Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3KebMFJV9
“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.” 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVUx9wXmqM
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.” 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ze51yYgCb
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNb6ICBqkn
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZJ6TFlQu7
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4fR7T5KHr
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHPtyH6XuS
》《249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG6Gq3wZMG
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmJJBAmWuQ
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUk2xiYdhO
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxgCOcabdj
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHQVpBYxQJ
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN5BcS8TYP
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtNGTEQHri
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! 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAFeTulzXG
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuCDIYWe5O
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? 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMcQ7IgmdT
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoY04t1NES
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAoBwvu62C
》《249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISOeV4Nkxl
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuiNMPcMce
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi5Od0yb1s
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAScG8HsEnM
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC8r7hAxR0
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44vNqMSReq
You have me, Bow said. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXCDZTuVGK
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2P76wRwrJ
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGOsTzl94A
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hbygsYJmq
What do you see? Arden asked. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5AwG1UhjF
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeHg2MEmJp
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh5YO1zS7d
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JvKsDLPW4
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbSdIV7RGe
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmgmmT9LMv
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp3ijUsvQb
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj2QZtu6pq
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLemY3VIMr
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW0807CYne
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot6wK8exrQ
》《249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGe53smvOG
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2OqU3FpWn
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDXCd2D6HQ
“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?” 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbgfU0e0j5
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1xOtZg7Mf
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxQd3vxjCb
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozxw4FojEV
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. 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDlbO5iBL7
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlNbQYYVXq
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1cRZL5xEt
