"Mm, I can tell," she said, sitting up with a yawn and running her fingers through her hair. "How are you feeling?"
She blinked in surprise, tilting her head. "Because I wanted to make sure you were feeling better when you woke up."
She raised an eyebrow, flapping her wings slowly as she studied him. "Thank you," she said eventually, "for getting the wings back."
She studied him thoughtfully before shaking her head, standing up with a sigh. "Well, anyway, I have to go meet Briar. I'll check back in with you later, okay?"
She squinted at him, her head cocking. "Sam," she said gently, "you attacked humans. You do realize that people are looking for you right now, right?"
"So... you can't really... you know. Go back home. They'll find you and kill you. Torture to find our whereabouts."
"And you probably think I'd tell them." A strange expression crossed his eyes, and he suddenly looked as if he were about to cry. "I wouldn't blame you."
"What? No, Sam," she said, stepping forward and reaching for his hand instinctively. She paused, looking down for a moment before shaking her head. "It's not that we don't trust you. It's just that we'd like to avoid it, if possible. Once things die down, you can go back."
He seemed to move away her as she got closer, flinching almost. "Why avoid it? What would I care? I know I wouldn't go revealing a location that I don't even know. Besides, I've done what I've had to do for pixies. If they kill me, at least I would be home."
This seemed to infuriate her, her brows furrowing. "So you'd rather kill yourself to go home now rather than waiting a few months and then returning home when it's safe? Sam, that's idiotic."
He finally looked to her. His eyes seemed lost and melancholy. Completely different than when they first met. "I just want to go home, Eden."
She glared at him, seemingly unsympathetic. "Yeah, well, so do I. I want to go back home. I want to return to where I grew up. But you know why I can't? Why I don't? Because I know that the instant I go back home, I will be captured and killed. Let me tell you, Sam, there have been several times in these last few months where I was eager for a fate like that. But I am not selfish enough to fulfill my own desires at the expense of those who are relying on me. Now, get over it. Look around and realize there's more here than being sorry for yourself."
"Nobody is relying on me, Eden. I got the wings. That's it. And I-I know you can't go back home. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I did that. I can't atone for humans. They're horrible." His voice cracked. "I can't fix that. I'm sorry. I have nothing else, Eden. I don't have my school, my goal, anything for me." He seemed to break down a bit, genuinely apologetic. "I'm sorry for what I've done. I'm sorry. I don't know what to do for you."
