Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX1IedACBe
“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.” 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5EauE5KsN
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.” 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SnWArzNcv
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32ybum2JtJ
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku4yg6S0SV
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3ELL5ePal
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSvsmF2CNP
》《361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsknzWcHLm
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ52wce8mY
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDOUzETm4f
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxQuVMSLGU
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCfi832Xdt
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPI2mg3T4d
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMI3139dQs
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! 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0pLJXWAG5
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TLpOz6sug
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? 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UOUu66Vg0
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvbh8yVloW
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr1k2VxeY4
》《361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEYK1tA8Aw
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbssZD8n1gq
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFJY3oPa28
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDTcAZJux7
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhEqVXdo60
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvFMzrdoEH
You have me, Bow said. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObKfRhfUBT
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizFTpqdnuN
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRktW8YjZCT
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCywIHBSvUs
What do you see? Arden asked. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7Kc0OaJKJ
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67vsPDozrM
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqW5DvCEfO
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN29oEh9Ge
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQkCoSOuS8
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6bGCZ2kMC
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvQhq1AuLj
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIhAEEnjJj
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mT8fWahw2
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4bwzQmy2v
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f7jtzkZql
》《361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35hvj9cpH0
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlUDeq4yFc
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe9OHAc4Ry
“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?” 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSLNTaB8Di
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0a1YEFc11
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA1ju3zrR2
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74tnF5qLzD
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWbazA4CFv
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrA44h2zgo
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnwgCuluuh
然後按「加至主畫面」