Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0nsJOTJnY
“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.” 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKJfTabdkw
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.” 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMsPab1jEd
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pFEvBKiOD
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1cg024do3
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugMXpvsXsV
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOw7CbHzAi
》《736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6p1GNzRaO
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxjSRaTa9h
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgTg09Z7tu
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBs3wrWfuUo
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8sGfJW5d9
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MOW3CbI79
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx9fJNa8cN
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! 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3IjX29sjp
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ1EWSRiDP
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? 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYESAELSlL
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVwd1YdHLW
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26MddTT2iM
》《736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxrq0IByu2
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXx2bR5byM
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjdIVJib64
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAVh9hWqEk
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgFy8L311z
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacjbLH9fqM
You have me, Bow said. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjPpc2Q0dN
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA41dtgBz1X
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtbywutqSq
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlTLGqf8zQ
What do you see? Arden asked. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDceLnuiwez
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGzGXvTvFn
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3djVwp4sWo
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGumupQjxJQ
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXl4zYVaE3
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRstve29L3T
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH6WlK4dpz
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKyk62lSCE
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDu4PhO4Ze
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBwDbIBbEt
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlvCGVP1Xh
》《736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1a7MzEY7r
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxanBbPXGrT
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxRTLGcFq3
“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?” 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6g5ztnvJR
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6S6T8awdh
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPTzwyd5VF
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPIPneuCpX
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. 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMFPfUf4hc
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnBxnNuqmi
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”736Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MqS1a9yIN
and then Add to home screen.