Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy2iADO5M9
“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.” 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SmVairBv5
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.” 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTpA9rZdl6
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHmp73e7y7
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvfA5SoUaL
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoh84TYFpA
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT1jREewkB
》《382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLlFTrdYPg
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWTlPvGGYL
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsdI76JHuf
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucZa7a4WDV
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhKpf8IByF
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOawRp5SY9q
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyZdhp80bQ
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! 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjxu1BKnP8
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOixpbGdV3U
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? 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbA4x7xh0ox
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJgdAze7L8
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBz3qtIpvQ
》《382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNTj4yhBWs
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUPkXJucXw
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMxnu2UGQo
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55yUGXIX0E
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zxQFQ5zw5
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPWbpSg8QB
You have me, Bow said. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozD2Oahvbc
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BiAF9uqlP
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5u1BGqaIC
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyzOmXzpWv
What do you see? Arden asked. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH2ILMRQnV
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9VaFs0ZqX
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGCBdvBOCW
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fKNiorVw7
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRUWnDvnaL
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtnpg0PAcH
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmSGPrGvVG
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpwGoEkJvy
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS6PwfCYm8
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZclGifngT
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0FGjFxz1u
》《382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYx7mxTFDQ
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XDWssqjmB
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXZAdPGf6K
“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?” 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyeBUytWyK
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8vj05AEHR
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZriGWeWpz
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EMAH2lmtK
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. 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ggjrX8201
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6D0sFS7KM
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDCQ5Vugpq
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