Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcyAtfXwnI
“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.” 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iafK8Hegj
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.” 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGdOi02I5s
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsnrbqVS6m
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqFKoj0aMd
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYb1OKLYmM
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfnwILYM3K
》《332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaByVt7p1K
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Kg1y7dvNz
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY6rJtDRfp
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33rNmG5Z1o
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG3ucmyHnS
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyiDnNgIvZ
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwXVY4I5xb
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! 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK5Zqxh9Gg
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMemGkhwyL
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? 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYidDAXpLJ
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpje3kPQf6F
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YbKk3Q0rW
》《332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXTIzys8s2
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXQDQ2RON0
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2iS5m4IUS
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZH8QMdxJX
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNRZN3JxJr
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXC9I3rTid
You have me, Bow said. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwUB94I4RW
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZ9LlQBI8i
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXeasN3mXe
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBOTgkhwyz
What do you see? Arden asked. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ewtIe5Qit
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDYnZ7M0kV
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJAeAOGYs9
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs789KE9Zl
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29WXA3kOB6
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv5swZYIU4
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDpaBgr678
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPk6B7aPhx
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczJs8X13pZ
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV69nX05lt
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEgVWds2b2
》《332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHOtvSSnEo
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6n9HYgYjY
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsOJQigUGk
“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?” 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI03eLgB6Q8
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzGtwwnOGB
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMwKHoUBmz
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt3NZFa04F
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. 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhvBo8hiZg
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaN13QjstI
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”332Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5RobVZ3wG
