Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pyYSCVaos
“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.” 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJgEhxvnVH
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.” 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uKaebvWXB
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9vPO02kM9
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqgLrmKPLJ
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaovhmDWCiD
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW4l45ElaD
》《218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkCnrPe4Zi
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBdZYUTOIF
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg77JFVxaHP
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTd9OTxIrT
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwN7xTm6Uy
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFR4b1apwQ
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1VB0CjiPx
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! 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93eucQqCjZ
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRaPr41dqy
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? 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgzYKTsCJz
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7Yta7sZUY
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyNTIXZlcn
》《218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXegguoorfB
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl1xYRzscW
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmCEkheQgK
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7VbM677np
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPYBLYN8d2
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzUpgo0EHD
You have me, Bow said. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPWJc53JK0
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa64267xquq
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dE4hQW8vm
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7Vv55ZJzP
What do you see? Arden asked. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hK2jvPeX3
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6o4oMDAIM
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXAhusvReo
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0CQn3nkyw
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4xEdvt4EN
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uiXDNSWEC
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhisEOT92sl
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT9hVgEFlz
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmf7cJdCpG
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTl7ouruOv
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs9Oeg0UIl
》《218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTdbTanA8V
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiJ3hrEbjM
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKN9M4sFp7
“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?” 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wmzwQFyxj
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMhatAL4QO
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dRLsmXCFw
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTKIkseVKX
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp14Kn3zzz
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzDMxhA1W7
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH616aV5muj
