Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEspHZJS9HC
“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.” 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRCcBDEfSE
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.” 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfbBZXgbQW
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvAZHEHCuH
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf3Wsmi4Dl
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMbWndBzIj
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn1axXTwAs
》《447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36euaEjsgm
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi43f6C7r4
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIxf0lpEKt
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieLYt9jvEH
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUUcwCULn7
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgEghFhk7g
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbSfNkz1bL
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! 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3rSV6RvIP
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjOLUoQdg2
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? 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde9wtL0l2V
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEOXv09cfo
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsRLSbghCz
》《447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BEbdydQ6c
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJZvfiR9t6
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoP0bihNbG
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBgKKeYKUj
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqfa7Ibsuc
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutpQp0Vnqo
You have me, Bow said. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD1zh6qUj2
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8d72GASdd
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPdKXChi1O
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs37w4qwsWH
What do you see? Arden asked. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCkZNw2Zub
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5a8RHjh1l
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7z5VcnU6K
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NAlRP3AOs
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7DRJUPEbg
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ7ThRBxV3
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQFwVUEcXM
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dwGzD3dLx
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Olxgy4To8
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvw96nATXP
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1uV4Hk3sx
》《447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8uiCyXSUT
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj6mV71c5X
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yaDNmxIvU
“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?” 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Hm6BpDXhH
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPUbbRlAnb
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm95jaEHL5E
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA4vNHynei
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. 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16ePimq9P1
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3Aai7WYGl
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”447Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgGmIMMN6b
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