[ Cain eases his grip, lets John pull away, lowering his hands down to his side without any protest. He cants his, studying John, taking in the hostility radiating off of him, the defensive tension. Is that guilt or just wounded pride? ]

Yes. [ Cain's voice is soft, without any recrimination. ] There's only so much any of us can do against a creature like that. I was lucky, you know. After we got separated, I met up with someone from my old unit back home. Someone who watched my back. If he hadn't been out there, I probably would have ended up like you.

[ It's not easy, but in the face of John's anger, Cain can admit that much. ]