Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAao3j8XED8
“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.” 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanf3H2DbNP
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.” 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXLvQgxS12
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8b3VyzjBSt
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PTA1j3a2R
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgognkYwuE8
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpcBKN0WmT
》《297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dzlCQHLAW
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgMiY7R5XK
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCQyfeAnha
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZx09dMvvXm
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdymAB8X7IN
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEi8f3VuJJ
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzV4lJPYFO
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! 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUASbct1OX0
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdGen2xunE
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? 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwXXPjB14a
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Pmj6KZ2RK
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYImLcQhT4
》《297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlLmZOwsI0
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB308sktGnP
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WHlhB3fO3
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HTGc5mj3b
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGGX1clzwk
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPANdrjyRX
You have me, Bow said. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6rfVmQ1aS
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKpTCyhX8s
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7disCAtbpE
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAqo72dpOb
What do you see? Arden asked. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAuyf9rrSi
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfJUF3pwlb
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3M7F2UVrT
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO5kRBjAmD
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKbmanSph1
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0uWUp23qg
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CO0m0Zg3X
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hVEGCIByw
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLnSvV5NFd
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WOIGTQKIL
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFODQ32KLtc
》《297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyja1lEBN4O
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAAMrnwPcZ
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRlQInkgpE
“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?” 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTKkoJuhIG
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaoZR85xME
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvWxbEbwOP
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0trD1GCRf
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouadEa28tJ
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ThsUwpqI5
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVkyK1jGUM
