“Hey,” came the voice. “Wake up.”

Naremir’s sluggish brain registered the words several seconds after they’d been spoken. His body ached in every joint and along all his bones, throbbing with each beat of his heart. He felt sure he’d broken at least four ribs and about seventeen of the bones in his wings. Not to mention about all of his body was burned. . .

Dim recollections floated out of his mind. He remembered standing before. . .someone, a sinking feeling of dread in his stomach. . .A grim, sorrowful expression as Naremir was told what his punishment must be. . .and then falling, falling so fast that smoke and flames began to curl off his feathers. . .

Naremir’s eyes snapped open.

“Well, jeez,” the person standing over him said. “About time. Are you okay?”

Naremir was not. The brilliant light of midday was shining right in his eyes, beating spikes of sheer agony right into his skull.

He forced himself into a sitting position and faced the man who’d found him.

The first thought that struck Naremir about this boy was that he was probably very popular with women. His eyes were a deep clear blue, set into a slender and slightly round face splattered with freckles. His hair was a wavy blonde wedge. That of course was all well and good on its own; his tall and trim frame was the cherry on the cake.

The second thought that struck Naremir was that he wasn’t freaking out about discovering an angel crash-landed on a beach.

“Um. . .no.” Naremir said. “I think I broke some things.”

“Yeah, uh, that’s pretty obvious,” the boy said, his eyes sweeping Naremir’s chest—which Naremir only now realized was bare. “You’re pretty bruised and, uh, burnt. Plus there’s this whole crater around you. . .what the hell were you doing out here?”

“Uhhh. . .bonfire,” Naremir said slowly. “A party with friends. I’m, um, not sure what happened as the night drew on.”

The boy got to his feet and held out a hand. “Well, my name’s Evon. We should probably get you to a doctor.”

“No, no. . .” Naremir shook Evon’s hand and stood as well. Evon looked confused, still holding out his hand, so Naremir shook it again as he said, “I need to find my cousin.”

“Uh. . .Alright. . .” Evon tucked his hand into his pocket. “You sure you’re fine on your own?”

“Splendid,” Naremir said. He looked at Evon again. “Say, do you know which direction New York City is in?”

Evon stared at him. “Yeah. . .It’s, like, on the other side of the U.S. Are you sure you’re good on your own?”