“That’s okay, sweetie. You’ve been through a lot.” Petal, Mom’s level one butterfly baku, flutters around her head, then connects to the small leash looped around her ear to charge. Instinctively, I reach up and touch my leash.

“Your baku is at home,” Mom says. “I wasn’t allowed to bring him to you while you’re in the hospital. I tried to get you transferred to the Moncha hospital, but an old teacher of yours, Mr. Baird? He thought it would be a better idea if you stayed here. And then you were so unwell it seemed silly to move you. No one could explain what was happening… You kept slipping in and out of consciousness.” Tears well up in her eyes, her voice breaking with emotion. A flash of memory comes back to me—of running through twisting hallways away from…away from what?

My mind draws a blank. I open my mouth to ask Mom about Mr. Baird when there’s a knock on the hospital room door.

A familiar face pops around the frame, and my heart skips several beats. It’s Tobias, his dark brown eyes filled with concern. He’s still wearing his Profectus uniform, and in his hands is a tiny box covered in black cat wrapping paper. “Can I come in?” he asks.

“Please do,” says my mom.

He grins widely when he sees I’m awake, and he rushes to my bedside. But then he hesitates as he approaches, glancing between my mom and me. A blush rises in my cheeks, and all of a sudden I can’t figure out what to do with my hands. It’s like neither of us knows how to act around each other.

Luckily, his baku breaks the tension. Aero, a beautiful level five eagle, follows him into the room, lands on the railing of my bed, and squawks loudly. I reach out and brush his smooth golden feathers, and a series of lights ripple down his wing, where I’m touching it. I smile, wider than I have in a long time.

Tobias sits down on the side of the bed opposite from where my mom is and squeezes my hand. I squeeze back. “I’m glad you’re awake,” he says.

“Me too,” I whisper back.

“I’ll give you two a moment,” Mom says. “I’m in dire need of some coffee. Can I get you anything, Toby?”

Hearing Mom sound so familiar with Tobias threatens to deepen my blush. But he shakes his head, and so do I. “Thanks, Mom.”

“See you in a moment.”