Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSod6zWJkI
“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.” 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSFms26vdN
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.” 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCfxZzIt75
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmfHdO6HKB
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMawqmftvWo
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8TneEQ15H
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG287Tt4ixA
》《380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2spEqOQ2o
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRJnw5QWNA
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPiJTwPtGk
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcp1m3PH5iy
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPab8CoKfBW
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MKARiCU9t
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWaC15da8I
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! 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wK9ALqrJ6
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5XrGrbH84
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? 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97rZlnctza
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVZDeXPiT3
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcW2tCrppq
》《380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpgtucro1g
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomjs9yPDPT
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uy9evMOix
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6LgVvzbxu
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujfv6wHyI9
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk3RicRvNi
You have me, Bow said. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xmFkhxskS
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxE3MJ6qZX
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSUT5n3I0V
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBZLAqFy44
What do you see? Arden asked. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4C0YRkNxu
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1vjOViT6S
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrgeEONFXv
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDxUPMQzef
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GbPnipj34
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisxXPCNHKK
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJddoJsDvKr
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKc07rJC7LI
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ3PrvYM0O
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIQ9FzK0Xj
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPp1lenUnV
》《380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9S6MSKYbJ
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTJ2v7L5jG
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKQvHZGrYX
“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?” 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGEm3yaleG
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB78DeSMfY
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylxCeK1YhY
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNxx8Gaxtf
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. 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhYhSk0odl
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz5cTjyogM
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYy1P6Na0xu
