Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEoWEUC2Cp
“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.” 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafXFTfRtAC
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.” 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yrefxPJjS
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83k56INCUQ
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAViMIIpoTB
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmsFvBZm2A
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSwVgByx0M
》《397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo7m0Rd5SJ
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx46rB6nfQx
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p4pSANMAc
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDYKoLKbam
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6KPCqBSbK
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl0WMH55kS
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVl29rAcnm
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! 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzgLYKRvuy
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOodwWA6eD
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? 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlMiQLbHck
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCSME2iFbZ
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvIAwS86ql
》《397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8ouKGXgjw
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmxzPjyPhX
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIWwNfmUfN
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lY4lEKrGV
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkkgOGBsVq
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPTAxcM5Rn
You have me, Bow said. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxhGHdqg11
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmZ18iWWm9
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudyCGHX9i3
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSZsXQ7vEi
What do you see? Arden asked. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRyQyDUXLk
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vep0CY0O4
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0gTx5DCn9
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbMeuxJy9N
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjL7Yv8C04
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf78KRzBLb2
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD290uAJLK
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiCzO1mG3Z
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueAjhIN8fI
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7g3wtwU9k
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYE45LpFiz
》《397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmg9AXSTLUU
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAlY9elgdO
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNacO5oO0Z
“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?” 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwZoG26jbs
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeSPzJIL73
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kKzWecUTk
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxhux5MVx7
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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkLAsFzju7
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt2bl0yQno
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dfhhUGsju
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