Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEcp7UWukU
“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.” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmGCk7gMuz
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.” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFiR9z6oWP
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH58ckOTHj
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeu7m5uF7o
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM2U44k875
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzMRq0FYa0
》《346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdGn5kCjdf
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Kg63cW80
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKAiRixtHA
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2bb6wKlZE
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBCoaUkTSE
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprEecvWAxD
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByhORMC9lY
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! 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiJFmIBdBu
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j2ny5Kc07
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? 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiY7UeXzsl
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOvodFMJxD
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR2zfEBd0w
》《346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9FRQFYsET
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXu5Avcb7p
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiJ8BnvzBp
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx07DoixPxx
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPLNYkABaA
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGYveqSqfV
You have me, Bow said. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3loTXkxR9w
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYykyksZLHj
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO47jyF6ClB
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovYS9Vdqhp
What do you see? Arden asked. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoNTgSY7xZ
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lSb9zjJc1
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYBNUwUbpL
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyzADF0pFR
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCsmFQZEZW
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytLsQljmB4
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM8XHMas2V
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGfLHtpnZ6
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJRm9tgOY7
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKXcnLk5pE
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeLkB5LJb4
》《346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslsuyBgs09
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHdqsrmxJf
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXYFrIP1z9
“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?” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6mVUP1JIc
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvznjCVaST
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqADjKsvk3M
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFJS0gIVIG
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. 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTifOQJjTX
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXDgpb0l6d
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg6N80Er4y
