Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBhSswfEZL
“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.” 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkFVMZGSn1
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.” 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJR3gx3vGH
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pd6nxMDS5
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jY9X7tOX0
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtnj9pTdmC
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3BQcQd92d
》《286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqwtbiflPx
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1MLqRxrtJ
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3uDxIEbJ5
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpD7HVpRTe
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DaFOIFQCC
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStZuSq1Wy9
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrxkRLB4t5
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! 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxccgxmvaDv
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHXjdssJhe
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? 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LofHzLf48
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8SVd5rkY1
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwKmqda6zG
》《286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivUGLputpB
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kjMpXtJGS
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2bzh0lvHu
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDgJjLWecc
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQbkanrmOk
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CW5MmEhpl
You have me, Bow said. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vmvK8rnkp
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHGMe8Hkgl
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOGEx12FwL
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniENxXnWkx
What do you see? Arden asked. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpugPs8t1co
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSvWjKgpGC
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA99gkR6t5
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXmJQ1rQax
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsJoCA5sIW
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88J2DG8d5r
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd7b2ZB2Fr
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7WNBangDy
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG4lIdAGAP
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7vA17Qj0a
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPsQJQkA7y
》《286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaFLZbrww2
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrxZ3HaGw4
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F0czxXGNg
“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?” 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9np4abk9B8
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM80p2OuqA
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMJqihIq2p
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uZyfX2PGX
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. 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDqEu8hfHZ
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtN8i49L3T
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jGMKRUn6s
