Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X9TkZeeBg
“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.” 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9cRLjYLML
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.” 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo95q0ZMO9j
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVkevyuS2g
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ8iRY8ZKX
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBs3eIJaix
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNsOP8UW92
》《330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xOG645aTP
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jynnMlqVI
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ316MGBhf
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82RYeS8JgE
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuydmyjkBjR
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5rw3vz3JV
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHL8zepr35
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! 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYywzNAYSTg
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM8n9YQEi4
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? 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCkGeUE1N4
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NSSVu8KyL
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVPeVTYsBQ
》《330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv3uv0B7Tu
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEhrsDIlHy
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAd7x9fC4c
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbL5xPV9Wh
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbyqGXHTDX
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9u1v4ekZa
You have me, Bow said. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjftypfjlH
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvYM4PPuSR
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xmr4IoY4A
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dMunzTseb
What do you see? Arden asked. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBjsKRe9nZ
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZQu6tHIiZ
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ru3s2XraU
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a8onKou7J
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gQTXoMlud
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpWOWMjr9b
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkZNZxnwjW
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQh8uBjceA
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxQwKnshXW
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVDn3XwbHQ
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs43IMllphP
》《330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuS7pX4NkI
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPiPzuGe01
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvBOL0TKxA
“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?” 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe0S6TRmvM
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2nUIhhR13
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPQr3g1GVj
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡER99CBis25
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. 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZh7SDVkCU
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACsY3Es3pY
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”330Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOEuIvd0GV
