498Please respect copyright.PENANASEFhDr1KNK
"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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA532lcoETkK
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.498Please respect copyright.PENANA3nfBej93SK
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."498Please respect copyright.PENANAsatRuE2z0h
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."498Please respect copyright.PENANAOxQsw8jXhI
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."498Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4TPqLVgKI
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?498Please respect copyright.PENANAZVVNGso8KO
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?498Please respect copyright.PENANAAD6yP2zKmQ
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAo0fuCru0PJ
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."498Please respect copyright.PENANAuAxHoMdg6q
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."498Please respect copyright.PENANAov1tKIYgR2
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."498Please respect copyright.PENANAEq4bLkoO3s
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANAYShM5tfhQA
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.498Please respect copyright.PENANA7NKEAQsIsp
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAfmLzH7h6Ot
"I assume you've found me," He said.498Please respect copyright.PENANAstP4JWSqk4
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.498Please respect copyright.PENANA96QNy8YEbh
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."498Please respect copyright.PENANAcwtftThViT
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"498Please respect copyright.PENANArwTVQ3G62V
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."498Please respect copyright.PENANAlulxbFxGL7
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAI4MBWOWqDk
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAAJ0LScON5D
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."498Please respect copyright.PENANArhTR1zoccR
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAzmwmU9r01F
"Arkansas," Ashley said.498Please respect copyright.PENANAVdx9O7d2DA
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAq9vkh49vYp
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."498Please respect copyright.PENANA1AqmrHNxm3
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.498Please respect copyright.PENANAAmnASc11pG
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."498Please respect copyright.PENANAauLlAAh2Rw
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."498Please respect copyright.PENANAwdKVUufdUJ
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAdWs8oFACRQ
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.498Please respect copyright.PENANADWtJgEuwLf
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.498Please respect copyright.PENANAugujkjarRf
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.498Please respect copyright.PENANAAth6upNyLs
Four.498Please respect copyright.PENANAD0Tc9C9Yw1
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.498Please respect copyright.PENANAe1ATkJr5wJ
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."498Please respect copyright.PENANAUYvlGzd7bW
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.498Please respect copyright.PENANAYFxzyespXD
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAHk7m5mtiLn
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.498Please respect copyright.PENANA7xAHzxCFIv
"My name's Ashley."498Please respect copyright.PENANAtJTFhhV1X7
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?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAACjAnYWFsr
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."498Please respect copyright.PENANAKfCSAwWZ6U
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.498Please respect copyright.PENANAJHtROGedFw
"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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA9dBCvLA8Wd
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.498Please respect copyright.PENANAGI0KlM0uzz
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAsQ0h1xKTOc
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."498Please respect copyright.PENANALxEFXC6oPv
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.498Please respect copyright.PENANAQdrCAEhf4c
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.498Please respect copyright.PENANAgJmOQGYfbZ
"Correct," Will nodded.498Please respect copyright.PENANANGRWkDAOTv
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."498Please respect copyright.PENANA8Tzy56ZXyr
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"498Please respect copyright.PENANADCdba1cFZW
"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."498Please respect copyright.PENANAXPMzvsF57u
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.498Please respect copyright.PENANA8cwkftkydk
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAR8s8e5YUJI
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAiksst8lHop
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."498Please respect copyright.PENANAIjPBq91kSa
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.498Please respect copyright.PENANA2qqCfYlJnB
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"498Please respect copyright.PENANAiKCqEw8tUT
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.498Please respect copyright.PENANAInzEGiNCbL
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANA7L5ZWlTkSa
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANASzHpqPWAIt
"Stop!" She shouted.498Please respect copyright.PENANAIjaIrq922A
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.498Please respect copyright.PENANAa2OaY4QoHb
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAQhRzld7vKB
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.498Please respect copyright.PENANAtztv2Q9CoH
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."498Please respect copyright.PENANArRNTAxTJT8
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.498Please respect copyright.PENANA5L1b1jtYBz
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."498Please respect copyright.PENANAcWEd5lfpuE
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"498Please respect copyright.PENANAVBEdaIreyo
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."498Please respect copyright.PENANAyPqTJYUA5I
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."498Please respect copyright.PENANAriby9JUM4d
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."498Please respect copyright.PENANAq1CZFFdLmF
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