Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EAwXM5y4W
“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.” 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxgbWLokof
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.” 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRmJ5Zjl8m
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw8OLf6eoh
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU6RQkPmZs
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIC7rtqEAu
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyD6hrjMiD
》《221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFf0e9GPsw
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HxBpn4fKn
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi4CHyApKk
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImbtoHU95u
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeiqEHeFES
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyA2H463G4
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNhnzDGC1p
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! 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHq9OgDoam
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXmYj2kglp
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? 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYlxarDHbq
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMGAAYKqDv
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYQU6k0zSA
》《221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAUXUX1kxO
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BsO0xbq2X
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cZIdqTpEQ
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXupFyeb3ip
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrrt8wOWVq
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkRq4hTlg5
You have me, Bow said. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVKAyXisR7
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjdE7Rh8uu
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZyAwWPRaw
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz8cVXa2fm
What do you see? Arden asked. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCrXMPdGwK
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCEVp9y2o3
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOdhK0fokn
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUf0uLr9pv
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzmsr7f4Pb
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11IxpK0oLb
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SgPleXWtg
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6I54oPckE
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw73jyUKHH
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaVZDKZTvj
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0beLV7rzot
》《221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfChUnrfHy
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN39wDPecc
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTHa6GudfM
“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?” 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZb4e58jkA
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXyJp6w2pq
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskWVTL9jjR
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQSrGSVt4t
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. 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOs9n4JRrC
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ729mxcSoXI
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”221Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveJAZN2nhh
