Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWUu9xPIRd
“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.” 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIzjWf7qZ9
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.” 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsznJsbKTKi
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagnFVKqFJy
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6g55QnfcO
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdgtrp43eC
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QrhmlhC9T
》《206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI48pme4iNg
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8jQTqvj7N
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM9ChxfK3B
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX3jmsyAcl
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwngRr2eOZN
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EjUZfukuH
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5wTMz7FNY
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! 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jvxVho2QJ
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wTn5j38Tx
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? 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXysY5gTCO
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbzcm9KNLR
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL9UIonW9R
》《206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlskIkeugfe
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWy0FmBD3y
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIe8Hnm5WX
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCEX8wyYoC
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD4VgLBp2l
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHCtc5trUv
You have me, Bow said. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2tw8W7xZ5
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoIo9Kb2ap
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKyzxcauho
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVRmXNeMWH
What do you see? Arden asked. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxeCn619qD
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtGVNMCsuR
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TROsejtrq
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDSaoiHNnF
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2DAEvAoZ6
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLOPdYdM2T
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvie1BHLHRL
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTespgVKfO
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yD1REy87l
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TBXigOfzK
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAV60Em4rP
》《206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOlefBTv1g
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfDpkFLloq
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5qXUIKzzf
“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?” 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLJWaBVLSn
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Oqn4y4xTb
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDcPKHgctq
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKaegMPAH0
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. 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wi4YCJYgJ
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNFkDeSXi2
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgssg1siBCR
