But Katurian is starving, and his immediate reaction is to pull the apples closer to him in a protective embrace. These are his. These are going to keep him alive. Altruism emerges soon after, that flickering little voice in his head that sometimes sings to him like an angel.

(Once upon a time, there was a writer and he was a selfish fucking asshole to a boy with a mutilated face.)

He takes one of the apples and rolls it forward. His hands are trembling and the apple isn't exactly round, so it makes a brief circle in the dirt before stopping entirely. He gives it another nudge. Then another, more frustrated nudge. Finally, he picks it up and offers it forward with his shaking hand.

"It's a thank you gift," he slurs out. "Take it."