"That's their choice," he shrugs slightly.

If it turned out there was nothing malicious about the portal or anything truly dangerous in the environment, Odo wouldn't stop anyone. The notion of staying was even was a little... tempting. He forcefully pushes the thought aside.

"I can only speak for myself. I need to go back. There's someone--" he cuts himself off. "...Some things that I have to do, for the war effort."