Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjO2un9eyO
“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.” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F1jdd6PQX
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.” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1Ejx7uVrE
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCwEdm7G4Z
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTA83AtaTl
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBIOp47Jrj
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxD759rZj7
》《408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaaE625a12
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfJzW1RdiW
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilqKLu8n7A
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9f0i6ZFsJ
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnZhIfjS50
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0Q3bGNVQF
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1hKgnO2kC
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! 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpoGt51nUp
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBHTu5jpK2
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? 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSIh7OF0j5
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCT2gTdGfwZ
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJspbzCQ4H
》《408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbkQ3stnDU
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkPftO7NH7
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILrQmHl6SI
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJeehFiwSn
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ0DgZDKSZ
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmESM68hMay
You have me, Bow said. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCFod6Mjd0
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKM6t31n1N
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRzUamrhGS
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1RoCGWLbK
What do you see? Arden asked. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XkrAWAaK5
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5exgmW9de
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7hmLjqh0R
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyH0zWlFwi
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5JE7J6T0g
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGn06m69U1
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN0Zep76xI
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha76rbsnx1
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LNVilfXrK
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ2F3Rogel
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtYG0dPnOr
》《408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i5AsLwMV0
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXjhrdzKrw
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7QvWMEmxI
“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?” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv4XLKQIPU
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc15IOwJYkw
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HnMOYoO15
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUB8WvQSEc
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. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NR6CRrbH6
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjwDTlqiAo
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5B7qvmbn6
