Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUTfu20kpd
“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.” 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO3Z8258f2
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.” 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShSvpN7FxE
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6snEKXdjN2
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq92ApifUx
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9gmiaD6S6
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOVglISPbf
》《331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ik4ZLpZA3
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXEwt48E85
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34i3aURTkj
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzAkobOd7Q
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYVDVdGUgb
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡga80jWi2Xt
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7CNc6Twpa
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! 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0z8Tzzfs87
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3yGLRvwMV
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? 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvgxTdaMW4
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn3W0Mvc9X
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoXAu7oZut
》《331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8ikC6LzOe
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyLTRMBAQA
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry8h0NniCI
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJndWUSmx8G
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRcIxXfz7C
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6877pUL6qO
You have me, Bow said. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEGB2lIDew
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn5jd472DJ
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5MmdMQyDs
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLO3KLDn5f
What do you see? Arden asked. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnupBmMgEl
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MBc8FXLaG
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uM7PKlQIe
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xj6VYTKFU
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqfDZ9Pc3H
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2whVLTCJb
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQbHOPVbZg
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uH0mQUK5A
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVxN8EEQkX
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oDI3FzsY7
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6ppEvx1mI
》《331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wdihHY006
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gpPZ4ywwb
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Eo7NDQbWo
“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?” 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJckZT4QCbn
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCci4Mz5iVl
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57vRrjbRjr
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvKW73BRPh
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. 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsskQBZO5Z
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ6nxRyZJO
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO8Yb9zOPA
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