Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LCXfqfKmp
“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.” 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3FRIkRisX
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.” 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUT8x4fzXI
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwExKD5JdAg
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEdVeaVu9V
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7euTT0Uks
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjxtInxNoK
》《438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YwtjqB1rf
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB41YRr2Q8I
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfsGmsqpI7
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOoqz1LKfP
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRJ0DY9tWp
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD3LEEWDVb
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP6zcTFqgO
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! 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00Y0G7m5OG
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGWe1eCVuH
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? 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyJMClNC39
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT6A3X0S7d
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmP2eHJO5UA
》《438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4LeteQZca
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76AkCkuabo
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOvwi2nMEv
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP4KIBeTnm
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgJiwYjp8y
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKKIfN1NJi
You have me, Bow said. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEIWGvHibI
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63hH2eyvyU
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEqxflu3xW
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowa2wz7hIt
What do you see? Arden asked. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wiDxy1FOq
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGfCOlgKCD
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbEFBIQigp
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZzA4kJCM2
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVHj1ZDuL4
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HDV1v5NpR
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCofonz25ri
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRCZ6XdxrK
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSxDxtMgLA
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1OQCklYDC
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzhiKj0pa3
》《438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPbJ8YeSa7
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIfd1aT0U8
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ4k8Mm0KS
“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?” 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUqxy88D5V
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxUVg25Ta0
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxHzj98Jnm
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYiCedM0hv
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. 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wilixSUph
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASGRlpmw6B
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6MUC1GQCU
