Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurkyaSKtJN
“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.” 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyP1tE9cQK
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.” 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImGdIUD6wa
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9euZJI37M
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4ZEjUiWTY
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdnN4J7FoZ
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv2Llz0dMB
》《389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPbbf9jCaT
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxNbaJ6KV1
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qXg0pXWz2
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZsN1Aawkw
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDJXzpPjU0
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u4yB6KnLH
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67eYKXfCC5
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! 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEfkvKowpD
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoznWKfl2B
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? 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5Sg0NiHbg
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJhczsiPuN
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHIO7DDKPR
》《389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHplcoiVIS
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ9md62qmk
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRTdf7898K
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibJ8cgQ7iq
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpKLV382vw
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdIQL1q0TX
You have me, Bow said. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm0l741PpI
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7hw93irU3
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHl1BcdKYH
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFAzJtpAcZ
What do you see? Arden asked. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKxCx81GqP
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaarLAv7FD2
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfLxqVPc0n
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAj4q2xVznb
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3P8GJsemk
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR63u10Rno
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmBLEZWyy0
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5tSpntAPd
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡda13ndd2tv
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5qqtLkSsl
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ0rqmfoUZ
》《389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LUybYtLYF
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4lDif4tCO
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrZ2Ra9MO6
“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?” 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAijOFIAK2A
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCNp6MysnH
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtqGRrECdF
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTeNe9OAce
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. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXEou8AJqx
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqKQBmDNxB
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TZNNKx90g
