Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zXlay2gXU
“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.” 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7Mzyoyi1f
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.” 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfyFs8G6Cj
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaCXMiTYBo
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs2IVd1NTX
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8QqCeEfck
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVM25Axymp
》《435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguyBwxdzZO
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47UT83OC8C
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtzK4tNzpr
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg5sf8uqz0
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK8znH5rZ2
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuGx3Flmf6
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRGeageKw3
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! 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFIjvpZlRM
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXwyiwnj56
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? 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL4NhyFabz
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1XndM67WH
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvxc6ikdkM
》《435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM77tb4skzZ
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYphcR9GcGx
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zDuBujqMg
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kaxE3xklO
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk19oQ0RfI
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAg2uWXJA0
You have me, Bow said. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuVpYTXvYO
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPeXfpnhbR
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK38uJhQ3wS
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgetESVznNY
What do you see? Arden asked. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzbFuhkY1V
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuniOyV983
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhs09jFSpK
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclfhcUSCgU
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7i8N3YAUp
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TUdUOf4oH
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfERHTAUeKV
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz4BM02N0Q
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34SMxUAoMx
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJzWX2AqhU
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhD2wNGv0L
》《435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbGB8otmQh
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymwlWPR681
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA6boQBcX9
“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?” 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJxoCQm6FM
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjC8Fojfo73
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaji2MQAPC8
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEKwfw0sbV
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. 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2kUg8gc9H
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg6RXjLqDA
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFN6QfWXDR
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