Ethics! My brain shrieked. Morality! While I babbled things into the quiet of the forest I'll never get back, along the lines of, but only paraphrased ultimately to, "What the actual is wrong with you?"
Leah's sullen reaction should have shut me up, but I was on a rolling snowball of disbelief and revulsion I was positive would be the end of me.
Well, it was the end of something, that was certain, when she finally cut off my random, horrified babbling with a sharp jab of flame to stop me in mid-ohmygodno.
It's clear to me, she said in her most bitter tone, you care less about my welfare and our success than some random child who will only die without me. Because things really were that simple, at least to her. Very well. Have it your way. But when we fail because of your lack of conviction to do what is necessary to succeed, Ethpeal Hayle, I shall not hold back the string of I told you sos that will inevitably precede our untimely demise.