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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLIr8zgMs2
"How are you doing?" Will asked.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeoQOWJBOn
"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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PBJIYRQKk
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKIpGyeAtx
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VgGpkHvct
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO3MnTDd9S
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxkUXlvpuo
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?657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQk7hi1vq4o
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?657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfzwuBwacV
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivHkCrYhV3
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9ONKHq29F
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhwvkTt4WW
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5bGc8X85b
"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."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEPwvtsf7t
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThD9ZWpnHq
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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Yl3Zy1ELi
"I assume you've found me," He said.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXIzg28qAS
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxmesoxvyV
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkCyg5MQWN
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb4hV2zYOD
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrl8p5NCY5
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B7ibtXDCX
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyV3PPz8uY
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUPShHXuEz
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuH0ILT878
"Arkansas," Ashley said.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7vbVCb4n5
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HZDKp0Sj9
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjWEMQ6sFO
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hWZ9w6gSm
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS1rcn4jc6
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv5NHjHkmy
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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7WNmHwQVZ
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5DoktHjUH
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GJmytV7hJ
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡok7BuqCsW8
Four.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBnI2AehgF
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAQ2ybErss
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."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEqEW9Fvie
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCmj13HqJ5
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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyJxjooCUz
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZorLScjw7
"My name's Ashley."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg3ucl9VAs
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?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fBNbq8QUC
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9ce1Uyhr4
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcZhBIosSF
"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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs2synEfV4
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtx4Pj2ooL
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLmUy1tn5K
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8EDOYIt0r
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHTrR0Gcld
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9mRGhyHFb
"Correct," Will nodded.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSSNS1jY00
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1JfysBxtC
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkYo4EFxxT
"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."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ378lTGQwdY
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm0icel6gt
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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEzVN3wbcv
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOBFtiHI1l
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fuo7RoiVd
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm0GHlD6MD
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X00jt7Atu
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE87s7I8YI
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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXFY7YqVkn
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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB8Cp5TTis
"Stop!" She shouted.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKc0LBAG1f
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi4rsQgh3l
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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGgqFOjCXH
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.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmtG2IHhZg
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5qfaHq4pC
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7HeApRSns
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Vta47Ev8
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuep1zZT3WZ
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzm2RlwA81
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xM1cKXHLi
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."657Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ464OrrFJVz
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