Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgZ53cJPDI
“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.” 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4Xq362dM2
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.” 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiRSGNqtPQ
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS45nNZ4qN
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nt0H81IAs
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0glbuzaOb
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ5gx0xBqx
》《399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirVFqErtOP
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiYIEjYGJt
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIDaFpoSeC
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobcopW7mLU
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VLqoKpQGt
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4stWOgQWqF
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXNVB7FcQs
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! 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn0qiPTtGm
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MoKGqh7ok
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? 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafe2ozi7F5
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs6F0ixZZs
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWPEsjfmYk
》《399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CvondAMW7
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc0SUBcn0T
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9ywrGSwtF
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3qV0yw2xS
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTH2JPWhwA
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfX5OvQO79
You have me, Bow said. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aqwoMhkHd
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaUZpUqt0s
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgFbSFVAtK
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAnMcaDfaH
What do you see? Arden asked. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbRY2PyFOl
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHObWb0j90e
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaJkJHoiNV
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf9pjlbUWt
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGiDviJadQ
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPvTJBfZxx
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgQe3wAZT6
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSbOxytP3N
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR2vmT8yI0
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9sS4ryz95
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj9mlwNI8q
》《399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVK2caljvz
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG0VwdTIWy
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskZ0M6TJBn
“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?” 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rtOtThYe2
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQa1FKVelC
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjtMWMnqms
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjbJ8qyqHS
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9u94JLxVV
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcbYQEczsv
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvwxP0Uowy
