Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 418Please respect copyright.PENANAu0pPpacBoB
“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.” 418Please respect copyright.PENANACDyUrl83O0
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.” 418Please respect copyright.PENANA63TFOKM8dY
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 418Please respect copyright.PENANADOXXNJYxQr
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 418Please respect copyright.PENANAIUmJ2tPiL0
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAnavdM4kHa1
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 418Please respect copyright.PENANAtPkYN9Hp3f
》《418Please respect copyright.PENANAECGrzOmoTq
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANA55FR3KJjoK
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAyiaowt7FwG
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAVdNRA2GnsC
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAu7xs9wqHK0
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAtTCPIb7ydS
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?418Please respect copyright.PENANAbRHaOvZXQC
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! 418Please respect copyright.PENANA8jdRe3JdjG
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAXHW289Vwi0
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? 418Please respect copyright.PENANA5j24obMqGw
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.418Please respect copyright.PENANAS86nWEXAoW
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANATSw5AxUuhG
》《418Please respect copyright.PENANAl6OlBARseH
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAOvOZh67LIh
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAdiLxyfAdOL
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAG9zXRVulrY
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAeeSnP44s86
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAyI4254ugL5
You have me, Bow said. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAU3pbOR9mBO
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAUGMqAqWXTe
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAkb8FXGfRwN
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAd0Ygm8VnxG
What do you see? Arden asked. 418Please respect copyright.PENANArMsYgzIyAy
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAYWujIzCYgY
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 418Please respect copyright.PENANA9RFUszOnWM
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANA9FCeK2vX94
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAgo5DQRU3d9
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 418Please respect copyright.PENANA8Jx8vGgjcx
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANA4kXAfxViVH
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAXUDs11LSRF
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 418Please respect copyright.PENANALvxcbqJLyv
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAakMXCuE2h5
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAMRXmzRGyNA
》《418Please respect copyright.PENANA5MHAp95MIy
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"418Please respect copyright.PENANAIdaVjPr3kJ
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 418Please respect copyright.PENANAoKmisJtAeW
“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?” 418Please respect copyright.PENANAR9MC3pCa9v
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”418Please respect copyright.PENANAfO4ucCKYWg
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 418Please respect copyright.PENANA207frHMsjk
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.418Please respect copyright.PENANAlHimkjVmfA
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. 418Please respect copyright.PENANAkFQ0Qqtvgw
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 418Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5bnA8XAn8
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”418Please respect copyright.PENANAqysWYUADqw