Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 114Please respect copyright.PENANAOHr8KMKSUy
“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.” 114Please respect copyright.PENANA1C38T9BlCY
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.” 114Please respect copyright.PENANAXvXbQ2YAL1
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 114Please respect copyright.PENANAgA8uPBkUw3
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 114Please respect copyright.PENANAFzihJ4jf7L
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAoe9oyEY5JE
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 114Please respect copyright.PENANAUIQALMgZnO
》《114Please respect copyright.PENANAqF2NLGQ9WT
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANA7EcGbUlTsc
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAdImepRkxF9
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAncrm5W9szW
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAO6eGvFZQoj
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAKd4nnZBaUT
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?114Please respect copyright.PENANAK7QeVd8mAW
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! 114Please respect copyright.PENANAfohQNAD2IC
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAby9jG9hIaP
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? 114Please respect copyright.PENANATciITur1Cr
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.114Please respect copyright.PENANA2lLHW5sxc4
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAyYUl0TkMJh
》《114Please respect copyright.PENANA00uhZEvc26
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANASoocBMp2ZK
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANA4X8lgaZnAd
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAx87UwNfnEm
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAnXpW3RcqAS
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANA1FH86mIgEs
You have me, Bow said. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAvqMGuR4cp2
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2mzb9vhPH
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAWthzCOJuFz
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAvPosimAbgf
What do you see? Arden asked. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAOlMRDqsC8E
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAJWGqaF8CxD
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAmGE8BFFGTS
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAxuCIZp1KtX
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAmDyCtSE0xR
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAXHJIsSs30l
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAn60HuRxqPc
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 114Please respect copyright.PENANA9h8GQF9XK7
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 114Please respect copyright.PENANA5NRH9u18ev
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAx2RZMtHiVi
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 114Please respect copyright.PENANAC6OZ2Xsrgv
》《114Please respect copyright.PENANAXe8jbP3jdn
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"114Please respect copyright.PENANAH4HVQExztF
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 114Please respect copyright.PENANAs37zION81K
“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?” 114Please respect copyright.PENANA7JfvI9vJu2
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”114Please respect copyright.PENANAEZ1ZJF62K0
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 114Please respect copyright.PENANANJex1YlSt3
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.114Please respect copyright.PENANATUjVE2Q1qt
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. 114Please respect copyright.PENANA1ERvT1Pniq
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 114Please respect copyright.PENANABETdK5z5cJ
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”114Please respect copyright.PENANAee1HkwRYv4