Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ8uij8nvu
“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.” 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2FfbqpiuX
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.” 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh5A0qU3U9
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgql4In3EsB
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkNgUA50Dk
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliBRecqqB1
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q9nncuDx5
》《392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxnhAEzYRo
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK9yiFRvXJ
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lK7D5Pjp3
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A9l990GU8
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrrBLT0qAo
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhzFJDavDi
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBel90Gjxy0
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! 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ql98mCvZe
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uSesSXAyJ
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? 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQnRzp11Yv
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOwAkM642R
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxVikfKAjW
》《392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9O29sGrJ6K
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfTi7nSGGI
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxi3hsXoql
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYg0VESXHh
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg0m2ljZC8
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVceu2oAX3K
You have me, Bow said. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CsjBD97vx
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHq0XoNAA6
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLBP22TpEQ
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOglhtRcTen
What do you see? Arden asked. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡempIK7gbfJ
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDckfVTihzA
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPqvNf4gtt
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwPq0l1W9A
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYemJ7SZYJ9
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2kjaL3qG7
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsfzsXmVXG
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnEe94J0EG
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnxLv8jEJO
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wu8qTLim8
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddQ0avNaxt
》《392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKxIl8OasB
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYyIAQXZ3C
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUHtFAeIJ0
“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?” 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4OmcIrShq
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquuxyyBpyl
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdCguzPZcI
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2T3x9fiVb
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. 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfTmUSq2XD
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uZcnUvrN7
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDzXLGS5V6
