Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjzWZUULlL
“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.” 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGVrlyHwaQ
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.” 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKPqV9GC2k
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFE87GfoeM
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHi5W0zjir
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVO0NFpXv5
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxu8ChJkM3
》《731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy9rXp8JHb
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgl8dKHbHW
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YX1M7mjpP
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje9lr3zrcG
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9KJr33Fbk
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ329EFmrbjL
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZntF6TIS7
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! 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRIrimYQeH
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycnxsoEoNi
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? 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbody7rwAU
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbZ2yk7FoQ
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuiquNPpit
》《731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNiwzD72vF
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrhjbkbeFy
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pwxAM6Rxh
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmpO81vZWo
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUt6Is84EZ
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigfTmeLKZo
You have me, Bow said. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA60we0m4V
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjT5s8QCRK
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaGpo2uuBt
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtm9RkKqJx
What do you see? Arden asked. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsfnizftwt
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooMOmUlHpT
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDEa3rWkqJ
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbcq6N7niZ
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsqUohHSI8
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfi1zpmCAM
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQmxurXdNk
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0oEqlHGUE
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBBDBs5yAD
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQUH0V9jXx
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe3jZy2aAz
》《731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xaLo6cWrm
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKANv7XlZaK
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94DJRUXuki
“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?” 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNI58BCRDt
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zQ2FguREI
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2h4k1ZvYi
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbEnmdEWR4
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. 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2TLe3OOlP
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawumB2CJBY
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”731Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHtLKJqp1u
and then Add to home screen.