Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrlvqZRt1Z
“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.” 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRMSIUUJZt
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.” 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Acp6E9OE1
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVePvCEg353
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmBvOQA5rZ
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar9Nif4aKh
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUsx86idT4
》《217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiRj1x9C7H
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsapgiZ7KW
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbpyB7uFtM
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxTNrIhN6C
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrA9n41ca3
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnevr7J5Ju
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHlpL8Uh3U
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! 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J2iOWjrY3
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW366EWCrLT
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? 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqVM8Ipkg9
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV2GXlitUu
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvrTKBk4xt
》《217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfIUNC8KqZ
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu2lL2jqjq
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBFHlK73zM
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnuYzZIOPX
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgCdDgBsvF
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuGGl88ZiM
You have me, Bow said. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1ibg4qKx6
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc8S6Lwk5M
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuqO3Gmb52
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfN1kG3SoR
What do you see? Arden asked. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5uyhVUHiY
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaFMzIaKxs
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9uf8tZxcR
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbVvXU3bhe
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3IRGnEmF1
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gQ14mL8jH
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMKkBnfQa0
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD9LJQOVB4
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Emhj3zNJV
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY60zFBNGZo
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtisdJSmTWB
》《217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IJWc31VHL
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgri2o5rvDH
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUju1hlNp7R
“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?” 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBOTWveT1t
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFqXTMDkIe
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ0kouRVjm
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNQ0ZLzKQZ
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. 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cIub5JlTt
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQppP1xoDC
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”217Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9NkNSTXE7
