Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfxukIJgwW
“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.” 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrIvXPyaT0
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.” 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡila04LdI2v
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW9yDmipTY
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7ZquQ9L8i
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uTR0VKupm
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6F8HkBQIJ
》《248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0DRWBLmKc
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlL3DjKewX
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4fquEB9Tn
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lsCsdkIGN
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3UUtp9xzE
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ269YlC2WIr
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqhuj3ze6w
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! 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHNZwXhCu6
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapfvrg57iM
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? 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbTdrZyBRP
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmGEMuKSMH
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8W0vNIbDR
》《248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA63Km70VQn
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV5eA7P9k7
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORzmAboTLh
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD8iUzCIoG
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30hHZ6BkhV
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlm6AMDaPh
You have me, Bow said. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA86u7OdXMF
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu36FgnCTw
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpZUxtq34o
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa7Kd6xrWf
What do you see? Arden asked. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXi147NXIu
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjC6sgfJVl
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrfLIXtcdj
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI7Wi2y4kA
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdYahwINUy
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPjBpY24BZ
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCpAbf81Fz
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq0dsGknFf
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQzVQBRXhW
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaIbf1Veuj
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9gEu2NRAd
》《248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bmjnwPsdk
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT20xJutKSi
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0NE8z9jUo
“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?” 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhmMI4FLOo
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhFPIvJSxI
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F0VmS8dnB
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi7kkJPB0P
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. 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOa8tSOLgZ
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJCEZVAtXo
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”248Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd7x51Krf7
