Six paused for a moment, considering how to answer. Rex had never bothered to ask something so deeply personal.

"You look like you're about...what? Fifteen? Sixteen? At about half that age, I lived on the streets, having to choose between digging through the garbage for my latest meal and finding someplace to hunker down to get out of the rain...or making trades for them that still sometimes give me nightmares. I was out there for a few winters before someone took me in right when I was about to become just another piece of trash rotting in the gutter."

He finished his water and reached for his wallet, counting out bills for the server's tip. He'd pay for the meal at the register.

"None of us picked coming here and becoming pawns in this world's games. An adult wants to go out and risk life on the streets? That's their business, but I can't stomach the idea of knowing a kid's out there because I know just how bad humanity can be towards a desperate kid. You're old enough to have a better chance at making it, and if I try to force a decision on you, you'll bolt. But I can arm you with what I know about this world so you can make a decision that works for you."