Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31Yeob7rjp
“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.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHLuDH2osF
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.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURME1rpbBh
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HGEhd7Vvz
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbxbkhYJKd
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMN6QJY8uJ
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMtgBB0anp
》《304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2XKqYRUNx
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOe3ObmWSa
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxyTpkQeD4
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGcusuvXaU
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS8vfdGUWz
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtcrMi3tYm
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBbHVrJpPh
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! 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2HvqdBup6
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7QCorv4p6
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? 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8V3T56rB5
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85KrYKPxJb
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpBmxGHPa5
》《304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8j04YKhjb
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX4v6pw16r
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRq2vN3Pix
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZifcmtMxsg
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgawrDVAR3
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyboujO8Gvr
You have me, Bow said. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f3jUjJNUq
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidjXJw4lvl
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74Vq55C0BZ
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pdLmPCyJA
What do you see? Arden asked. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE84pU4a2UN
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡervMCufJ3F
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWy1m6PC4wo
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27ItpIxX8I
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQazLuPUjdW
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr1kZyMhri
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKsCc9ck6x
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeyBZwp1tk
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs5CZqknnT
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJsgyypeyA
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dv7tM0CGC
》《304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9UbfcWRoY
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwnuVwMhEX
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RmnQyeiDg
“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?” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5Upz4R2V3
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Z6enCX0aj
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuyTbC3sf9
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZqFxo9U6B
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. 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG6vpTeuvM
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUhuHntPhn
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWrUJz9TgK
