Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLRuwbFDn7
“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.” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGzoRW397o
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.” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8AqW2ck8m
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKzhYFWJ6K
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB8huuf08T
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxh1BUo5kr
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXAQFzzIwk
》《735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4tO2xiK3s
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOBDkk6qRQ
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhZlZlVwlk
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNcFJCi2wO
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSflMf77sZt
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31S7lfX4bs
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXRyS40NTf
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! 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVKhdACAcS
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpK6fywGTG4
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? 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIXCUjSacF
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm3YkGMzA3
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyMi0zzLqQ
》《735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJpE813fLR
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7eMvhlTX4
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zKjP6LuwY
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T5DwWbjum
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTeDtqsj9Q
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8uftOaoZ3
You have me, Bow said. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB0PdWZKgS
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbW04hF6hj
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOgPvAIYov
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROo7RUZFDW
What do you see? Arden asked. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpf4j9QFFqT
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnFEgDrrlK
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BW0QmfhRy
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHVgW9D1OY
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM929dMNhiz
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHNYrfDqwa
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZsur44M9n
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aN1SMnXWQ
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcw8TwAKmh
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ibNZZKPGv
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Dc6Jxp5bu
》《735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCDMc9GNfg
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerkmT0nsRf
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR86WYVpkuw
“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?” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UsGlk6e3F
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy59Iuv4lK
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAJw6XLBu8
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAldYvMB7mB
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. 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8UsS73EkM
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4LvRxsQnw
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”735Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX5PI2G3q9
and then Add to home screen.