Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSSGHjD8zU
“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.” 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJnsZxlmt9
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.” 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsdjSkmydG
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTKLI38mdw
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCmIQi2H3a
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kRkRtAipR
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrT0f5GFBPz
》《439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sQNIRyYd6
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3mjuFEtqr
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEFSllOvzM
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTFCzCqH2Z
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf30qzXdR6q
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZQ35dpr6H
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3UNt0n11m
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! 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMmXnC11Mo
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsldT8qurxW
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? 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUL51hYBaW
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVl7eTEVbg
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xISuWQGvI
》《439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMp2A6lLTYp
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Oo64xRd7r
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAuJROgnOc
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNmOfhLYHM
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IqYVFutiM
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpyPbLTjnz
You have me, Bow said. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiQUMX8UmD
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoP5woSHNk
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq102tJc9y
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOmqFpHwGU
What do you see? Arden asked. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFZt6t0REk
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE0TwTym86
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EIUgoTEOO
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO8EV0cHh6
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32V0jCjmKT
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre9YvxxvQ0
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUrQ8lZfNp
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey1XTP9HDz
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx5qVE1YFh
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDRI6gg5pq
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FOlVP2UQQ
》《439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN6D0z2lfY
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWAJa4S3VB
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8O4s837J0
“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?” 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O8CypEKaq
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x1cq7Op0b
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx5XsgTWY4
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRvbpVomx0
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHakJbR21J
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zUjnPXzkZ
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnciVqCZogZ
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