Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEVeQTrgPz
“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.” 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBIjBy4n4W
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.” 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqn8s6WTi9
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjAKFZwoQi
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicevK4MK3q
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXBwnpj6zp
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQONWyTSYyg
》《309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFo5XbR2ru
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IJVl9nQ6U
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5ZEbtJF1h
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdo0LYq5Wf
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9I9ODMwgk
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCUuQnU6KH
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtUebzNk5O
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! 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HRu1ytGWY
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIcaPuYEbi
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? 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdtgLyysZu
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcC8wzmcFD
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydrfaNQvDD
》《309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JBSo2JssM
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJvhnzg8rf
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcBD5pBzCt
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pt2MlTt9l
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QES9e28CE
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCEsQ9sQ1u
You have me, Bow said. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzvsswirKE
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioukBWc63k
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsCLhWRiEh
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SGjQUTIz5
What do you see? Arden asked. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXsis8wSoj
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE0cXqURqx
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OAWlDWSqA
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9XSvTw92P
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2lCYrAta2
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsib94nZ8Vd
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxde5tGspsc
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd90Xyfck0
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCOUMo6KXy
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH9eqJl2Ut
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AuqecK8ZZ
》《309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mteQ7fABU
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWprshBxIb
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqFNkzuwGs
“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?” 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvrgSmPoWo
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSyDFMH3sq
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyPAzGewyr
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjKbnQHicB
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. 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTdgGo99rf
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFWn470HO6
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mwjQ16EPj
