Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpxlWNPJDT
“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.” 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLu6iXUtvCX
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.” 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXKnpVH1wG
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lUdc3ubhl
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByf55kwRsj
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFshOlSCxQ
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipMjgI2wJ8
》《422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTMU1Ja9Am
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcusWBWPql
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmW3u73qdq
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubi2HrV9dB
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVeqx7PU16
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfLrgsN2Kg
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsbLv3caM5
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! 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQkJEGTjRA
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0P9gzhRuT
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? 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7okhZF6VyI
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsxnMuevys
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R3F0kwmZc
》《422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUqiuv76nu
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyKZHl8c1Z
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGsQlN5lNH
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn334Tw4Tt
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfEnefnhqr
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8w7PgaemL
You have me, Bow said. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8ZSlju44N
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm9IVtQdjK
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW6qQ4MxJr
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGtwUnKjJF
What do you see? Arden asked. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2xZtq6kqi
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmzYtKPunq
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKWf3vICs0
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX96x8UGShu
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5OXUjoTEN
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yKns5DL2x
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpzrat76es
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR79uoQovE
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEFQCuT9Zp
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIijxrddB7P
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgIUXAuoHc
》《422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i0cpvgabK
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxkfaMtbaS
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgNPP5nt6M
“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?” 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FZoqAiBay
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3apX6dIxCA
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCrMDId5vj
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJK7ncArGN
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. 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6g4l1jNlJ
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6ZbaFl3rg
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOIbcf3khW
