Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtIOP1lgF7
“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.” 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6ShcrKK8f
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.” 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0Or8LzTaB
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ7qE2agGB
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUk0rVsnnW
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbXsMiYJu0
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gebDKITqX
》《280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRKKIqMRx4
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzKaAOZxSh
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0gCWs73dG
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYK9brBv44
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXmL9N8wsA
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6UPaDj4yL
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJnckbP3Rt
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! 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUainiSfzWr
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BF7Slp2Rl
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? 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheIZ2DWIpn
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdTreJF7rQ
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xs8snrSzq
》《280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWIFRla7GP
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkYBpKtpuf
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz4gNsmD0G
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl11QO2kul8
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAY934jZ1v
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tOcTCUfQT
You have me, Bow said. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR8LXEpUyn
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQXqOuJqDI
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa1kbgJlU4
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFQ99Ek2fC
What do you see? Arden asked. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsEq8vDzeP
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufR4yIVhYr
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvrvwFs1Qh
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0LaHCOcWy
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NzI1vfigJ
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiKGZRhtb3
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklea34E7FY
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ546IRN7NeF
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUmwGt6duV
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoj6cXeBCK
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4g4gm1TMs
》《280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoYJUvH1B5
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa6u5uThGU
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmEZKOmqls
“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?” 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxd0SKoPX8
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEYw6avO5T
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWf4pNebtl
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRbsCNKcca
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. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF0avIAtZk
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemHiBP5tlO
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRi5B8KSmq
