Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj0Ki5r2uz
“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.” 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWFOrSH1af
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.” 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGh5sBcsxm
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyCnXLJ1jD
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtfCFV8mQF
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcpIlVVPHT
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34eHj8tr9y
》《398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboUgt3GmTV
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq5lAdTfm3
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDoI3eS4RC
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCumtXuMKN
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkdxtEpAs1
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tXdmQILJ8
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAYZvf37De
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! 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X6alUdXAF
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y7BoVhmaR
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? 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlnJktD55Y
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCCFpn3GCR
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1n1L8sagM
》《398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3amOpBMRB
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05d5mP7sE0
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pMnlyiYkn
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GUO1PVUA7
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dgarIUW3k
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h5Okwdrqh
You have me, Bow said. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDscNMdRsZw
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgks2ivqggN
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibSMOY6Ig8
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3RSMGR5hh
What do you see? Arden asked. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVE7nZnbTc
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SItYwSMtE
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWfOLdjPGg
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHkAwqoYtw
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg90Y4eVZz
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszjFGMMEFC
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnnUyXH1FN
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EPaAJCjiz
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESRBkleY18
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO31YaZDA4K
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTEf87s8nt
》《398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwocO8hMW6b
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwapzkF9An
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOFNv28H1a
“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?” 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkpa98AYTP
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3JvYMq2Xb
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6CpNJuMjl
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAojNCoMnN
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwki3Hjv0d2
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFVPSytldL
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08kZg1H68i
