Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYcqGTskjU
“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.” 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNMZTdp3b0
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.” 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtNMd35ljp
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfMM6FsUV5
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72dtAEqFuH
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ7YGaSfUD
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYnlGaw61O
》《737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmvUVo6fT1
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0cSDD5Z9c
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzNelkWO7m
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFNeOv0HwP
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jGsZs812W
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I6TZawUfq
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXXiwTn606
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! 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9XsEQERCE
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkMrxK14qP
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? 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTB5RUgDno
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiP9pBcDuC
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnkLUnA9ub
》《737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkML8YpwK1
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ428D7Klh5s
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWn66f3OPO
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVavbn3jfLM
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto5oPcO1xu
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRmbaA3ZjG
You have me, Bow said. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5CN7PL0li
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcumgpicK1l
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGyMXK4ctK
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz7gAsPYho
What do you see? Arden asked. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb5WJ2uQst
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYqmDRKrOp
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkSiJHf5jw
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf78d3PyPz
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObkhoIflUm
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UF06JTYdR
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvZktm7svo
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaW5iiPgNW
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoosdrfz2hM
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmofsu47zE8
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp54p5nUIN
》《737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFEhgoe3I8
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcnRQtRC0k
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmhWOWWcI8
“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?” 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI5laOgBvV
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYhgtuIq0Z
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFwJEbtAMz
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog5G82jBiW
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. 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsULCQwve4y
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWao1BpXCZW
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”737Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7bb02bIpa
and then Add to home screen.