Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAz4eimiHw
“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.” 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31IU285yHh
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.” 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtqPige76c
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMECDQiia6
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3iV88M3m4
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6irt1zZld
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95cOlvDwz7
》《441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFifLn3oy5
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYMitLr6Jz
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6qOYiF9D6
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3bFEYgQbL
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5m4HgcOF6
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cVyvWhxXF
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEViAGXb3jJ
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! 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqVZFM5fTF
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozi9d0xuMf
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? 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC6oj6oWU4
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAKqlGHYTY
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgWQPtl0BJ
》《441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt2laTggyw
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL1nHEhsWZ
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSg8CYjZ9U
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdEmpKh0qB
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhhD2JRhOq
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ClvBUVr50
You have me, Bow said. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcOqJwH8s1
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF5iet6LM4
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRbmL9RS82
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UI365fKG1
What do you see? Arden asked. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ719KjUxD6f
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3SsycFOnf
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGVXUV3cts
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgkKYJBgNB
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLp2mK1IJt
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDeOPkCO3n
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoktZdL7tFR
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGGE2gClUL
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaiyj7SH3g
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeUSIntBWs
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLaNhbQ2Bi
》《441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoiaGHNA64
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTF5HMcJYy
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvS12zl3Q4
“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?” 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC9hsjRPyn
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8PlW8V5D9
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT2g96nEud
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpP3PMuOHF
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwayS1v0s1f
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekNSemfQGz
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3J9XVJs2E
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