Arrow Lake i did it for life; did it for you

He had expected the answer, in a way. Of course Zamael had not returned-- of course Alarian's actions had broken their mother. A slight gasp escaped him as the news crushed his heart anyway. We survived. The words were bitter to his ears, and he let another silence fall.

I should have come back. He said finally, voice trembling. He almost killed me, and I ran, and then I didn't know where I was, but-- I could have tried harder. I should have.
He hadn't possessed any sense of direction back then-- or any sense at all, he supposed. It was only luck and his father's arrogance that had ultimately secured Alarian's survival. Perhaps now the boy's decision would have been different. But, perhaps not.
I was just scared. The boy whispered after a few more beats. He still was.