Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dDyOKqJ8q
“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.” 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0ugAjB29Q
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.” 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ79j6ODcq
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OtnLHLggn
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mTV3oUCj0
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacUU48dLLD
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYeczuY3Ao
》《395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDuESq6Rvz
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9cCXa0n4Q
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoc3y8Kyqk
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46fm3BqfWy
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyBacc5fZR
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AuvH2zSeY
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhTTCUL72X
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! 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiwJKUZBhs
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMjYxEJI78
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? 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAzwXKiVQN
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdFr3GTl9x
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUZegq0RcG
》《395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw334wj6qU2
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nL878cGkr
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhn3H73kRz2
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl5jAkgbE6
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4jDY4W40g
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOeU6LJoir
You have me, Bow said. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLjK0mvUyw
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzaLfnhImO
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa11k3g7Hv7
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGS49UZtRO
What do you see? Arden asked. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV30hpTliW
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEn3o1hjcG
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZBzIufPyV
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEzYxwyEtb
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHnQyrc4iC
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgqw1RomVp
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL58L7AmzF
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwy6qxfwBr
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzIl4qD9vK
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDSt9QVoOi
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd0CKMN0FN
》《395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eIoyVu80r
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaj4wTUNRm5
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr5V221VX1
“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?” 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuHrpvy4e3
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLL9RqpTzh
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5YxKxT816
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnG55zVKXv
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. 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1P409rbnc
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmu57F5p1o
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”395Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsanIaEIcM
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