Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJzIJZsY9j
“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.” 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ItMom0o5H
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.” 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa08htXhSu
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvtu7UCr8s
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ4ZTEfprE
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6yzATIuq6
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLV9m8urEm
》《383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAEubH43ns
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjwN8w7vn8
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwJv0aywAB
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lDksJMZ1o
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkHvvsKuFQ
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYKi0sFcC4
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKk57SZ40Q
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! 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NvjNU5SoR
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47gVDBA9jO
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? 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA75KzjINe2
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU5Au5Brh2
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcbaROhTQT
》《383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xDPLSKER3
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpmafL1o3X
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxlBcWVrZo
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQZtqJxgt4
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvsvZi2LbS
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE54b07hfGs
You have me, Bow said. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r2jay0y1z
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmq4sDXRvg
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD2Nral0tP
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W5vzUr3jW
What do you see? Arden asked. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rWjMRektd
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBKi0GALN9
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGje8Ti8o1
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbNGbyd0r6
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2awsdZeor
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11bNbsEg8l
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBFtFapmON
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS42iHdVNcR
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvhKCwtG6a
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddph99uxtl
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlqCm9itj4
》《383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuIwy2fkQs
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYCzhbrgLw
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUCiokcXnq
“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?” 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpCbVo4n0t
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N2QPhc93v
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT2kHFaH76
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjcUJIG1Da
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. 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF9QgMIHlE
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIwABMuazW
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzdR5v1fqP
