Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYd5aoDzHN
“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.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVSrVI1hw3
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.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ592b0arCY
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sSjubDdTI
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I9ACKMMXJ
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkUt0tv0pm
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktytSqR1vW
》《340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHykv0zMYCW
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKuZDhwiKt
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D7U75acc6
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKUQUUlqnY
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYrAB2KLbi
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkiNljuMT5
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbBwsLlphL
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! 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuwAAQspef
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyrkZ1YlZM
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? 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWKQbel620
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPsjwp8iyL
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzOOEUI1OH
》《340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhalMDTCNG1
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDANHIBl5e
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl9rdsnplQ
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6ygdcCFR3
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSNvF98EM9
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3m6MVsEqv
You have me, Bow said. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga1DKZGvNH
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSR4tT2cU1
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QHns5KLIb
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYEaFN3fD8
What do you see? Arden asked. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgz4Hs2WLP
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIjD1wtte6
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKkVxAPBTI
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgFIWibcTM
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntDBL0lHT3
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cIxwKmvID
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3cdOyxNc6
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76CN9xMBCF
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCMkyqUmOx
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa37UuTvAKj
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIGa0hpGNB
》《340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35wpyClPUS
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzFgyJEURA
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EF2q31Itk
“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?” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTxXBrZSKc
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9U55di3S3
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKSN70uRWb
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek7jgsqumC
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. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxDjpNHFUz
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjR4xjMOYdh
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOLTPdasV5
