Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJiAmJ1q7h
“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.” 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUqrBZstdH
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.” 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySQu67d3CJ
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbVELXIMeG
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB8PeYicbt
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgH6KNoVCJ
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vikcqWBS8
》《337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqB3THXCXp
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42DaHJTryF
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcSdeCdgIZ
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOlUXqfh4r
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbcePdU3SU
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC6EIDVPND
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpljqTP1MM
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! 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaAT6HhOxG
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiFdPQ6qCM
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? 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW7diSAFtS
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc2MQ7ljHy
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgtcfZxmQb
》《337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyDXWqztj8
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlfJ9Novrv
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXuPqr53Kl
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl7b649Uby
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU9KVzmQqV
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0kleJcaWL
You have me, Bow said. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7U5RAhti9
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjJD1KtR8A
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjWCUC4aC2
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLAQ0jNYmr
What do you see? Arden asked. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKFBcmX3Hl
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8mCDbrM06
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb9rOfnR8w
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYAsviifnW
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEyCUF6itQ
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoyt78n31N
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLpNhSAGCB
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBoYkJ5SDJ
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6hlSMpgf5
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rHn9qpqmZ
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57kgZldhOh
》《337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY8haKKnGG
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy56xTwkQu0
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZmO9V7zpy
“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?” 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKySWC6t9PC
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYboSLPQuiz
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghzJYZEfqN
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2SfBeYqK3
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. 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1kRWnOLKN
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEeRneM3E5
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”337Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyRhCLQWrL
