Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3bneCs7XW
“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.” 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG9JSXWBoU
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.” 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIWK5wQZVj
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPePV06r24
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8Zp9d2x8h
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGKR9GjI6W
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pzSTXk0kg
》《359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmeqA3jDk6
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5LvFrvU3B
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO3Oz74NXh
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVkDUqLxWd
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuLrRVmTUq
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4nF0Ul0MV
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuhk89i0nt
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! 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu8BWQzLCl
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoD0WMeDMN
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? 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0JZcIUF5a
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR3Nu8LcpI
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rVAgW5aCf
》《359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ8sukhd7c
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn5MDeeoEg
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYf0YsT5G0
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9amRuTbPS
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2xaUugoWy
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZZcS3CM6q
You have me, Bow said. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXNFdnuQG7
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72XfODVfLK
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTsD4UIjMZ
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCJl8bYCdo
What do you see? Arden asked. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDhMeCRBVu
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLtEyO0QVT
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Mf9xmOyCw
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPr1buwwuS
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozBUD7New0
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7s9zx0OSX
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHLmTP6mOK
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGoriOzu58
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu5YEufCL8
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkVAsu8WcW
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZNenhDXUh
》《359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZir2Owad5
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvc3xLqoKg
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2Am1IdZia
“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?” 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwccoNTDgck
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNcpilwCBT
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJuFwQhHJx
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6agY5t32Z
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. 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIGDZuPd9W
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76JKupmD1U
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”359Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t0SuFVjy6
