Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0pPpacBoB
“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.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDyUrl83O0
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.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63TFOKM8dY
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOXXNJYxQr
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUmJ2tPiL0
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnavdM4kHa1
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPkYN9Hp3f
》《418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECGrzOmoTq
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55FR3KJjoK
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiaowt7FwG
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdNRA2GnsC
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7xs9wqHK0
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTCPIb7ydS
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRHaOvZXQC
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! 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jdRe3JdjG
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHW289Vwi0
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? 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j24obMqGw
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS86nWEXAoW
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSw5AxUuhG
》《418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6OlBARseH
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvOZh67LIh
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiLxyfAdOL
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9zXRVulrY
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeSnP44s86
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI4254ugL5
You have me, Bow said. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3pbOR9mBO
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGMqAqWXTe
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb8FXGfRwN
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0Ygm8VnxG
What do you see? Arden asked. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMsYgzIyAy
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWujIzCYgY
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RFUszOnWM
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FCeK2vX94
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo5DQRU3d9
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Jx8vGgjcx
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kXAfxViVH
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUDs11LSRF
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvxcbqJLyv
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakMXCuE2h5
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRXmzRGyNA
》《418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MHAp95MIy
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdaVjPr3kJ
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKmisJtAeW
“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?” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9MC3pCa9v
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO4ucCKYWg
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ207frHMsjk
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHimkjVmfA
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. 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFQ0Qqtvgw
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5bnA8XAn8
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”418Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqysWYUADqw
