Ravyn held Arden’s face between their hands. “Are you sure you’ve prepared? You have everything you need?” 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDCmkomocR
“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.” 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEwvKHKcDy
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.” 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiERmX8tJi
Ravyn made a mocking sorrowful face, letting go of Arden’s face. “Promise me you will be fine?” 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2E0ZD6ahp3
“Mama!” Arden groaned. “I’m seventeen! I can take care of myself. I’m only going camping.” 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5TXuLu1CG
“Arden, promise them you’ll be fine,” Nettle said chidingly. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1aYSrtB8u
Arden turned and started walking from their front door. “I promise I will keep safe, mama. Love you, mama. Love you, ma!” 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcavBbqWpe5
》《467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBtJnZWQ8f
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI2SPUTe1p
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnww4aR4zNY
It was close to midnight, and they were close to the clearing they had decided to stop and camp in. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTPF8NsU5k
Look, Bow said. Arden lifted his head to see that somebody else had the idea to camp there already. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5spOjCzUt
That’s okay, Arden said. We can just settle here on the edge of the clearing. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡul5rY40O3l
Hush, darkling. Do you hear it?467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JeJ6KXu96
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! 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uIEtUHxUO
Bow moved in front of Arden, stopping the boy. No. It is just a nightmare. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OEWsNwlE2
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? 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iIbfWoCUh
Yes, Bow said. Worry not. I have awakened them. They will be okay.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhXOsp4duK
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgphD45C8fL
》《467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXQhxQ5Mm2
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW4MA45bal
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2faDgCUQc
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9sLFPrPYP
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmrM953Ltl
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuGtVPLM3D
You have me, Bow said. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm26GQBj9Mq
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuZvCqPps9
I do, Bow said, know what you mean. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizoVQ1COhS
Just then, they had passed from the shade of the trees into the sun, which was beaming down mercilessly into the clearing. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyNoAMpnTP
What do you see? Arden asked. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kM531ybHG
He is gone, Bow said. He has run. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yy2CWtvau
Oh, Arden replied. He had hoped…I had hoped that maybe I could befriend him. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8jn2rEX5a
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4kvoyyvmw
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg73qup7LR9
What do you see? What is he doing? Arden asked. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35rUVqooUq
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgzap8DbDE
Arden grinned, wanting to cheer the boy up. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A8csgRSpx
Don’t do it, Bow cautioned. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3bCBmTcRV
I’ll be fine, Arden said. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQEpL3BODX
“You’ve been caught,” he said, stepping toward Fynley and placing a hand on his shoulder. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgFeMXjYOk
》《467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6iMykDfqV
The boy looked terrified. Bow’s disapproval buzzed in Arden’s head. “I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to–I just–"467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3aO58D7H1
“Caught?” he whispered. “You–you are going to turn me in?” 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssjO3fYiRQ
“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?” 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTDxSWRGiw
Fynley looked skeptical. “Uh…okay. Why would you want to–?”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFHI6lKbLD
“I don’t want anyone to feel as lonely as I have,” Arden blurted. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMmcBFm3By
Good job, Bow said, but at the wrong time.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r8eQTlfi4
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. 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EdXaKdxsr
“F-Fynley. My name, I mean. It’s Fynley.” 467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB9MRZiiVL
“Okay,” Arden said. “Nice to meet you, Fynley.”467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDSeXoKPjq
and then Add to home screen.