Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO9S0Col7y
“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.” 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndcFQ8gecy
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.” 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qFsF6dFqv
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QWC1hCeVp
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0ScxAVAmW
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3cIDLfkU6
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS12B2GXR8L
》《385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8WrQVh4qH
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6InpQLWJ4D
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrwqHA7Zrq
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qpDwHCXN9
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpP5LeNllr
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvm4cK9b6qt
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtcQqYlRn4
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! 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl4Ih5EY0X
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNisoUTIpiE
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? 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEizLUX4yRb
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS6bPHbgPM
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hIHciiUKV
》《385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptNMA7n9yX
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99VnYDxjdr
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqQW7zxLkq
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cM0znQ7o3
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPRuWWIfa0
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OSB1OmhiU
You have me, Bow said. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkmHkh7zHl
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmviM7Bf4yn
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzcabftmY5
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IYBOL9kCM
What do you see? Arden asked. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFVmEMqAse
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxmI37CXNs
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIJUi8GyG3
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx20NNkwU96
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5LpINpSc9
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTAZDHUeiq
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQryWB6kMq
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqilutBo5A
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4rNRPfbQx
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0nuAgQt94
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LCr9U3NfQ
》《385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvN99mY6Kx
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcaJltlEhs
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGXJLqtJbi
“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?” 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1D8jlj7mH
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhz3PHSWNd
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUWqianCK2
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoINEgDoGab
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. 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKH9Ongi7Ae
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUX6xbhQ7X
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”385Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyDGa6r5Jr
