[The sheer panic in Ion's reaction was enough of an answer for Cliff. The words simply reinforced that. Cliff shook his head gently and kept his tone low, lest he spook the kid further.]

As far as I can tell, no one died.

[He knelt down so that he was at eye level, equalizing their standing in the conversation.]

Don't worry so much about not remembering. It was a mess back there, and it's probably for the better that you don't.

[In some ways, the event may have been too traumatic for the kid...]