Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOQkoHAqOQ
“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.” 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYR45qcf53
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.” 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmgXLQ6q5E
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXPlgSvRil
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0kJrFQXUs
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHnLcu7bBS
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPboLFLlW7u
》《336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7hI4A1cUg
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ttQuowgVQ
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGioQh6cJkY
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoco5vxSiav
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM1u3Y8Uqi
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvVMpGXhei
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgixWnjVKy
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! 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkUSxAu2Cm
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpysTC8NwjF
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? 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2nd9QbIl1
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGmfBRz8tf
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbi33IQ2Xt
》《336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDr3spXWM8
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8LKeDa5rG
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h3DhcF5PE
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEl7VpMTXv
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IFiteaMGA
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIxfczkaHI
You have me, Bow said. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wcp8yq65e
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6AQM2MqcR
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXj6p38R7c
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZdCEOjoAT
What do you see? Arden asked. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd5zznnX7W
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDzETKfU1w
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZoQb0fMQY
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaya56dgSI
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KLY0CCh00
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtDYKv5qys
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2txl8cYJ4t
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8Jm39uHNE
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VU5FUU34g
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ47vKhCvRN
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdX5kuSdvL
》《336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnLAeiNhJo
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf3SHyvOlM
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4rpynsQee
“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?” 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYrfvsSJyO
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtxr6EXB7f
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOw6qxTWhR
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgipl8Z3Go1
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. 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbEShqcSou
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdOa8GTQFw
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU1PqfVKF3
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