Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dNmh4umG4
“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.” 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lQovEbUhR
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.” 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VGgGO2Xw0
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZM1LrwnGu
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPubRolP1p3
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj1Nhw3ww6
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAcU71cidy
》《294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L3uCvB428
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWuHPwnP8c
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dJfKXHWuG
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPac1TlJwfB
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NJKYHJcuK
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0Dcu9holV
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeWNGaFjas
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! 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNO5aWGsPo
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5uG2EslmZ
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? 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFXz1ts9oF
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU6sTK9O8j
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IYfn593be
》《294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFyVUy69aC
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmABXM6bP7C
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPleBDVbMm
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG7DenJq0Z
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1BrZVuM3A
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx04ii1otCS
You have me, Bow said. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoe2O34l3r
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6MZ6DqHj8
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVssmwfVDUC
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJw89LrCuA
What do you see? Arden asked. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtpmHSzd0g
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfXpDlR4de
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpQVjN3Ack
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46yY3uZGms
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFHxtBbg3S
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQULASsrg5v
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarwvjaGODh
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnstrRWJzlx
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzXUWIY4F2
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02u3fbFe84
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgg2n48BXa
》《294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8sfsziAS6
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GW6lcrXki
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbbU8DtxfV
“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?” 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFTuSdAWKg
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84t6rzdKJu
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhb84Fq3VV
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6StXjTI0b0
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. 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx08KuWF73R
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TASdD3Tc9
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”294Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR0lIAtLH5
