Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMa9o81W5C
“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.” 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHum7zka5O
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.” 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR30hfakMEq
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DajMOwIEY
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEMALJRQKu
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQkXpx3qxy
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmQs6MZ3ea
》《443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBWkaNUJhT
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHr8SvuZ79
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccN1MXxGi0
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wuL6ysuz1
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsog4zvxMX
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKEMCKefzZ
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0foD94C7nw
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! 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhcextXpC2
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDcrJexMku
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? 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU6lJqLtHN
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxw5IDIJ48
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITN3PcQPJ6
》《443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2FGVMwsOl
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3yiLINPhM
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzaUC067YD
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxGV0PgBi9
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgxEuk9AXL
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64ebjDlbxo
You have me, Bow said. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyN2SbOJmGB
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0VyQdbVOf
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLW0SUArWm
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwZ8pRLg3G
What do you see? Arden asked. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUZscoqs6q
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOjDbp2TJ0
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg54IEMX9uU
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDU1QDTFI6k
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLVo4SVsBn
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt20wFn2t4W
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9IIVqhfP6
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujsz86lu47
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCFWV3KKBs
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTASLkhm4Pa
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TLTNh17yU
》《443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGfnSpu0X2
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXNeveKiKb
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SrndigDIG
“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?” 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2HwxNJm3e
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPzRnEYZBI
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJttuwMhS0b
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY6p9bVLVb
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. 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghKxJgFv3y
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRjiWpeh6W
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”443Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnDVhgeJET
