Ritchie walked in a daze through camp, stopping every step or so to avoid stumbling over. The initial shock of leaving his best friend behind to essentially die had gone numb for now, leaving him a fog. Luckily the camp was empty, saved him having to explain what happened so soon.

He finally reached his cabin when the pounding of footsteps pushed through his fog. He turned around to see Austin running down the path, surprisingly not tripping over his own feet. Ritchie's stomach churned seeing the bright smile on his face and he froze on his porch as the boy ran up the steps to hug him.

Ritchie faltered slightly, tentatively one-arm hugging him back. Austin stepped back, keeping his hands on his shoulders and holding him at arm's length. "Dad! I have so much to tell you! Bri-" he suddenly stopped, his grin dropping. "Wait what's wrong?"

Ritchie rubbed his eyes, already tired of the conversation. "The titans were going to be let out, there wasn't much other choice."

"What're you talking about titans?" His hands dropped down to his sides and he looked around furiously, eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Where's Michael?"

He let out an exasperated sigh. He just wanted to go inside and try to get some sleep while the events of the past day settled in, but no way was Austin going to let this go. "We went to the cave of Erebus. Two go in, only one can go out." His voice could only come out in short spurts burdened with emotions he didn't even know he had.

Austin just blinked, staring at him. The reflection in his eyes seemed to go through the seven stages of grief in a jumbled order of rolled dice in a can. Then, with blank eyes, brushed past him and stormed off.

"Where are you going?"

He didn't even turn around. "I'm going to the cave and I'm getting Michael back," he answered matter-of-factly.

Ritchie groaned and went after him the short distance he got. He grabbed Austin's arm and held him in place. "You can't. Listen, he said himself we can't cheat death twice."

"I don't care!" He objected and tried to tug his arm out of his grip. "Xylo probably did it, me and Bri technically did, why can't Michael?"

"This is...different circumstances. We had to deal with the gateway so he had to stay behind." Ritchie sighed. "Just let me explain."

"Ah-lalalala! I don't want to hear it!" Austin shook his head and kept yanking at his arm. "I'm going to the cave and saving Mom! I'm not losing him!"

"I didn't want to lose him either, but we can't-"

"No, you don't understand!" His pulls turned weak and futile, only pulling for the sake of pulling, eyes shut tight. "I can't- I can't lose another-" his voice cut off in a soft squeak and his face hardened. "Ritchie I can't..."

"Come here, just come here," Ritchie wrapped his arms firmly around Austin, letting him collapse against him. He gently patted his head and just held him as the boy grasped at his shirt and shook with sobs. "It's okay, it's okay. I got you."

"Mom's gone."

"I know, Austin."

"Michael's gone."

"I know, Austin. I'm sorry."