Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYGAWYzoou
“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.” 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcJ0OPmezc
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.” 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltOEerxEO9
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzaR3SBqBo
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOlCwDS6Lz
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHzS5DBiDP
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyo2y4omLv
》《430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomu4CV34Aj
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qauq2yiGT
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCJ1V4AHmL
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctTB1R9S7G
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88Z9Hko0tX
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTbeX76AIz
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXVMYvJjD0
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! 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54ZdmWTQCo
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv9TZJq2Dt
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? 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCGcqpefDg
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4ZQjGsIyI
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKkdfhy4Il
》《430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fjoooehtp
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLoKwz3fFU
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyvUyPvqTa
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDbPEf5TpW
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetDoSL4SNB
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB1bkYDC1L
You have me, Bow said. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn7BhmRp2R
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbadu5t0kH
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM51mRxCQb5
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI8wJEI7lM
What do you see? Arden asked. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudHddBvywT
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0dgFoKA1Y
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6X7itKame
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFVW6smz75
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnHewir3Du
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Wlmio1o4
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrnIy5gnPa
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3934l6vQoS
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WiltH2hN4
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDbEXyenYQ
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEqv5cud7W
》《430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwm2k1qByP
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVrVxxIQlS
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSRtzYbOZ8
“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?” 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliH0zg03zF
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktATpn632H
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSb9UFymmw
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CQiO5OSpM
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. 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1hZnhLuqY
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq3twYtMpK
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaTn2Wq8HU
