Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BFqbjvi2w
“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.” 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt1KPdkNaz
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.” 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBt78Pc7li
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKGfc7QVN7
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4vux4MThn
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bg5Vic1Az
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNVNFAitQ3
》《393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOnWM6KjlH
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocOZJWSdsD
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK7rhJQNJK
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJTflA3ZMZ
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlSJW4LbAF
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ISK9r3tNQ
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMNGFEmk43
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! 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CzQMXNCsg
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhC2zx6Vct
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? 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmkfCZ4cFk
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZfvF718iC
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1eCQMVpH8
》《393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmImRvXZytm
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi7nrwyDCw
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1lAx1tZ66
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALhVHpFJMu
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuQSEavDdC
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wR4wosBx0
You have me, Bow said. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln6LuSeDVQ
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoIAoElPlr
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS78suRQHrQ
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnJT7TsWwM
What do you see? Arden asked. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiXEG9Yr5W
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwazzNqP6i
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqdiicVf3q
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7U9cyCisJ
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxLAdbM1gN
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I6Ac76nlt
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaqZ8hOIH5
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JvYnxWklx
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX0q3UWJ7Z
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl1O5YgjD9
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG3Ib3Vxmg
》《393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExaxJsEpz3
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeMMCIjdUb
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDFwHL64Pp
“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?” 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM4OYCSIHr
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPocQbRP8Ec
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3MApo8Rdl
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxtorxOOZ0
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. 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArVrrnDh5p
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ShsEFotk3
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcPXt0faM5
