Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 364Please respect copyright.PENANAFbUDDLmOSM
“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.” 364Please respect copyright.PENANAUN02HuURUB
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.” 364Please respect copyright.PENANAbr1wOTs5TZ
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 364Please respect copyright.PENANAdAxLEHP1vF
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 364Please respect copyright.PENANADYQm1EPBLX
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAv3TLdAAm4D
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 364Please respect copyright.PENANAm0Nrbx4siC
》《364Please respect copyright.PENANAeu4JPHY39C
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAbdZqnDEeoN
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAvjdzVaGiBO
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAn4MfTTvnzV
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAIa28FYQj3o
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 364Please respect copyright.PENANA46crUJD3up
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?364Please respect copyright.PENANA9AsCaxJLC5
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! 364Please respect copyright.PENANAxeOiPCj6Dd
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAkAo3kRpay7
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? 364Please respect copyright.PENANAkJ3wrfBj1N
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.364Please respect copyright.PENANAzolhvHHdMk
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAXoHGYuTZIM
》《364Please respect copyright.PENANAzrXPDNUALH
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANA1txdrLvmFH
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAioZ33P5ylG
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAfl7fPV0jZ2
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAiX85rTlZAg
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAsoUq9NPIrd
You have me, Bow said. 364Please respect copyright.PENANArRHEihU8nK
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANA91Y5UoUsMy
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAlez67ZjRFa
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAA4zD69A7wx
What do you see? Arden asked. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAylZlhSXuJK
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 364Please respect copyright.PENANACfOPJVjBDn
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 364Please respect copyright.PENANASTdptsX3zL
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAw97B8QOXPw
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAdCKr9U2nAY
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAJFGiyFMiEQ
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAedNClVr1rb
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAe26FI1ahMa
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAQlzEcOeS63
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 364Please respect copyright.PENANASiJ8NscdM5
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAKzCJNxgeBC
》《364Please respect copyright.PENANAHsivy785ks
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"364Please respect copyright.PENANAJraDHcvjXp
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 364Please respect copyright.PENANAfAyU6rB58W
“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?” 364Please respect copyright.PENANA44SR3vdD05
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”364Please respect copyright.PENANAHHUNlvDfv3
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 364Please respect copyright.PENANAbr1mxKu4Mc
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.364Please respect copyright.PENANA7ky8JCFW29
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. 364Please respect copyright.PENANABPqOLdAjWl
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 364Please respect copyright.PENANAgBty4heu9T
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”364Please respect copyright.PENANAmDzov0xfNa