Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 135Please respect copyright.PENANA33gqMBSrjM
“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.” 135Please respect copyright.PENANAgMxDJurXdw
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.” 135Please respect copyright.PENANAhvVNowID0P
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 135Please respect copyright.PENANAvWoX820PhM
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 135Please respect copyright.PENANApnLwC9cunJ
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAgrNRGP0QDE
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 135Please respect copyright.PENANArFHtHao7aW
》《135Please respect copyright.PENANAZL2QgJVYnO
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANA7FArf7wL9T
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAnWcgTqx0IM
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAr2mt9QIDNW
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAWbPzijiomu
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAW50xQDityj
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?135Please respect copyright.PENANAYVEi1NvEfZ
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! 135Please respect copyright.PENANAWcL2OEuPLs
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAcWZhuHp37a
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? 135Please respect copyright.PENANApLMa6a7kFb
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.135Please respect copyright.PENANAVC98C2gnPE
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAYYTaRBYQfj
》《135Please respect copyright.PENANAAI92WGVTAH
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAVFzHffHhCm
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAshTqbTjUfb
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAL4HHK2Y4aP
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAlfqyPhN0MK
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANA91jxYMrMJh
You have me, Bow said. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAjkqAagtAP6
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANA0Seq65nRHF
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAnHaflfJCR7
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAKKXKxNFANe
What do you see? Arden asked. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAO3BG5ftO5q
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAmAkpJxBInO
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAggGCRNxXTY
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAYuczcz52OY
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAV4U1Qv6Iqg
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 135Please respect copyright.PENANANlW7QaPWcm
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAHaLmcTeymw
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 135Please respect copyright.PENANANc6xq4Hjm0
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 135Please respect copyright.PENANA55K9JkEP0p
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 135Please respect copyright.PENANA8khm7Ni863
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAiD2l4CQwA1
》《135Please respect copyright.PENANANlJulmi5WI
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"135Please respect copyright.PENANADD6uT5iIqa
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 135Please respect copyright.PENANA9r6OMEtjrq
“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?” 135Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7p3zlkdbY
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”135Please respect copyright.PENANAfBmvY6uhG3
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAGxZLQz6sX7
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.135Please respect copyright.PENANAeast39YzVf
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. 135Please respect copyright.PENANAlZln6Boo4n
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 135Please respect copyright.PENANAFoGY7QDmRy
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”135Please respect copyright.PENANAa2fTdQgGkC