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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdj5LlfW3O
"How are you doing?" Will asked.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9r8pjVUD5
"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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmq1PtN07bv
"Why don't you tell me more about where you're from?" Will asked.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpvotx78PN
"I live in Arkansas," Ashley said. "Right by the river. Mama and I have been living with Grandma since Daddy went missing."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaixfsbP9W
"I've been there," Will said. "It can get a bit humid, but it's pleasant."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDh1UDwoC6
Ashley smiled. "Yeah."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZZaFQ3pbv
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?642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzS6hQZp15
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?642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8OoAkRE7U
"Hello?" She heard somebody call. "Hello? Is somebody there?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFupjjqHdn7
"Yes," Ashley called back, "But I'm lost."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGpRpRKGCn
"I wish I was lost," She heard the man laugh, "But, sadly, I know exactly where I am."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QdPlPmC2B
"Then can you help me? I need to find my friends."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchWJBm94fy
"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."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ahwUdoysD
As he kept talking, Ashley followed the sound of his voice. She gasped when she found him.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6b9RhIc0n7
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEljGgQ7Pww
"I assume you've found me," He said.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWrAwFopCJ
"I think so," Ashley said, stepping closer to him. She was both curious and scared.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFVFKxDjL2
"I hope it's not to much to ask if you could help me."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh6MCn01tL
"Does that mean you'll help me find my friends?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSxQm6vVDr
"I'm not in much of a position to negotiate," The man laughed, "But if it helps, I give my word as an Elder."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHQ1fKfLgX
"I've heard that word before," Ashley said excitedly. "I've heard Will and Jack use it. Do you know them?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgFo9rlWzX
"Of course I do. They're Elders like I am. My question is, though, do you?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7w3kIbrPI
"Yes. They're helping me get back home."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiEyHRs06Y
"Home?" the man repeated. "Where are you from?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzTcTRw4cw
"Arkansas," Ashley said.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiA4YKhvfN
"Arkansas? What kind of place in the entire kingdom is named Ark-wait...you're not from the kingdom, are you?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzO9SXRF1p
Despite his covered face, Ashley shook her head. "No. That's why they said they would help get back home."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs6CYQXyJE
"And you said that Will and Jack were helping you?" The man asked.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpqeCBj46b
"Yes, Will's taking me to Nightmare City."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVNQuNRX3o
"If you have their help, then you have mine...well, once I'm untied, of course."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5GLM4vB7k
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWCA5BVdun
Once the sack fell off, Ashley took a step back and started to count.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD9tDaIMOU
The man looked at Ashley, his eyes blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX6lJbdMcv
Once, twice, three times Ashley counted.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXo9FhkcNu
Four.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6qsXa7I1E
The man had four eyes. They were bright red and there were definitely four of them.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKYbMTKxn0
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."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxjpZqsSSR
Ashley had a hard time taking her eyes off of him, but she untied the larger rope that bound him to the tree.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHhoyZfuGG
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkaJ8sBgU3
"Might I know who I owe my gratitude to?" He asked.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFUAvmS9pz
"My name's Ashley."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVHlPUD6d7
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?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsLJvL1KeY
Ashley pointed, "That way, I think."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMvzQ4fWcv
Just as Ashley pointed, she found herself on the ground, greeted by Cott's happy bouncing.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HZtstQ8Wy
"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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox5KwmopbP
"Long time no see, Will," Tommy smiled. It was an eerie smile that revealed rows of pointed teeth.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYVZTxx3TK
"Long time, indeed," Will nodded. "What happened to you anyway?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhZgGAtYWg
Tommy shrugged. "Gambled with some goblins who played dirtier than most and, well, I don't think I need to say the rest."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcsAYDFcFk
"Then you deserved what you got," Will said.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tzHwxjxxn
"I hear you're helping Miss Ashley get back home, right?" Tommy asked.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1n21PSds3
"Correct," Will nodded.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMZm4MayXV
"I've agreed to help as well," Tommy said, "But the problem is that I can't find my hat."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zPuqhdIrl
"Why do you need your hat?" Ashley asked. "Can't you just go on without it?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCISYZu3cDG
"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."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvWjKQ2Q0z
"Because of light?" Ashley asked.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiiMZ9vRTG
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxl5XV9qxg
"So," Ashley said slowly, "You're like a vampire?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN5zCNrf0i
Ashley assumed he was laughing, despite the noise sounding more like hissing. "No, no, no. They're a whole different story, believe me."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5C7pxy1Oc
Ashley felt something lightly tap her leg. She looked down to see a ratty, old leather wide-brimmed hat.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQptvJBG5b
"Ah!" Tommy exclaimed. "Best catch it before it gets away!"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBQX16n3i4
Slightly confused, Ashley reached down to pick it up, but it promptly stood on it side and rolled away.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoINV3aQUyu
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZR80r1kHme
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDa76OFFfd3
"Stop!" She shouted.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9tCKGyeXA
Tommy halted, staring questioningly at Ashley.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhxFflYAwi
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZisWSpr4M
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.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMi76lNEoX
"That was quite clever of you, Miss Ashley."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vAnJYWSWs
Ashley could feel her cheeks redden. "Not really," She mumbled.642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9GS2AtZBv
"Oh, but it was," Tommy said. "I can guarantee you that was the fastest I've ever caught that hat."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM2uIwKRVz
Will arrived with Cott following closely behind. "I assume we're finished here?"642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxghmKCxXk
Tommy tapped the rim of his hat. "I've got my hat, so I'm ready to go whenever."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrJ2ZwvTwB
Will cocked his head to the side. "Are you sure you want to accompany us? We're heading off to the Collector's Mountain."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XCKHKI1Xg
Tommy froze for a second, then drew in a deep breath. "I owe this young lady and gave her a promise. I'm going."642Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dRXnMgU1c
ns13.58.129.138da2
