Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9vyFmLYVh
“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.” 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyGiClLIJ9
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.” 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YGTengoob
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfE1nB6fbJ
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWAfGGJHCu
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIKl7D1IG4
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTFszLnatO
》《387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LGmfrHgkP
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtHYeNl6mj
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18bizc9hNb
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkZhUV4uXK
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerxph8zg1R
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGjL3Tik1t
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTunzk8ogsk
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! 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvwU1F404d
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCFaFT1hFS
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? 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YrflClGJj
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxBiaSzXRv
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKyxSNZi53
》《387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSwfr2BWjz
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TeyUDx5rv
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeey3yBVOh
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCJQdzEhUC
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR6eZOne4H
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z0z6R0uTn
You have me, Bow said. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl7eHg9PmU
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGf1gecq4p
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkr9PUFpUc
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNlJyNYI1J
What do you see? Arden asked. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwsUlzuYNH
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LFWnRyF23
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZOGdsCMJO
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSSOseavZD
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2Tswhrw1u
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV0v2BzJwL
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhtJ5rEMmB
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzffv4aozdh
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWikANbelc
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO6WoNatrk
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9VUL4a725
》《387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MgbSOFlkw
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4mbYtMJSF
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXzE56iFL6
“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?” 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9xm0utCJW
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTZbi4biA9
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNXDJXBpzj
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwcuGiaX3a
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. 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVwoipNENa
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lFc4ZBM3f
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXZTJH8but
