Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNrIwuMoRR
“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.” 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QRTMZOYgW
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.” 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVmT2mvRU0
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2w4be9vQF
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf3AoyYBuY
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIBAfkLa3R
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheAMx1dKRm
》《390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyxoejDCbV
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0qhfFHyYP
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlyKmkGrjb
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjg4LtMAPQ
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqez2G8TaHy
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHJR81aor2
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IU7b8FF0r
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! 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrzfR2jtva
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81YZHh3crM
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? 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicd4F7jQNc
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYD22ZYwbN
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYRqcwvf47
》《390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7njzANgwc
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDni0DUe5N
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tmvJb3zZc
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjHY5BSYSr
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2iYTCIDYo
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknjhigunJK
You have me, Bow said. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcJRPRdWPC
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqpfsjabNj
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8I1bTqaPO
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXSH2Qg3u7
What do you see? Arden asked. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK6zlXLzpF
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqRCeQLC5n
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEun51aeK4
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVYwzVPWgj
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY0MxbjRjW
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0znaDNEeXm
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6GEBU43nh
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL34aBPc4Vl
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNAgPaFXn6
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEhx5ZfmvV
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKZCXerhmy
》《390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtFWDzRgYA
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Uo4MPBmtv
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE9z3qtEDJ
“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?” 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSvQ9IYgkD
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSizHz0qjKI
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pRWBUg99o
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelPTm4Vg4z
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. 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc9MQJyEfA
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOlDuuPhEk
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”390Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fiovJqO91
