Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaavfk7HTs
“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.” 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2h7GKHZOe
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.” 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRFIAJZElc
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ilkZGmsvK
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8juxaeqtu
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjgs4lQgiC
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq5ztzaLfb
》《296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxZx7g75t7
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYxVmLEgIJ
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HdZDk8Mwd
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FqYKpH9sp
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1wQEXnwNQ
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VkfgrH5Xu
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhphQmdiVU
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! 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA68mbqoowo
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3uGoCyHYh
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? 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlqlGrnLmE
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V8c08VqGR
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtAaCfs1ZP
》《296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35A9i2Rrr5
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFA7dHG3hp
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCjDZvtrNC
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNKFUXOb2P
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeNuof2NW6
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgK7xlrzR3
You have me, Bow said. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5uvf4t3P6
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4cdCqC3wg
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPQSI5zw3K
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHVRi4ZHP8
What do you see? Arden asked. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbhrfCq78S
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQxPyqzqGI
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquWARtHg4F
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZRaiG3Uod
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeFEsBVSaT
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG1PU023RJ
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPayhtXdi6
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3LlKJTOrv
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbbKJgxWu4
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST6488MOTV
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUoHg05lTh
》《296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UVMCLnYrQ
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJQRHo01uq
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqizUiFytd
“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?” 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AWaBx86eu
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIlxUuXWSE
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs4jSZCfL6
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7Ws8VwA3Z
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBE9FpLC6x
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlsocU3Qsb
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46frJnGeTC
