Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH8Bix3cXS
“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.” 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDeotuvEg6
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.” 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVORtz2nREv
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ765M7vGYs8
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsg3Ru1v4U
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApirbLWH3c
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxy6zJ2ycP
》《709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOFygS7Kfb
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDgcA28UQP
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWmfSD1yVo
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4B5B9RznP
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rbeioBHjh
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDbTrEecsc
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ElWhVFo47
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! 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP2xW08Vzf
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MGPHyv1aT
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? 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIGfYmBjo2
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ16ySxkO6f
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3UvaQXNN6
》《709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocPkBeOEP8
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2kULT1VZl
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUqh8GWKsU
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOcFEeHFnA
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a5cdY4H9m
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJndH2VCZdm
You have me, Bow said. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk15Cr2Wr3
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmexu4E4Pl
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCo1PTX9eN9
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIrulvP1Mc
What do you see? Arden asked. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k2iHLmpgs
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCgaxetkUf
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRMPSTLVxj
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9I8If7okf
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetBj6t9l7p
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfAt3TcLH4
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4uAkRlpvd
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLzw8M1UW3
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PgSNDrUBh
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uOSV7vwE1
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUHadGC8QK
》《709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByFiigmRhk
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgAcAizNFS
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTnt6Kkdri
“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?” 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPAnGB4QE6
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5xpbp9iVw
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOT95lDFEk
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVlKdTZDzX
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrVNIb4sp7
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraC4pN7eER
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUNvnxmUVL
and then Add to home screen.