Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzjTd60nP1
“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.” 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPJT6pg6rt
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.” 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHUqd8wzIJ
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQUVQPgGGB
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLTu44sIXv
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t86V2huhy
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhYhN4ZFNU
》《386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpPA2ak64N
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV9pWySjtI
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmr2WnuaXT
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiDp72kID7
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDtuXQyOjB
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdOaqtSPSH
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNwVm45nJZ
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! 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74CgDR4X5o
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbID1kpxyYr
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? 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCqiDLJL1R
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETM5ZxnM8M
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJC2SQqvrG
》《386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBfyA1Ewqx
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0yMSc9Max
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIwELkBgJK
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPqmiEydrZ
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn90KvP5LKr
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngSREeMVQt
You have me, Bow said. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHsBca6M55
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn4bPkkis2
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtTVgT8pa2
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMCeRvboGU
What do you see? Arden asked. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ9wtNoq5A
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbfOaqMCgC
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJk1aFR7kW
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWzMa2FW9k
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh0bP3gjeN
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXlJdnPJVM
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZcG0B3aWg
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxvx9Njjp6
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡploFc11cs2
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DQsXIqsC2
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYEFCZFJUI
》《386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxrm1ZqOzi
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3NoTPToFy
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7gmGbUyr5
“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?” 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TiASTEvz8
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA4saeAgjW
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqVzOSE1Dm
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8jDMEC8E2
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. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrXyoPsXi4
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlTutiaGfZ
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyTIihS9Uf
