Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvtEs4H9Uv
“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.” 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NyUOZjaL0
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.” 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPdnIjQHy5
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5NAui9k0m
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESLASi5sf3
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEyWhJPBBB
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWh93FzLKU
》《190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHK0mAoRAR
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheZqZ201Xo
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzBinPA2Gy
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtZ6VYx4kR
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfIKzGCzPh
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yIavyujSG
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrO3fmF5GP
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! 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKgWLccVCB
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygHIBLrrKO
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? 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bfhbrPvuQ
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6keXnFAvm
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV0a3cuUpj
》《190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqM7MKPF4v
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuLh83S0Jd
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP0ThrAMHO
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8MuGOGmhw
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeHd8jT1Va
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBYSEeymPC
You have me, Bow said. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArfFIelP1F
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5u4uiyT7H
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTOIgCJxkd
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD78CLwbnKA
What do you see? Arden asked. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxWRr4ZjUV
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cbB4MBgtx
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuV7u4UC5Q
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7lc7e38zL
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0O1ph6fhJ
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6dks2Ilmn
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYzOwrQ2rV
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13XZOlIkib
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47wQdhElQi
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVPAbU45ZQ
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKs1kubfVe
》《190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJggCVW8KS
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZocMl992X
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iUjfBsurk
“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?” 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fy9Axu616
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5f2FB0QbD
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb4zAPoR3p
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttlzJubebX
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. 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s3XPj0TWm
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRztJ28UBJ
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNhWzWg5t9
