Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64d8pUy010
“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.” 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufTu2k2bZw
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.” 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80EVYQcx2G
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj7B4jXrsE
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED50qzaLCE
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3r19tO7hq
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79Kh14OYYG
》《444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcvygJEKBD
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv18kGA7vBs
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp0eos7JGN
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDOXNrjVX1
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciwQlJPXvv
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH3XLpCxYg
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g5K2IGCi7
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! 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gk5T15FbW
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6MgCRIexR
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? 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn4y8L9RuM
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzXLUWsl8S
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhCCBXaWDX
》《444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOPzgsch12
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuttCQ86nwn
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSWh43PpbW
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c7SpLpOSq
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbGYq0wPsK
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j7PPAGjyO
You have me, Bow said. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXSYy2UN3f
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGJd5yxhPQ
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxbeSunGDt
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8Ubv0UQVn
What do you see? Arden asked. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4jWenjU0N
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM8kSMBx0p
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhXhzzNdHP
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagO3qJyB7G
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCATZqFYsR
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8KrGVFb8Q
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWty0xckx2
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxzSOhPcDQ
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SiPzMStua
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIStC8ZSk4
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6UfQLWxSU
》《444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcwRQZd74L
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4aZEecAFr
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkyAAL6jYM
“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?” 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymi0hJchxl
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxzaV9oObJ
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6shBe79SBh
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5I9d7gZRx
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. 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtss0Rsqlr
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsq5l0FWAC
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqReb17jvs
