Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBUlhBtoYc
“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.” 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyX1mFEZ7i
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.” 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdsaXbr7We
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvnt9o9aex
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXikqyHCYoQ
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFjwX96YNy
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy8tOz0tHm
》《738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfnzwguxn3
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof1d02dN7h
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHHeP7aGwK
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQI08e4qfA
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPApwOofipm
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqUbJuE32o
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5ZRFWNE5n
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! 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY35pCB5uJ
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxvDqSws8u
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? 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CFuGaBEtn
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxyMHZ1GNJ
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFutuR17L7
》《738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTppkJIzbdw
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKZbYBt3Ch
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAG63PNqAC
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtiJZgA9zv
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhIQ9aPn3F
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYolhSwjaWo
You have me, Bow said. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsfchlhx54
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak8ic81Wm0
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWztlJsS2cv
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG20udGfAjY
What do you see? Arden asked. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluC73le9gm
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8RQT10oOu
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1iu1qNXxT
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4vtAsEDYw
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4SeYA56lH
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mbH3Z9IQY
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q59oyWBUW
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rOtslozV6
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxZn6aJcDf
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4yns0XW7b
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF3kl81Eaz
》《738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0COMoGyW3O
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRiWLvnfTA
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWYc3P2Xah
“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?” 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a4TR67Epx
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8XqWAICx3
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUirApD4ndA
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kFEY4rHUn
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T1iCFLqFF
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2mqS3DaAg
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaCkbT3aaP
and then Add to home screen.