Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GuGSrzv5b
“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.” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bKXVunG57
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.” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6jjNQvSzc
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1H5iMJosH
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubc3h9EVbS
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cF079hXL7
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsZf3NU0oc
》《334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD8yR0qb0B
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDuao65FVt
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9pGXZVHsL
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbzQhtoqu2
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogF6StX88W
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3dnRq4uPC
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziMU1RDRUq
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! 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aJ48TT6X5
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqaBbmwpiX
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? 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6RBqx0u8H
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8qg6BQwaX
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZWbVSJ9LM
》《334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBO7EJW48U6
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4lnCKs4Wd
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbbyohqfBj
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSsCvKrZwc
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8bZBZ2LUK
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5G1vgSUqZ
You have me, Bow said. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIPk1RTNog
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVLjkkeIw1
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLcEPMk3wn
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT78k59U5O
What do you see? Arden asked. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZPwhjuD8Y
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCglqPInZA
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NPieNHfel
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hFyTZq2Fq
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW0qmQCUfe
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBR5bKFP4v
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpNN0EAaqW
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFn4f3FrVO
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPDHGeN9hd
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mgEAbWoxX
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgzIHQ1Zww
》《334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EEYe52zau
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaG5rnELfp
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97eUljzPmI
“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?” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoPjtcS1hK
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLmBOg0UsB
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIhT6ARKYK
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJRURcBQ9q
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. 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FjRjiByMi
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgmKgSuA0z
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”334Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJraS0kYm9
