Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cjfKc8ck6
“Yes, mama,” Arden groaned, though not without love. “I’ve answered this question a thousand times. We went over everything I packed last night! I’m fine.” 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HocgOtLVZ
Ravyn started to say something when Nettle cut them off. “Sweetie, he’ll be fine. We’ve been over this, he’s right, about a thousand times. Let him go now, or you never will.” 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNmyFPwz3m
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruW1m2T0HX
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9EehRCNTk
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fE5soAFHY
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CSJmUzZ6E
》《281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOM7N5MBvLb
Arden buried his face in his da’tru’s long purple fur, sheltering it from the biting wind. It’s cold, isn’t it? Bow said in the boy’s mind. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjUA2rbNmV
Just a nip, Arden replied. He was comfortable: Bow’s fur was thick and acted almost as a blanket, warming Arden up. His fingers hadn’t even gone numb. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwi0hvDhBA
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7Qo3HgcHI
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUyCKQLreO
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUFAL7fiID
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyntGLI6oI
Arden held his breath, listening. And indeed, he heard: the panting and whimpering of someone in pain. The whimpers rose to screams, and Arden jumped off of Bow’s back. We have to help them! 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAMjJqKwYC
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaozQackB9
Sometimes, Arden found it uncanny what Bow knew about their surroundings, things Arden would never be able to know–and not just because he was blind. Bow could, to an extent, reach into others’ consciousness and see what was going on, even if just on the surface. Are you entirely sure everything is okay? 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyW2T0Q6W0
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HnkAan54y
But– Arden couldn’t think of any excuse. He felt like the person having the nightmare was struggling with more than just a nightmare. How he knew this, he could not say; it was just a feeling. Bow would know, but he thought the da’tru would probably tell him he was just being nosy or paranoid. So instead of pushing the matter, he just started setting out his tent. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8HngXxjnB
》《281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhf8JVBVrs
In the morning, Arden decided to approach the person. Fynley, Bow had said, that was their name. Surprisingly, Bow did not disagree with Arden. Sometimes, we must check in on people. He is that which we must check in on, Bow had said. Arden was glad. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuA8T7iEnS
So Arden packed everything quickly. They had camped in the trees, so it took a bit to find their way out, but Bow helped by sniffing out the smell of a campfire. He is smart, Bow said. He is using herbs to stifle the smell of the smoke. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFqnl1Z5Qp
That’s something Ma would do, Arden thought. Nettle liked studying herbs and what they do. Since Nettle wasn’t a pure-blood elf, she had to hide her true identity, so she dabbled in the magical properties of herbs, too. She knew a lot, Arden thought, and she might like this boy. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2M0SoS6j6j
What are you thinking? Bow asked. He always did this, even though through their telekinetic bond, Bow already knew. Bow used to say it would help Arden to communicate his feelings and emotions if he put them into words–and since Bow knew everything about Arden, it wasn’t embarrassing or difficult–but still practice, he always said. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOoknbOxZa
I’m thinking about Ma, Arden replied. I’m thinking…about how lonely I have been, about how I want a companion. I’ve never had one. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2Ls7x4sJe
You have me, Bow said. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb24s4lA1j4
You know what I mean, Arden said. Like, in a romantic sense. I want to be close to someone. I’ve always wanted it, but everyone has always just…avoided me. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2U4VfXQNLJ
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy07kIknrr
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHLNINUxyz
What do you see? Arden asked. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqv2glgvJut
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOzWw5N32A
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVgGY3siWu
Some people do not want to make a friend, Bow said in his ever-helpful way. But we will follow him. As I said, he needs to talk about something. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurQFQnTMs6
Okay, Arden replied. He felt Bow’s muscles rippling underneath him again as he moved. He sniffed out the boy, following him, until he stopped. I see him. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjyVxjixoU
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYWKlFqKto
Inspecting fungi, Bow replied. He showed the boy a likeness of what he saw, the boy intent on what he was looking at, all pale and bright and small, yet looking so sad. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cRlYujm1v
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fe6ArJMkR
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3IwIx4n64
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUuQIClSv3
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaHb3CYxEO
》《281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsUK5Ot5cJ
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kBY6eIQus
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0gmsl5RUt
“N-no. I’m sorry, it was a joke, you just seem so sad and I just–I wanted to cheer you up. But I don’t have very much experience with people, so I messed that up, didn’t I?” 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkwmdz4lR7
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRTwCgoXr3
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ633B1A3t35
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbqU5enjsB
The boy still looked hesitant, so Arden stuck his hand out. “My name is Arden.” He smiled as the other boy took his hand, though hesitating to speak. 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIDemqYmhx
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYMvvUTKBV
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrs4X3oW7V
