Hole In the Wall Gang reference??
How convenient, though… When in doubt, create another improbable plot twist, a la cave adventures (in the sonoran desert swimming through a blind underwater passage all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, or underneath a bank in a ramshackle, dilapidated western town in the badlands…) or exploding islands and sloop rigged yachts… I guess that’s prerogative of the scribe… the escape is only a pen stroke away. So go ahead, kiddos, you’re safe as kittens…
Mara has already demonstrated her maturity, so why bother asking the twerp? He’s the one who led them both into the blink ally in the first place!