Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FnSHxYpfY
“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.” 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrJtfNqZtz
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.” 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFgdBW1XvE
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jHEw00yBk
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bUecC97pU
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha20w7fQOz
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGEQIFIeEK
》《446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7hGh8yOI9
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJmg4c3d0A
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuOg6vowSC
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthCYBQP96V
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhQWh7yRVr
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImkwHd86fm
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XMsJ8nbt7
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! 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RkdM0z0ja
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSdaSCvzsg
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? 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN4veQ5VXI
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjH2HtepJ2
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpowUs17tx
》《446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GKoQZC3EL
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5opx90kcdC
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyF75ELyTS
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR3M1xJLY0
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgiIeQENEZ
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTnxL0n0KG
You have me, Bow said. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGqUVmy5Yr
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkCWi7vAco
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDUaYyopzs
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eB4EVD89q
What do you see? Arden asked. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtQEsXdfka
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj9KYnOKGY
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQrlKXNlQN
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZXEl774fF
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfmtnQZ0Ix
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLapeVMKmOv
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstmvvRxP9q
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFwJSS5c6R
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNabBQ8Fw90
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5crlTNBbgu
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG8GD7Iqot
》《446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquHBcJ4HGT
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaajEad8ixr
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDYhg88u8y
“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?” 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc5osOKDOU
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbKcZ8cMg1
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMMWgDS2JB
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZXSo34ftU
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. 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o04hW9Tf7
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOmQT2A0ce
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlIuplBki6
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