Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu6gXTd8Yg
“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.” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxit79cOgu4
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.” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnLSUEdwpY
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjSR0wiSpY
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0NX8I0mRq
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpJm0LomSu
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsFKGNMJ7B
》《295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8gPss19bE
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPATk0GiCY
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdFHaRuGcf
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Sgy9QAfVj
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoxl57WRm3
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjWTdGPdCE
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKYuUHmLn1
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! 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljzmd8FgYl
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8wfhELVAh
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? 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HGLTHIl20
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAVEz8cFRv
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8cO5lsgKd
》《295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTBkrNbiGL
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzGWKmH8A8
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrMDLTs1nd
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY70UvkEpEV
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7Y3jtUOCJ
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH4V5YoNsE
You have me, Bow said. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJYZioPE2G
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI04O480zn
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBNH5DLwgS
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbuBiJTx9Z
What do you see? Arden asked. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4xLIdaZTl
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRFwsL0wPp
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zjYzs5q5h
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkB0HO4wNb
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2OTpZ6qeh
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPL1KyjeMl
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvlEH2ocod
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRPw3rY4yb
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklEnGvc6U5
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaDkUixCnY
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIxPpf7dgP
》《295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG9tfPwnMo
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bqvvFotf1
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Gn9TH1Ds2
“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?” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4VeCpxGpp
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHNdcMHvxH
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYzc4bV9Ux
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaUPFF0jPg
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. 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9TraXGqur
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k0Ov7y9sO
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”295Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcWTKdjaz4
