Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpCHKVFBjv
“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.” 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndyLbCHcfd
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.” 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMxgzld7rr
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrim5lkgmmt
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Nmh2aDP6k
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3yhBN4z33
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2Tma8bewt
》《287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo7TGINplD
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnX4zVh5YJ
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaXP6XtYQf
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3mxCAfmnn
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2Qn24qRNk
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8ehPSAfm6
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZYxJ8Qfq9
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! 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66WELV8XpM
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMH51KRDDH
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? 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnedHSNiJC9
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6N8xsZBzl
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdsuIkrP5b
》《287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDFBS9fDZn
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhZ0YAw6bk
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWT983lRWN
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz6j3zlItm
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsLlpyCILn
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZTTbnwRK9
You have me, Bow said. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehMzdffOQR
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmTAybwIlF
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeE0JdIIcO
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32A6XQOE2b
What do you see? Arden asked. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdtQ2RLJip
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzNEGoOVm8
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5vHLzjQeg
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH00zV5LxdM
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK6Tj0uFNF
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lqjhf1MsS
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBCWUZ9GEX
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6hEijZgr2
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnxQ7FXSUF
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRbF5BVPDV
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSodMVcfRo
》《287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZqKbAes11
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI5uy1sZm3
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCULzpg4PEX
“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?” 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9X1aO4YFt
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClDiWiHfce
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRt6DzWnBO
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbpEAZ8KbE
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. 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAoUiEYZT4
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLhErOcS4p
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”287Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMEgecw9wf
