Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6VsueIGVA
“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.” 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzxtC3TyM3
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.” 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04gSMDDqPZ
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ceTK0ILHR
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ39HaKXjP
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn1QlZTjQ3
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNWdkqhDG1
》《303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nJLFsZXQA
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkceT5bOw85
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwSUZ1DyEn
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsJip6x35c
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4sUmdgmpT
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerCNwpYXhi
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytgzKHKOrZ
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! 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkh40V633N
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4p7IiFcxJ
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? 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELsujYnNk9
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoSFB2KyeJ
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYRFmFCm70
》《303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyiamvYq4G
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmb5WRUnCs
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsP9mH2h7ga
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmglKvBsWk
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp32Il6fmL
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehFqKqnBh2
You have me, Bow said. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQCdL4bAdX
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i3Y2AnMtL
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWWL5lmq9i
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDz5Z3uyP3
What do you see? Arden asked. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs361M6L0qd
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsArfpsMUg
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9vTG4x94e
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ225ungYsA6
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FprSdPJKH
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k4WdOtF9I
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBHYaAc3Eu
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUUbWxAAEK
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbU3XzRyeU
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4jTBTK45Q
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvUuXVCiyO
》《303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe085SHxLHt
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiNvr1hHWP
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakzHLbyNlE
“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?” 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIljFqIbyo
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnrenOfbTg
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZEFX2mjqB
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIY7Gr8Y53
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. 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdBXWKHF6P
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UudJGHCzk
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXdklN20lI
